5. Banganga

Banganga is a medieval water tank which is part of the Walkeshwar Temple Complex in the upscale area of Malabar Hill in Mumbai.

According to the Ramayana, Ram paused at this spot on his way from Ayodhya to Lanka in pursuit of the demon king, Ravan who had kidnapped his wife, Sita. Overcome with fatigue and thirst, Ram asked his brother Lakshman to bring him some water. Lakshman instantly shot an arrow into the ground, and water gushed forth, creating a tributary of the Ganges, which flows over a thousand miles away. Hence the place is named Banganga- the Ganga created by a baan (arrow).

According to another legend, Lord Parashuram shot an arrow and brought Ganga from Patala and so the other name Patalganga to Banganga.

Legend relates Ram and Lakshman to the origin of Walkeshwar temple too. It is said that the shivling here was installed by Ram himself. It is believed that the original shivling was made by sand (Valuka in Sanskrit) and the name Walkeshwar corresponds to Valuka Ishwar (idol made of sand).

The tank at Banganga was built by Lakshman Prabhu, a minister in the court of Silhara dynasty kings of Thane in 1127 CE. Banganga Tank is a rectangular in shape and surrounded by steps on all sides. There are records which suggest that the tank was built out of a donation given by a Rama Kamath in 1715 CE. The main temple has been reconstructed since then and is at present a reinforced concrete structure of recent construction. At the entrance of the tank, stand two pillars bearing oil lamps, probably 300 years old. One of the fascinating things about the tank is that the water of the tank still remains sweet despite the sea being so close.