Breach Candy
Encyclopedia
Bhulabhai Desai Road, better known as Breach Candy or Warden Road, is a niche up-market residential and semi-commercial locality of South Mumbai
. Home to many of Mumbai's affluent class, it is also the location for the United States Consulate in Mumbai.
The area has many famous landmarks throughout its long and winding stretch, from the Breach Candy Hospital to the Amarsons and Tata
gardens. There's the elite Breach Candy club with the country's largest India-shaped swimming pool. Just off Bhulabhai Desai Road is the women-only Sophia College
and the Green Lawns school.
The 18th century Mahalaxmi Temple
, which honors the Hindu goddess of wealth and wisdom, is closely situated on the edge of sea. It is one of the most famous temples of Mumbai and attracts millions of devotees and tourists each year.
The area falls under the 'D-Ward' of the Bombay Municipal Corporation and shares the postal code 400 026 under the Cumballa Hill post office. It lies 21 kilometers south of Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport and just 2 kilometers from the Mumbai Central station
. It is well connected by local buses run by BEST
.
Geographically, this road curls around the Arabian Sea
. Because of its picturesque location, real estate prices here are among the most expensive in the country.
and the Breach Candy Hospital
have been present since the time of British rule
.
At the northern foot of the Cumballa Hill, in the part now called Breach Candy, was a temple to three goddesses—Mahakali
, Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati. A creek to the north separated the island of Bombay from the Koli island of Worli
. This creek was filled after the completion of the Hornby Vellard
in 1784. Soon after, the modern temple of Mahalakshmi was built here.
What are now the Amarson and Tata
gardens were landfills with abandoned construction trucks, cranes and bulldozers probably used in land reclamation projects. A few of these trucks were parked in a truck-sized garage behind Scandal Point. Similarly, trucks, cranes and bulldozers were seen abandoned on the land which is now known as Priyadarshini Park.
South Mumbai
South Mumbai , sometimes incorrectly referred to by English Media as "SoBo" , the southern-most precinct of the city of Mumbai, India, comprises the city's main business localities and its adjoining areas...
. Home to many of Mumbai's affluent class, it is also the location for the United States Consulate in Mumbai.
The area has many famous landmarks throughout its long and winding stretch, from the Breach Candy Hospital to the Amarsons and Tata
Tata Group
Tata Group is an Indian multinational conglomerate company headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. Tata Group is one of the largest companies in India by market capitalization and revenue. It has interests in communications and information technology, engineering, materials, services, energy,...
gardens. There's the elite Breach Candy club with the country's largest India-shaped swimming pool. Just off Bhulabhai Desai Road is the women-only Sophia College
Sophia College, Mumbai
Sophia College For Women is an undergraduate women's college established in 1941 by Society of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It is affiliated to the University of Mumbai. The governing body of The Society for the Higher Education of Women in India runs the college. The Religious Sisters of the Sacred...
and the Green Lawns school.
The 18th century Mahalaxmi Temple
Mahalaxmi Temple
Mahalaxmi Temple is one of the most famous temples of Mumbai situated on Bhulabhai Desai Road. It is dedicated to Mahalakshmi the central deity of Devi Mahatmyam. There are three idols of Mahakali, Mahalakshmi, and Mahasaraswthi...
, which honors the Hindu goddess of wealth and wisdom, is closely situated on the edge of sea. It is one of the most famous temples of Mumbai and attracts millions of devotees and tourists each year.
The area falls under the 'D-Ward' of the Bombay Municipal Corporation and shares the postal code 400 026 under the Cumballa Hill post office. It lies 21 kilometers south of Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport and just 2 kilometers from the Mumbai Central station
Mumbai Central
Mumbai Central , previously known as Bombay Central, is a major intercity railway station and a commuter station in Mumbai. It was designed by the british architect Claude Batley. It serves as the terminal for several long distance trains operated by Western Railway. The station is located in south...
. It is well connected by local buses run by BEST
Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport
The BEST ) is Mumbai's public transport service and electricity provider....
.
Geographically, this road curls around the Arabian Sea
Arabian Sea
The Arabian Sea is a region of the Indian Ocean bounded on the east by India, on the north by Pakistan and Iran, on the west by the Arabian Peninsula, on the south, approximately, by a line between Cape Guardafui in northeastern Somalia and Kanyakumari in India...
. Because of its picturesque location, real estate prices here are among the most expensive in the country.
History
Not long ago, Breach Candy was sparsely populated with very few bungalows and mansions. Most of the residents were born into old money. Some of these bungalows and mansions still stand. The Breach Candy House, the Breach Candy Swimming ClubBreach Candy Swimming Club
Breach Candy Swimming Club is an exclusive club with a large swimming pool in Breach Candy, Mumbai. It was notorious for its racist bias; a whites-only institution in British times, it continued to exclude Indians till the 1960s...
and the Breach Candy Hospital
Breach Candy Hospital
-History:It was established in 1958 at Breach Candy suburb, and designed by an English architect Claude Batley. Many famous Bollywood stars have given birth to their children at this hospital, including Bollywood actress Karishma Kapoor who gave birth to son Kiaan Raj Kapoor in 2010 and actress...
have been present since the time of British rule
British Raj
British Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...
