Girgaon falls under a quaint neighbourhood known as ‘Charni Road’. Known for its old charm chawls, wholesale markets of diamonds (Opera House), garments, Irani cafes and tall skyscrapers, Charni Road is an integral part of Mumbai’s culture.
With many iconic places to visit, some of the places worth visiting here are Girgaon Chowpatty Beach, Royal Opera House, Babul Nath Mandir, Hanging Gardens, etc.
However, over the years these houses were remodelled and multi-storey single rooms were built (known as chawls) with shared washing facilities.
Most of the ‘wadis’ can be found in Girgaon The others can be found in Bhuleshwar, Kalbadevi and Khetwadi, Jagannath Shankar.
However, the most recognised ‘wadi’ – Gaiwadi because it is so easily identified by two Cow faces on either side of a gate located near Bhuleshwar market. It is known distinctly for starting off as a cow shed, moving on to a soda water factory and currently having three chawls as well.
This of course is where I have to visit my optician so its a regular visit for me, every few months.
With some of the initial lower middle-class Maharashtrian Brahmin families, the wadi has a very cosmopolitan character to it.
When you get off the main ‘Girgaon’ road, you will automatically be transferred to a very different place. ‘Khotachiwadi’ is a quiet area full of cottage-like houses. Founded in the late 18th century by Khot, a Pathare Prabhu, who sold plots to local East Indian families, coming across this area is like stumbling into a hidden Goan treasure cove.
With over 65 houses, this area is known to be the earliest settlement of the East Indian Christian and the Pathare Prabhu Community. Most of the houses here have a very large veranda, a back backyard and an external staircase leading to the upper floors.
In July 2020 I went on one of the heritage walking tours which began at the Ferreira House which is a guest house that is over 200 years old. I along with the many people who came for this heritage walk which was guided by Dr André Baptista, a lecturer and consultant in Ancient Indian history, culture and archaeology and a fourth-generation resident of Khotachi Wadi and our guide.
There are many other places such as Phanaswadi, Kelewadi, Kandewadi and Ambewadi, Zaoba Wadi, Vaidya Wadi, Khotachi Wadi & and Jitekar Wadi but are these too many names and should I just stick to ‘pagalwadi’?
