Horniman Circle Garden is a public garden in Mumbai’s Fort area, South Mumbai, enclosed by the historic buildings of Horniman Circle. Its circular layout, lawns and central fountain offer a green pause among the area’s heritage streets.
- Location: Fort, South Mumbai
- Hours: Open daily
- Access streets: Mumbai Samachar Marg and Shahid Bhagat Singh Road
Where the garden sits in South Mumbai
Horniman Circle Garden sits within a circular group of heritage buildings in Mumbai’s Fort area. The garden occupies the site of the former Bombay Green, opposite the Town Hall, and the surrounding arcaded, stone-fronted facades give the circle its distinctive setting.
Known formerly as Elphinstone Circle, the garden was built between 1869 and 1872. The surrounding circle became Mumbai’s first planned business district; the first building there was occupied by the Bank of Bombay, now the State Bank of India.
The heritage inventory records the garden’s plot area as 10,092.88 square metres. Mumbai Samachar Marg is its main access, with Shahid Bhagat Singh Road as a subsidiary access.
What to expect on a visit
The garden is laid out in a circle, with north–south and east–west axes and gates on all four sides. A central fountain with a sculpture, lawns, benches, and areas for reading and sitting are among the features recorded in the heritage inventory.
Wrought-iron fencing encloses the garden, while trees mark its boundary. Decorative gates and lampposts are also part of the setting; the inventory additionally records playing equipment, toilets and a stage for functions.
A municipal citizen-services listing gives the hours as sunrise to sunset, though its data source is OpenStreetMap and this schedule is not independently confirmed as an official posted timetable. The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai is the garden’s present owner, according to the heritage inventory. Check the official site before you go.
Getting there from Cuffe Parade
Horniman Circle Garden is about 2.4 km from Hotel Supreme.
The garden’s main access is on Mumbai Samachar Marg, and Shahid Bhagat Singh Road provides another approach.
If you are shaping a fuller outing from Cuffe Parade, how to spend a day in Mumbai from Cuffe Parade can help you plan the wider day around this South Mumbai stop.
Nearby heritage and gallery stops
Horniman Circle’s historic architecture is part of the outing itself: the garden is ringed by arcaded stone-fronted buildings, and the Town Hall stands across the site of the former Bombay Green. The Kala Ghoda Arts Festival is a recurring event hosted in the area; its association says it has hosted the festival every year since 1999.
Jehangir Art Gallery makes an art stop in the wider South Mumbai area; how to visit Jehangir Art Gallery in Mumbai can help you plan that part of the day.
FAQs
What was Horniman Circle Garden called before?
It was formerly called Elphinstone Circle.
What is the garden’s historical site?
It stands on the site of Bombay Green, which was opposite the Town Hall.
Who owns Horniman Circle Garden?
The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai is named as its present owner in the heritage inventory.
Is Horniman Circle Garden connected with the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival?
The festival is a recurring event hosted in the area, and its association says it has been held there every year since 1999.