Attending Kala Ghoda Arts Festival? Visit these five iconic structures around it

The annual Kala Ghoda Arts Festival is back and it definitely looks like its going to be bigger and better than ever before Spread across the Fort area with events happening from February 4 February 12 at K Dubash Marg Rampart Row YB Chavan Centre Cross Maidan and Cooperage Bandstand to name a fewWith so much happening there is a possibility that you may want to take a break and step out of the festival for a while to explore Kala Ghoda around you Luckily for those who dont know you are in one of the most historic places in the city There are many interesting sightseeing spots beyond shopping streets like Colaba Causeway and Marine Drive that will pique your interestHere are five places you should visit while you are at the Kala Ghoda 2023Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj TerminusIf you are in Mumbai for the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival then commuting by the train is ideal to avoid any vehicle parking fuss Even if you deboard at Churchgate railway station visiting Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus CSMT which is close to Kala Ghoda is a must Formerly known as Bori Bunder railway station and the Victoria Terminus VT the UNESCO heritage structure is definitely a modern marvel and breathtaking in its own right To enjoy its true beauty you dont only need to enter the railway station but need to stand directly opposite to understand why it is a mark of the citys beauty The 134yearold structure was designed by British born architectural engineer Frederick William Stevens with a design by Alex Haig in an Italian Gothic architecture styleKala GhodaThe festival gets its name from the iconic Kala Ghoda statue situated near to it The Kala Ghoda black horse is a significant part of the citys history and inception of the festival It dates back to the time when the neighbourhood had a statue of King Edward VII mounted on a horse While the statue was shifted to the Byculla Zoo in 1965 it was replaced with a similar statue of just the black horse The statue titled Spirit of Kala Ghoda was commissioned by the Kala Ghoda Association It was designed by architect Alfaz Miller and sculpted by Sreehari BhosleWatch Kala Ghoda 2023 Mumbaikars throng to south Mumbairsquos beloved art district on day 1 of the festivalFlora FountainIf you are in the area it is impossible to miss out on Flora Fountain The distinct white statue which is of the Roman Goddess Flora is at the Hutatma Chowk in Fort It was built in 1864 in the Neo Classical and Gothic revival architectural style by Richard Norman Shaw It is situated where the original Church gate stood for St Thomas Cathedral before it was demolished While the fountain looks magnificent in daylight it looks even better during the night A few feet away is another stone statue which is a must for history buffs or people who want to know more about Mumbai Bearing a pair of torchbearing patriots it commemorates the people who died in a police firing at Flora Fountain in November 1955Horniman Circle GardensWalk down from Flora Fountain into Kala Ghoda and you will find Horniman Circle Gardens exactly on the other side of it More popularly known as Horniman Circle and facing the Asiatic Library it is an important landmark of Fort and South Mumbai As big as twoandahalf acres it was named to honour Benjamin Horniman who supported the Indian independence movement and was the editor of the Bombay Chronicle newspaper Being one of the venues of the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival it used to also be a place for social gatherings in the pastChhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu SangrahalayaFormerly known as Prince of Wales Museum the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya is only a hop skip and jump away from where the festival takes place in Kala Ghoda Celebrating its centenary only last year the museum was restored for the first time since its inauguration in 1922 under the supervision of conservation architect Vikas Dilawari The Grade 1 heritage building is built in the IndoSaracenic architectural style and has over 70000 exhibits from all over the world making it a mustvisit in the cityBeing at the centre of the art and literary circle Kala Ghoda has a lot more to see and would easily require more than a day If you have time on your hands then a visit to the Asiatic Library Jehangir Art Gallery and National Gallery of Modern Art is a must If you want to grab a bite then there are many including iconic Irani restaurant Jimmy Boy Last but not the least if you are a fashionista and love shopping then head on to Colaba Causeway just after CSMVS Museum during these daysIN PHOTOS Watch these innovative installation arts from Kala Ghoda 2023 in Mumbai