 The city of Bombay has countless tales and fables buried within its concrete. Beneath the humdrum of daily living lie layers of cultural trivia that can be sought out by those who care about such things. One such gem is tucked within the busy arena of Churchgate, where thousands of hardworking city dwellers skim by daily, with blinkers on. The mystical Bhika Behram well lies at the corner of the Churchgate street that meets Flora Fountain.
Legend has it that in the 18th century, a Parsi gentleman called Bhikaji came to Mumbai from Bharuch in Gujarat. At some point, he became a successful businessman and operated out of Angrez Bazaar (now known as Horniman Circle). He erected the well in 1725 as a thanksgiving for being saved from a possible disaster. The precinct of Fort had several such wells in the olden days. These were filled in after the piped water system was set in place, which provided water from faraway lakes.
The beautiful stone-clad Bhikha Behram well is adorned with stained glass. In the 1950s, a pavilion was built around it. Surrounding the well are wooden drums filled to the brim with well-water that is delivered by hand-carts to certain families from the Zoroastrian community. Despite its proximity to the Arabian ocean, the well is fed by a perennial source of sweet water, not unlike the Banganga tank by the sea at Walkeshwar, that has an underground spring of fresh water.
The side of the well that faces Churchgate is restricted to the Parsis, who offer prayers to the sacred well with their foreheads touching its rim. Religious rituals are performed here. The side facing the Cross Maidan is open to all communities.
In 2004, unidentified vandals broke the stained glass paintings on the well’s canopy. A grieving Parsi family who had lost their daughter in a car accident restored the panels in her memory. This Grade 1 heritage structure is just one of the fascinating pieces in the history puzzle of this beloved city.
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