| Popularly
called Ranee Baug after its namesake, the Victoria
Gardens are now rechristened Jijamata Udyan. They are
botanical gardens, sprawled over 48 acres and contain
some of the oldest trees in the city, some dating back
two hundred years! At the entrance is a charming
Renaissance clock tower to match the Italian
Renaissance-style Victoria and Albert Museum (now the
Bhau Dali Ladd Museum) that houses an interesting
collection of local archaeological finds. Just behind it
is the Mumbai Zoo, a depressing place with animals in
bare cast iron-and-stone cages. Avoidable. You can
however, opt for an elephant ride on weekends, but the
best bet is a stroll through the gorgeous botanical
gardens or picnic on the well-kept lawns. |
