The origins of the Flora Fountain can be traced back to the time when the Old Bombay Fort was demolished in 1860. The demolition was part of the plans of Sir Bartle Frere, then the Governor, to improve municipal improvements related to civic sanitation and urban space requirements of the growing city.
Water Fountains
- Trevi Water Fountain
- The Swann Memorial Fountain
- Buckingham Water Fountain
- Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi
- Peterhof Water Gardens
- Villa d'Este Water Fountain
- The German Fountain
- Jet d'Eau Water Fountain
- Trafalgar Square Water Fountain
- Fountain of Wealth
- Tyler Davidson Fountain
- Triton Water Fountain
- Fountain of Nations
- Flora Water Fountain
- Bellagio Water Fountain
Flora Water Fountain
An ornamentally and exquisitely sculpted architectural heritage monument, the Flora Fountain is located at the at the southern end of the historic Dadabhai Naoroji Road, called the Mile Long Road, at the Fort business district in the heart of South Mumbai, Mumbai, India. The fountain can be found in the Hutatma Chowk also known as Martyr's Square. A fusion of water, architecture and sculpture depicting the Roman goddess Flora, the water fountain was built in 1864.
But before the demolition, the Old Bombay Fort was built between 1686 and 1743 by the British East India Company. It was built with three gates which are the Apollo Gate, the Church Gate and the Bazaar Gate. It was also created with a moat, walkway, residences, and level open spaces on its western fringe to control fires. In the 1771 AD and 1784 AD at the Fort area, there also existed a small road named the Hornby Road. It was named after the then Governor of Bombay (Mumbai).
As a result to the demolitions, the Hornby road was widened into a broad avenue giving way to Neo Classical and Gothic Revival designed structures. Commercial plots were developed to build new commercial buildings on western side of the Hornby road. The Road is now known as Dadbhai Naorji Road or the DN Road. The Flora Fountain is forms the end of the DN Road otherwise known as the Mile Long Road.
The Flora Water Fountain was erected at the exact place where the Church gate stood before its demolition along with the Bombay Fort. The lovely fountain was constructed due to the generous donation of of 20,000 rupees by Cursetjee Fardoonjee Parekh of the Agri–Horticultural Society of Western India. The Water fountain was sculpted in imported Portland stone by James Forsythe and designed by R. Norman Shaw.
The fountain is named after a Roman Goddess of flowers and the season of spring. Adorning the top of the fountain is majestic and pretty Portland stone statue and the four corners of the fountain are decorated with mythical figures. Originally, the fountain was intended to be built at the Victoria Gardens at Byculla and it was originally to be named after the Governor of Bombay at the time, Sir Bartle Frere. In 1908, the grass plot and the palm trees that camouflaging the fountain were cleared for creating space for pedestrians and horse, a traffic between the tram lines and the kerb of the fountain. The name of the fountain was then eventually changed to Flora Fountain when it was finally unveiled.
The surrounding area where the Flora Fountain including the Chowk or the square where five streets meet also known as the Picadilly Circus of Mumbai was called as the Flora Fountain area from the time the fountain was built in 1864 to 1960. The name of the area was later changed to Hutatma Chowk. The name was changed in 1960 to commemorate the martyrdom of the brave people who laid their lives in the turbulent birth of Maharashtra State at the square. An impressive stone statue bearing a pair of torch holding patriots was constructed in the area. Surrounded by the British Victorian era heritage buildings, the Flora Fountain is very much part of the Chowk. It has been declared a heritage structure and it continues to charm visitors with its beauty and with its spray of water.