Portileostah at 18:44, 4 March 2026

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{{short description|Heritage monument in Mumbai, India}}
{{Original research|date=September 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2018}}
{{Infobox building
| name = Flora Fountain
| image = Mumbai 03-2016 72 Flora Fountain.jpg
| caption =
| pushpin_map = India#India Maharashtra#India Mumbai
| coordinates = {{coord|18.9325|72.8317|region:IN-MH|display=inline}}
| location_town = [[Mumbai]]
| location_country = {{flag|India}}
| architect = [[Richard Norman Shaw]]
| client = [[Maharashtra]]
| engineer = James Forsythe
| construction_start_date =
| completion_date = 1864
| demolished_date =
| cost = Rs 47000 (9000 pounds sterling)
| structural_system = Sculpted in imported [[Portland stone]]
| architectural_style = Neo Classical and [[Gothic Revival architecture|Gothic]] Revival
| size =
}}

'''Flora Fountain''' is a Fountain located at the [[Hutatma Chowk]] is an ornamentally sculpted architectural heritage monument located at the southern end of the historic [[Dadabhai Naoroji Road]], at the [[Fort (Mumbai precinct)|Fort]] business district in the heart of [[South Mumbai]], [[Mumbai]], [[India]]. Flora Fountain, built in 1864, depicts the Roman goddess [[Flora (goddess)|Flora]]. It was built at a total cost of Rs. 47,000, or 9,000 pounds sterling, a large sum in those days.<ref name=fount>{{cite web|url=http://www.mumbai.org.uk/flora-fountain.html|title= Mumbai: Flora Fountain|access-date=9 March 2009}}</ref>

