Dadar Parsi Colony – A Photo Essay
My first encounter with Dadar was back in 2004 when I used to travel from Churchgate to Dadar during the evening rush hour. Most of my journey would go in planning my exit strategy from the crowded local train. Dadar has since been synonymous with crowd and chaos and something that should be avoided at all costs.
A decade later I have finally come to see the other side. The side that is calm, quiet and lush green! Welcome to Dadar Parsi Colony, the largest Zoroastrian enclave in the world designed and founded by Mr. Mancherji Joshi during the British rule more than 80 years ago.
Take a walk in this quiet neighbourhood and you might forget that you are in Bombay. The roads are wide and outlined by trees, parks at every corner and old buildings have a distinct charm about them. People are friendlier too. They smile and patiently wait for you to take their pictures (like this couple here), wave at you from their balconies (like this lady here) and sometimes even offer to show you the best and oldest buildings near by. Here are some pictures to give you a peak into this quiet part of town that has been home to some famous personalities including the likes of Freddie Mercury.
Starting with the Fire Temple – the place of worship for Parsis. Unlike other temples and religious places, non-Parsis are strictly prohibited from entering a Fire Temple.
Like I said earlier, the streets are outlined with trees – makes walking a pleasant affair even during summer months.
Dadar Parsi Colony
Originally, no buildings were allowed to be more than 3 storeys high. Thankfully, not much has changed over the years.
A building in Dadar Parsi Colony
Almost every street ends with a park.
And where there are parks, there will be dogs… Lots of them! Like these guys who were out for a walk.. apparently. 🙂
Dadar Parsi Colony takes you back in time.
Almost vintage
If you are a Parsi or a local who knows more about Dadar Parsi Colony, do share some interesting tidbits in the comments below. I’d love to hear from you. If you are few of those lucky folks who actually live here, I would really appreciate receiving some old pictures and stories from the past. You can write to me at suitcaseofstories@gmail.com.
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Very Nice pics , and i totally agree with you .. that this is a part of Mumbai which feels you are out of the concrete jungle.
I love that 5 garden area and the people around.
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So thrilled to find this photo essay of my place of birth and even more to find our building’s picture here 🙂 I left home when I was just 22 and now at 60 this has brought back a flood of memories!
Wow Daraious! That’s such a sweet thing to say. I am glad the post took you down this memory lane. I love Dadar Parsi Colony and I love looking up at the houses, those old but neatly maintained balconies, some with Bougainvilleas peeping out… You’re lucky to call that part of Bombay your home. 🙂 Hope your new neighbourhood is as quaint… cheers. Bharti.
Loved the article and the pics. I used to work as an Intern here at a CA’s place, who of course was a Parsi. An amazing couple. Used to be treated as their child, and was fed on the most amazing Parsi food. There used to be this joint called Shehryar (not sure if I got the spelling right), which served the best Indie-chinese. The taste lingers. And of course the tranquility of the place. The memory is still so fresh after 28 years.
Thank you Preeti. I am happy that these pictures brought back such pleasant memories. That’s all I had hoped for while writing it…. a place like Dadar Parsi Colony is bound to have a lot of charming stories… thanks for sharing yours here. 🙂
P.S – I’ll go see if I can find the food joint you’re talking about. Haven’t seen it though… Hugs, Bharti.
Hi Bharti really liked your post on Dadar parsi colony which is my home ….feel indeed lucky to be a part of this heritage settlement. To answer Preeti’s question….scherevar( the dining place) has long since closed down. But u can grab a bite at 2more small nd quaint eateries called Rti nd cafe 792.
food joint is sherry’s 😀
one of the cheapest, a bit unhygienic but it never affected my gut.
college students live on the food of that joint
Big thank u to all of u for appreciating the beauty that is dadar parsi colony. Let it be said that every Zoroastrian living in it, is responsible for maintaining it. Parsis by and large are peaceful and live in harmony. We may abuse our neighbours in the morning for throwing some kachra from their window , but rest assured we r most definitely having our evening tea and khari biscuit wit the same neighbour. I am truly blessed to have been born and brought up in this haven. And thank god and my father for making sure there is enuf place for my kids too, to live and experience this tiny part of heaven called dpc. ( dadar parsi colony)
The food joint was called “Shehrevar”….Not sure of the spelling, but it is taken from the days in the Parsi calendar. It served delicious Chinese food and was located in the Yezdiar industrial building….unfortunately, even the wonderful industrial and laundry connected with it, closed down years ago!
