MUMBAI Banganga Village

Dave says visiting Banganga Village was his favorite part of the trip. Although we didn't quite know what we were getting ourselves into when our taxi driver turned off the main road on Malabar Hill. 

We squeezed down the alleyways between motos and laundry. Cricket balls bouncing off the roof of the car. "Crazy boys not afraid to die," says the driver when the boys sprint off to find the balls.

These people are not poor, he says. This is a very nice neighborhood with eleven temples. They have toilets and electricity and satelite tv. Very nice, very nice. 

The village is built around an ancient water tank. Full of fresh water even though the ocean is only a couple meters away. Local legend says the god Lakshmana struck the ground with his arrow and fresh water sprung forth. Banganga means 'arrow river'. 

In 1127 AD during a hindu dynasty they built a tank for the spring water surrounded by steps. Over the years many temples were built around this holy water and a neighborhood came to be. The Walkeshwar temple complex. 

Today it has a mismatch backdrop of apartment complexes, sky scrapers and crumbling walkways. But the narrow streets around the water were filled with colorful charm. 

We visited on a quiet morning and walked through the sunny streets. 

There are eleven temples surrounding the holy water. The temples are small and also serve as the temple keepers' homes. The women were out hanging laundry, drying lentils in the sun, carrying water, feeding the holy cows. 

Entrance to one of the temples. We took our shoes off and peeked inside. We were greeted by lots of smiles and waving hands motioning us to join them. 

flower stalls for temple offerings

A handful of boys were playing cricket down by the water. Dave was so happy to join them, the background topped off with temple spires.

A Jain Temple just around the corner made of solid marble.