Popularly called Ranee Baug
after its namesake, the Victoria Gardens are now rechristened Jijamata
Udyan. They are botanical gardens, sprawled over 48 acres and contain
some of the oldest trees in the city, some dating back two hundred years!
At the entrance is a charming Renaissance clock tower to match the Italian
Renaissance-style Victoria and Albert Museum (now the Bhau Dali Ladd Museum)
that houses an interesting collection of local archaeological finds. Just
behind it is the Mumbai Zoo, a depressing place with animals in bare cast
iron-and-stone cages. Avoidable. You can however, opt for an elephant
ride on weekends, but the best bet is a stroll through the gorgeous botanical
gardens or picnic on the well-kept lawns.
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