Pali Hill

Geography

Pali Hill lies on the west coast of Mumbai, running closely parallel to Carter Road (recently renamed Naushad Ali Road), a popular sea-front and promenade. Both these roads are situated in the Bandra (West) suburb (H-West Ward) of Mumbai, India.

Situated mainly on a few rolling hills with alternate steep and shallow sides, has it garnered the name Pali Hill, although there is more than one hill. Although the main route of the road has been smoothened and paved, the buildings and bungalows are set within both the "valleys" and "crests" of the said hills. Nearby localities include Pali Village and Pali Naka.

History

Up to the 1950s, the area was mainly forested with dense undergrowth. Over the years, it was cultivated and tamed to grow fruits and crops. At one time the sea was plainly visible from the foot of the hills.

Soon, a few buildings were constructed by entrepreneurs and builders. However, the multitude of people lived in small cottages or bungalows. Construction of apartment buildings commenced in the mid/late 1960s, with Nibbana Apartments being one of the first.

The cottage dwellers slowly sold their homes to the real estate developers and Pali Hill grew into an affluent Neighbourhood.

K. Street Pali Hill (2004–2006), a thriller television soap on STAR Plus, produced by Ekta Kapoor (Balaji Telefilms) was set in the suburb.

Flora and fauna

Pali Hill has an expanse of trees forming arches over the roads. Originally an area of mildly cultivated orchards, fields and untamed forests, over the period of forty years it has been deforested and made suitable for large scale residential habitation. A few of those giant trees remain in building compounds, bungalow gardens and on the roads. The most widely seen tree is the gulmohar tree. Also abundant are large (and rare in Mumbai) banyan trees, peepul trees, mango trees, ashoka trees, wild almond trees, wild neem trees as well as a variety of shrubs, grasses, bamboos and trees, like those of the papaya, jackfruit, custard-apple, and guava.

Flowering shrubs too are cultivated and sometimes grow by themselves. Most abundant are bougainvillea, jasmines, birds of paradise flowers and other wild, indigenous varieties.

Pali Hill is frequented by migratory birds, present during different seasons. Although the native inhabitants are sparrows, koyals, cuckoos, wrens, pigeons, crows and ravens; rare birds (from other parts of Mumbai or India) are also seen. The school Bai Avabai Framji Petit Girls High School sees egrets, storks, owls & other rare birds. Besides, ashy dorus, kites, kestrels, hummingbirds, woodpeckers as well as seagulls and kingfishers (both - the small blue kingfisher as well as the more colourful variant) are also seen. One of India's greatest ornithologists, Salim Ali, was known to walk around Pali Hill with his binoculars and a notebook taking notes and listening to or making bird calls.

Mammals such as dogs (from street strays to pedigrees), cats and small bats are present in abundance.

Landmarks

Being a residential neighbourhood, Pali Hill's landmarks are its buildings & bungalows. At the southern end of Pali Hill is the Rajendra Kumar Junction (Chowk) of four roads - leading to Carter Road in the west (via Pali Mala Road), north to Pali Hill, east to Pali Naka and south to the Auxilium Convent High School. At the northern end of Pali Hill is Union Park, another crossing as well as the area around it. The Candies eatery is another local landmark.

On Pali Hill, the road diverges downhill - the Zig Zag Road (named for its extremely steep incline & acute curves). At this junction was the Anand Bungalow (owned by Dev Anand, now undergoing construction for a large multistorey). Also at this junction is the bungalow of the Narangs, hoteliers and owners of the patisserie Croissants and the Ambassador Flight kitchen. Further on is a former Maharashtra Chief Minister, Sushil Kumar Shinde's house. And on the other side is the BSES Niwas, a property now being developed for and by Reliance ADAG.

Other landmarks include Kangaroo Kids Nursery and Playschool, Juice Salon, Sundaram Stores, and Freeda Beauty Parlour. At the end of Pali Hill, at Union Park lies the Bai Avabai Framji Petit Girls' High School.

Notable residents