Thread by @BDLMuseum

#WorldEnvironmentDay2020 we bring you the story of #Mumbai's only #botanicalgarden, one of its most important environmental assets. Read the thread to know more about the founding of this important #green lung which was established together with #BDLMuseum in late 19th century

The Veermata Jijabai Bhonsale Udyan, formerly known as Victoria Gardens, was established with the #BDLMuseum as it's sister institution, enabling each other as "a Hall of Wonder and a Garden of Delight".
#WorldEnvironmentDay2020 @mybmc #botanicalgarden

A group of #Mumbai's eminent citizens- Dr. Bhau Daji Lad, #DavidSassoon, #JamsetjeeJeejeebhoy, and Sir #GeorgeBirdwood, later curator of the #BDLMuseum, decided to establish a botanical garden and a museum to study the #flora, #fauna and #culture of the Bombay Presidency. 
@mybmc

In May 1861, the botanical garden was established by the Agri-Horticultural Society of Western #India. #Birdwood is credited with having conceptually designed both the #BDLMuseum and the #Gardens.
#WorldEnvironmentDay2020 #flashbackfriday

A grand ceremony was held on 19 November, 1862 to lay the chief cornerstone of the #BDLMuseum in the presence of the Governor of Bombay, Sir Bartle Frere. Lady Frere, his wife, inaugurated the #Gardens on the same day. #WorldEnvironmentDay2020 #FlashbackFriday @mybmc

The ceremony began early in the evening and a half-day was declared in the city for people to attend it. There was also a performance by a special band. #FlashbackFriday #WorldEnvironmentDay2020 #BDLMuseum @mybmc

This plot of land was close to the Governor’s House (now the Haffkine Institute) & adjacent to David Sassoon’s bungalow. It was away from the congested #Fort area & received fresh air from all directions reducing the incidences of diseases. #WorldEnvironmentDay2020

In the late 19th century, #botanicalgardens were primarily set up as testing grounds to cultivate new species of #plants discovered during British expeditions to tropical countries. #WorldEnvironmentDay2020 #BDLMuseum #FlashbackFriday @mybmc

The gardens were laid out on 33 acres of land known as Mount Estate at #Byculla & featured over 800 species of trees brought from #Africa, #Australia, #China, #Cuba, #Indonesia, #Madagascar, #Malaysia, #NewsZealand, #Peru & #SriLanka.
#WorldEnvironmentDay2020 #BDLMuseum

In 1890, 15 acres were added to the #botanicalgardens & a #zoo was established to study animal & bird species. In 1990s adjacent plots were acquired bringing the total area to over 53 acres. #WorldEnvironmentDay2020 #BDLMuseum @mybmc

A triumphal #arch depicting profile portraits of the Prince and Princess of #Wales, in the centre was completed in 1868. It functioned as an entrance & prevented carriages from entering the #gardens. The lamps above the arch were lit with gas. #WorldEnvironmentDay2020 #BDLMuseum

The #arch was sponsored by Rustomjee Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy and originally designed by William Tracey, a Municipal Engineer and the first architect of the #BDLMuseum. #FlashbackFriday @mybmc

The #Gardens feature species of trees: Khat Tree from the #Arabian Peninsula; #Baobab from Africa; the #Eucalyptus & #Cajeput from Australia; the #Peepal, #Ashoka, & #TalipotPalm from India; & #Rose of the Venezuela from South America. #WorldEnvironmentDay2020 #BDLMuseum

The #BDLMuseum was first opened in 1857 as the Government Central Museum of Natural History, Economic Products, Geology, Industry and the Arts. In the early years the Museum's collection consisted mainly of #naturalhistory specimen. #FlashbackFriday

The 19th century was the ‘Age of Reason’ and Enlightenment. #Museums & #botanicalgardens were viewed as symbiotic institutions to encourage the study of the #natural #environment for economic benefits. 
#WorldEnvironmentDay2020 #FlashbackFriday #BDLMuseum

The #BDLMuseum’s umbilical relationship with #Gardens is emphasised upon in the museum's #archives. Some of the animal & bird species that died at the zoo were sent to the Museum for #preservation and display through #taxidermy.
#WorldEnvironmentDay2020 #FlashbackFriday

In early 20th century, the curators decided to redo the display & the natural history specimens were given to other #museums in India to begin their collections such as to Lord Reay Industrial Museum (Pune), Haffkine Museum. #WorldEnvironmentDay2020 #FlashbackFriday #BDLMuseum

The Veermata Jijabai Bhonsale Udyan is one of the most important green lungs of #Mumbai. It is a valuable oasis and one of the most visited open spaces in the city.
#WorldEnvironmentDay2020 #ranibagh #BDLMuseum @mybmc

A citizen-led initiative ‘Save Rani Bagh Botanical Garden’ began in 2007 to protect, preserve and promote the 150-year-old #heritage #garden.
saveranibagh.org
#WorldEnvironmentDay2020 #BDLMuseum #greenspace
@mybmc