# Malabar Hill

Malabar Hill is amongst the most affluent residential areas in Mumbai. It is home to several business tycoons and film personalities. Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, had built and lived in a bungalow, called South Court, in Malabar Hill.
Prominent landmarks include the South Court mansion of the Jinnah family, the Chief Minister of Maharashtra's Varsha Bungalow, Government Guest House Sahyadri, official residences of VVIP state officials and additionally the Hanging Gardens, Jain Temple and Banganga Tank. Other notable residents include Radhakishan Damani and Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin.

## History

Malabar Hill is the location of the Walkeshwar Temple, founded by the Silhara kings. The original temple was destroyed by the Portuguese, but rebuilt again in 1715 by Rama Kamath, and by 1860, 10 to 20 other temples were built in the region.
Mountstuart Elphinstone built the first bungalow in Malabar Hill while he was Governor of Bombay, between 1819 and 1827. Following his example, the place soon became an affluent locality, as it remains today.

## Overview

Raj Bhavan, the official residence of the governor of Maharashtra, 'Varsha', which is the official residence of the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, 'Glenogle' the official residence of the General Manager of Central Railway (erstwhile Great Indian Peninsula Railway) are located here.
An unhindered view of Back Bay, with the Girgaon Chowpatty beach in the foreground, and the Nariman Point skyline in the background is one of the reasons for the high real estate prices. In January 2012, Maheshwari House was (partly) sold to industrialist Sajjan Jindal of Jindal Steel for 400 crores. The most expensive private residence lies just outside Malabar Hill on Altamount Road off Pedder Road, namely Antilia, the 27-storey, billion-dollar tower in Mumbai, owned by India's second richest and the world's tenth-richest person Mukesh Ambani, the chairman of Reliance Industries.
Buses only started serving this area during World War II.
South Court (informally known as the 'Jinnah House'), the former residence of Mohammad Ali Jinnah, founder of Pakistan is also present here, but is closed to public due to property disputes.
Unique among wealthy areas in Mumbai, it has long welcomed residents of Muslim heritage. More than 250 locals from the politically influential and economically affluent Dawoodi Bohra community live in the palatial Saifee Mahal complex near the top of the hill contributing to the ethnic milieu and cultural vibrancy of the area.
Also of note in the Malabar Hill district, there is a cremation ground that sits near the sea which is home to the samadhi shrines of several famous Indian saints. Notably among them is the samadhi shrine of the guru of Shri Nisargadatta Maharaj, who was Shri Siddharameshwar Maharaj, as well as the samadhi shrine of his devoted disciple Shri Ranjit Maharaj.
Notable people born in Malabar Hill include singer-songwriter Jaimin Rajani and Douglas Jardine, the English cricketer who captained England during the Bodyline tour of Australia in 1932-33.

## Gallery

* Malabar Hill from St. Xavier's, Late 1860s,
* Malabar Point, Bombay, 1865.
* The Hanging Gardens at Malabar Hill (ca. 1905).
* Priyadarshini Park in Mumbai.
* Aerial view of Malabar Hill.
* View of Marine Drive, Mumbai from Malabar Hill.