==History==
{{Main|Fort (Mumbai precinct)}}
[[File:Flora Fountain 1904.jpg|thumb|left|Photograph of Flora Fountain taken prior to 1904]]
The fountain originally intended for the Victoria Gardens, is now surmounted by the figure of Plenty ("Courtesy of Special Collections, University of Houston Libraries."). History of the Flora Fountain is traced to the time when the Old Mumbai Fort was demolished in 1860 as part of the then Governor, Sir [[Bartle Frere|Bartle Frère]]'s efforts to improve civic sanitation (municipal improvements) and the urban space requirements of the growing city. Prior to this demolition, the Fort had been built between 1686 and 1743 by the British East India Company with three gates (the Apollo Gate, the [[Churchgate|Church Gate]] and the Bazaar Gate), a [[moat]], [[esplanade]], level open spaces on its western fringe (to control fires) and residences. A small road called the Hornby Road, named after the then Governor of Bombay (Mumbai) between 1771 AD and 1784 AD, also existed at the old Fort area.<ref name=abha>{{cite web|url= http://www.india-seminar.com/2004/542/542%20abha%20narain%20lambah.htm|title=Heritage streetscape|access-date=9 March 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.india9.com/i9show/-Maharashtra/Mumbai/Mumbai-Fort-40131.htm|title=Mumbai Fort|access-date=9 March 2009}}</ref> Consequent to the demolitions, the Hornby road was widened into a broad avenue and on its western side commercial plots were developed to build new commercial buildings in Neo Classical and Gothic Revival designs. The Dadabhai Naoroji Road (D. N. Road), developed into a veritable sight of colonial splendor with [[Crawford Market]] linked to the [[Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus]] anchoring the northern end and the Flora Fountain, forming the southern end of the Mile Long Road.<ref name=UNESCO>{{cite web|url=http://www.unescobkk.org/culture/our-projects/empowerment-of-the-culture-profession/asia-pacific-heritage-awards-for-culture-heritage-conservation/previous-heritage-awards-2000-2008/2004/award-winners/dadabhai-naoroji-road-heritage-streetscape-project-india/|title=Dadabhai Naoroji Road Heritage Streetscape Project, India|publisher=United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization|access-date=9 March 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090202171134/http://www.unescobkk.org/culture/our-projects/empowerment-of-the-culture-profession/asia-pacific-heritage-awards-for-culture-heritage-conservation/previous-heritage-awards-2000-2008/2004/award-winners/dadabhai-naoroji-road-heritage-streetscape-project-india/|archive-date=2 February 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The Flora Fountain was erected at the exact place where the Church gate (named after [[St. Thomas Cathedral, Mumbai]] ) stood before its demolition along with the Mumbai Fort. It was constructed by the Agri–Horticultural Society of Western India, out of a donation of Rs 20,000 by Cursetjee Fardoonjee Parekh. Designed by [[Richard Norman Shaw]], it was sculpted in imported [[Portland stone]] by James Forsythe. A white coat of [[oil paint]] has to some extent marred the antiquity of the structure.<ref name=fount/>
The fountain was originally to be named after Sir [[Bartle Frere|Bartle Frère]], the [[Governor of Bombay]] at the time, whose progressive policy had resulted in many of the great public buildings of Mumbai.<ref name=gazette>{{cite web|url=http://www.maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/greater_bombay/places.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080207163226/http://www.maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/greater_bombay/places.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 February 2008|title=Public fountains|publisher=Maharashtra State Gazetter|year=1910|access-date=11 March 2009}}</ref> However, the name was changed before the fountain was unveiled as Flora Fountain, named after [[Flora (mythology)|Flora]], a Roman Goddess of flowers and the season of spring; her majestic and pretty [[Portland stone]] statue adorns the top of the fountain. The four corners of the fountain have four life-sized female mythological figures carrying foliage to represent the four seasons.<ref name=hutatma>{{cite web|url=http://mumbai.clickindia.com/travel/florafountain.html|title=Flora Fountain|access-date=11 March 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090208222134/http://mumbai.clickindia.com/travel/florafountain.html|archive-date=8 February 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Flora_Fountain_-_History/id/1397046|title=Flora Fountain: Encyclopedia II – Flora Fountain – History|access-date=11 March 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090503112438/http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Flora_Fountain_-_History/id/1397046|archive-date=3 May 2009}}</ref><ref name=travel>{{cite web|url=http://www.asiarooms.com/travel-guide/india/mumbai/sightseeing-in-mumbai/flora-fountain-mumbai-fountain-area.html |title=Flora Fountain Mumbai Fountain area |access-date=11 March 2009 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081012140834/http://www.asiarooms.com/travel-guide/india/mumbai/sightseeing-in-mumbai/flora-fountain-mumbai-fountain-area.html |archive-date=12 October 2008 }}</ref><ref name=pica>{{cite web|url=http://mumbaionline.in/TouristPlaces/other_places/|title= Other Places, Flora Fountain|publisher=Mumbai Online.in|access-date=11 March 2009}}</ref><ref name=fourseasons>{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/mumbai-s-flora-fountain-makeover-almost-complete-take-a-look/story-qdDWfiMeSMhYCRhtYQfd8L.html|title= Mumbai's Flora Fountain gets a makeover|work=The Hindustan Times|access-date=9 May 2022}}</ref>

The fountain was originally intended to be built at the [[Jijamata Udyaan]] at [[Byculla]] but, in 1908, the grass plot and the [[Palm tree|palm]] trees that had camouflaged the fountain were cleared for creating space for pedestrians and horse–traffic between the [[tram]] lines and the [[Curb (road)|kerb]] of the fountain.<ref name=gazette/>