.
At the northern foot of the Cumballa Hill, in the part now called Breach Candy, was a temple to three goddesses—Mahakali
Mahakali
Mahakali , literally translated as Great Kali, is a Hindu Goddess, considered to be the consort of Shiva the God of consciousness, and as the basis of Reality and existence...
, Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati. A creek to the north separated the island of Bombay from the Koli island of Worli
Worli
-History:Worli was one of the original seven islands that constituted the city of Mumbai. Although primarily a fishing village, the Worli Fort, a British fort that is now in ruins, is located there. Its original resident was the legendary Dishankeshwar Kalsi who has also been recognized in several...
. This creek was filled after the completion of the Hornby Vellard
Hornby Vellard
The Hornby Vellard was a project to build a causeway uniting all seven islands of Bombay into a single island with a deep natural harbour. The project was started by the governor William Hornby in 1782 and all islands were linked by 1838...
in 1784. Soon after, the modern temple of Mahalakshmi was built here.
What are now the Amarson and Tata
Tata Group
Tata Group is an Indian multinational conglomerate company headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. Tata Group is one of the largest companies in India by market capitalization and revenue. It has interests in communications and information technology, engineering, materials, services, energy,...
gardens were landfills with abandoned construction trucks, cranes and bulldozers probably used in land reclamation projects. A few of these trucks were parked in a truck-sized garage behind Scandal Point. Similarly, trucks, cranes and bulldozers were seen abandoned on the land which is now known as Priyadarshini Park.
Notable residents
- Ronnie ScrewvalaRonnie ScrewvalaRonnie Screwvala is an Indian film producer and CEO and founder chairman of which recently partnered with Walt Disney, Fox Searchlight, Sony and Will Smith's Overbrook Entertainment production company, expanding its global reach.In September 2008, he was named amongst, Esquires List of the 75...
, producer and CEO and founding chairman of UTV Group - Bhanu AthaiyaBhanu AthaiyaBhanu Athaiya née Rajopadhye is Indian cinema's most well-regarded costume designer, having worked in over 100 films, since 1950s, with noted filmmakers like Guru Dutt, Yash Chopra, Raj Kapoor, Ashutosh Gowariker, and international directors like Conrad Rooks and Richard Attenborough.She made her...
, Oscar winning costume designer for Gandhi - Naina Lal KidwaiNaina Lal KidwaiCA. Naina Lal Kidwai is an Indian businesswoman. She is currently the Group General Manager and Country Head of the HSBC Group in India.-Education:...
, businesswoman - Jagjit Singh, classical singer
- Aarti Chhabria, actress
- Salman Rushdie, author. Born and raised in Breach Candy, he describes the area as it was from Indian independence to the 1960s in Midnight's ChildrenMidnight's ChildrenMidnight's Children is a 1981 book by Salman Rushdie about India's transition from British colonialism to independence and the partition of India. It is considered an example of postcolonial literature and magical realism...
. - Azim PremjiAzim PremjiAzim Hashim Premji is an Indian business tycoon and philanthropist who is the chairman of Wipro Limited, guiding the company through four decades of diversification and growth to emerge as one of the Indian leader in the software industry...
, chairman and CEO of Wipro Technologies - Shibani BathijaShibani BathijaShibani Bathija is an Indian screenwriter.Bahija studied English at DePauw University and Communications at San Francisco State. After a period in advertising with SONY, Bathija showed a script to Karan Johar which was then accepted by Yash Raj Films...
, screenwriter - Supriya SuleSupriya SuleSupriya Sule is an Indian politician from the Nationalist Congress Party and currently a Member of Parliament in the 15th Lok Sabha . She is the daughter of the President of the Nationalist Congress Party, Sharad Pawar. In 2009, she contested the elections for the Baramati Lok Sabha constituency...
, politician - Tara SharmaTara SharmaTara Sharma is an Indian actress. She is half British and half Indian.-Personal life:Sharma is the daughter of the well-known author and actor, Partap Sharma, and Susan Sharma, and is an alumna of the London School of Economics and of the United World College of the Adriatic. She is married to ad...
, actress - Partap SharmaPartap SharmaPartap Sharma was an Indian playwright, novelist, author of books for children, commentator, actor and documentary film-maker.- Background :...
, author and playwright - Alyque PadamseeAlyque PadamseeAlyque Padamsee is an Indian theater personality and ad film maker. He is probably best known in the English-speaking world for playing Muhammad Ali Jinnah in the film Gandhi...
, theatre producer and actor - Ramesh BalsekarRamesh BalsekarRamesh S. Balsekar was a disciple of the late Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj, a renowned Advaita master. From early childhood, Balsekar was drawn to Advaita, a nondual teaching, particularly the teachings of Ramana Maharshi and Wei Wu Wei...
, Advaita Vendanta master - Ankita Jhaveri, Actress