Well Done : Bhika Behram Well Near Flora Fountain

Well done Bhikaji : Sweet Water Well 

While coming from Church Gate Station towards Flora Fountain , I have seen 



 Well on ‘n ‘ number of time. But yesterday night, while passing through I stopped for a while , saw it closely and read a small plaque on the entrance of structure, I realized that it is now almost 300 years old ! 

Little curious to know, why the well  was named after Bhika Behram, there is a small tale behind it. The vast expanse of Cross Maidan was a matter of concern for travellers who came there during the summer season. It is to address this concern that a prominent Parsi named Bhikaji, who had travelled from Bharuch on foot  , dug this fresh water well. It was first opened to travellers in 1725. The well has been  a perennial source of sweet water, which is remarkable as most of the water in the area is brackish owing to the proximity to the Arabian Sea. The site is now become a  sacred monument for  the Parsi community and a Class I Heritage Structure. The pavilion was added much later in the 1950s. You can see that  its stone canopy is  decorated with beautiful stained glasses. 

The Parsi community may not be the biggest in terms of numbers, but when it comes to culture and heritage they have plenty to offer in the city of Mumbai .

Every month on Ava Roz (day of water) there is people from Parsi community flocks to  pray or Humbandagi as they hold the well sacred and light lamps around it. Though it was built for the benefit of passerby now non parsis are not allowed inside the compound but of course can be watched from outside.