==Hutatma chowk==
{{Further|Hutatma Chowk}}
[[File:Hutatma Chowk.jpg|thumb|right|200px|The Hutatma memorial with the Flora Fountain, in the background]]
From the time the Flora Fountain was built in 1864 and until 1960, the chowk ([[Town square|square]]) where five streets meet (hence, also known as the [[Piccadilly Circus]] of Mumbai<ref name=pica/>) and the fountain stands now, was named as the Flora Fountain area. But in 1960, to commemorate the people who laid their lives in the turbulent birth of [[Maharashtra]] State at the square, it was renamed as the [[Hutatma Chowk]] with a stone statue bearing a pair of torch-holding patriots. The Flora Fountain, surrounded by the [[British people|British]] [[Victorian era]] heritage buildings, is very much part of the chowk and has been declared a heritage structure and it continues to charm visitors with its beauty and with its spray of water. It sits well alongside the Hutatma statue which adorns the chowk. (Picture depicts the two structures).<ref name=hutatma/> It was the decision of the [[Maharashtra Legislative Assembly]] that recommended to the Government "to take necessary steps to erect as early as possible a memorial at Flora Fountain in Bombay in commemoration of the sacrifices of the persons who died on the police firing at Flora Fountain in Bombay in the month of November 1955."<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=h2S2AAAAIAAJ&q=Maharashtra+Gazette+-+Flora+Fountain|title= Selections from the Departmental Decisions of the Speaker|author= Maharashtra (India), Legislative Assembly|year= 1963|access-date=11 March 2009}}</ref>

==Nostalgia==
[[File:Flora-Fountain.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Flora Fountain]]
Nostalgic writing by a [[cricketer]], an unnamed resident of Mumbai who played street cricket in front of the fountain in his youth, reads that the fountain at the centre of the Mumbai city evokes feelings:<ref name=mihir>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=X8HQiMvK-bYC&q=Flora+Fountain&pg=PA118|title=The Magic of Indian Cricket, pages 284; The gully, the maidan and the mali, page 118|author=Mihir Bose|publisher=Routledge|isbn= 9780415356916|year=2006|access-date=11 March 2009}}</ref>
<blockquote>
''The Centres of the world are well etched in the mind: the [[New York City]]'s [[Time Square]] and the [[Paris]]'s [[Champs-Élysées]], [[London]]'s [[Piccadilly Circus]]. Even now I feel a curious magic about Mumbai's Flora Fountain. We called it the heart of the city and so it was.''
</blockquote>

==Poetic expression==
A [[poem]] in [[Marathi language]] by Niranajan Bhagat translated to [[English language|English]] extols the beauty of the Flora Fountain thus:<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JObSbMwe3aUC&q=Flora+Fountain&pg=PA16|title= Modern Gujarati Poetry A selection| page=16|author= Niranajan Bhagat|others=Translated by Suguna Ramanathan and Rita Kothari|year= 1998|publisher= Sahitya Akademi|isbn= 9788126002948|access-date=11 March 2009}}</ref>
<blockquote>
A Glass and concrete jungle; 
In its midst always 
Quiet, comely, 
With hope filled face, 
she stands 
Flora 
A dream of spring in her matchless eyes, 
holding in both hands stone flowers. 
About her, in all corners, 
Iron butterflies fly round and round 
And lifeless insects play</blockquote>

==Gallery==
<gallery mode="packed">
File:Flora Fountain, Fort, Mumbai.jpg|Flora Fountain in Hutatma Chowk
File:The Floral Fountain as it used to be, and Esplanade Road.jpg|The Flora Fountain, c. 1905
File:Flora fountain Bombay.jpg|Flora Fountain area, pre World War I
File:Rush Hour flora.jpg|Traffic stream at Flora Fountain at night
File:Mumbai Flora Fountain.jpg|Fountain in action at night
File:Flora Fountain, Mumbai, India (2006).jpg|Flora Fountain at Hutatma Chowk
File:Flora Fountain - Mumbai.jpg|Goddess Flora in Flora Fountain
File:Flora Fountain Pano.jpg|Panoramic view of Flora Fountain
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Mumbai topics}}
{{Tourist attractions in Mumbai}}

== External links ==
{{commons category|Flora Fountain}}
* [https://www.google.com/maps/views/view/106069055152830469003/photo/2Ji62jY9O6MAAAAGOre67g 360° Panorama]

[[Category:Fountains in Mumbai]]
[[Category:Richard Norman Shaw buildings]]
[[Category:1864 establishments in India]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1864]]
[[Category:Flora (mythology)]]
[[Category:Sculptures of Roman goddesses]]

Flora Fountain - Revision history

Portileostah at 18:44, 4 March 2026