Vira
Hey, I think you are talking about Sherry’s which is near Ruia College. Filled in our stomachs and our bunked hours with some lip-smacking indie-chinese. You’ll still find people queueing up for unforgettable bites. 🙂
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Beautiful! It’s so comforting to know there exist places like these. My compliments to you.
My school, J.B.Vachha High school, is located in the Pasri Colony. It is in the same lane as the Agyari aka Fire Temple. It has been a pleasure growing up in that area and knowing so many Parsis. Even after I was done with school, taking a walk in these lanes makes you wanna go back in time. Its truly one of the most peaceful areas in the whole of Mumbai and I am glad I got to be there for so many years of my life! 🙂
Wow..great job done. I have lived all my life here and can’t dream of living anywhere else. What you missed showcasing was our Parsi run schools, library,gymkhana, etc. Also if you ventured into a few compounds, you would have found real old vintage vehicles.
I know… I saw some old vintage cars parked inside building compounds. But honestly, I didn’t have any official permission to take pictures and the building guards, security didn’t allow me (rightly so) to click someone’s personal property so up close. If you can get me the access, I’d love to do an article on the vintage vehicles and their owners. Would make for such a beautiful story. What say?
I own 2 vintage bikes and would not mind sharing and can also check with friends who own a few.
Hey Percy,
That would be awesome. I’d love to know more about your bikes and other vintage cars of your friends / family. How should we go about this? Should I connect with you over a mail?
Cheers,
Bharti
Hey Percy, let me know if we can catch up sometime? I’d love to share the story of your vintage bikes on my blog. You can write to me at suitcaseofstories@gmail.com
this place is really amazing, I have travelled often on the highway & the moment you enter DPC roads, you can feel the change in the climate due to the abundance of trees and the greenery. the planned hawking zone should be condemned immd.
I would like these commentators and all those who admire the DPC make their own habitats and surrounding areas havens of peace and tranquility. That I think will be an honest tribute to the Parsi community and our glorious forefathers. Amen.
I was born and brought up in King’s circle and went to school to J.B Vacha. Even today when I drive through five gardens I get very nostalgic. Thank you for bringing back my childhood memories. Lovely pictures.
Thank you for sharing this post ..To say the least, I love the Dadar Parsee colony and I am so lucky to be residing here. Its Green, clean,and so quiet. we are so lucky to have so many parks /gardens, and areas where we can have our daily walks. Where else in Bombay will you find a place like Dadar Parsee Colony.
I went to the J.B.Vachha High School which is diagonally opposite to the Fire Temple. The streets and the buildings and every about Dadar Parsi Colony is all very dear to me and I remember it so fondly.
My favourite place in Mumbai. I went to school at the nearby St Joseph’s, had some great Parsi teachers like Katie and Dinoo Bokdawala, and then spent some years in nearby Don Bosco. But the place is changing already: don’t know if you have noticed a certain number of high rises that have come up on some of the inner roads.
Kudos to bharti for the effort! Yes DPC is by far the best place to live in the island city. Grew up here and still retain a flat in one of the colonies bylanes called jehangir vima dalal road. Where else do you get 10 plus gardens in the vicinity of 1 km. The whole colony feels like just one big family & its been a privelige to have been born & raised in this colony not just because it is quaint and beautiful with lined trees but because DPC is a colony with a soul , a kind loving soul. 🙂
stumbled upon this post and loving it! remember being taken to five gardens as an infant in the arms of various aunts and uncles.later to the craggy faced bhelwala who was our favourite. i studied at j b vachha when it was presided over by many formidable ladies, led by miss nagarwala and miss bana. the houses were beautiful then, and going by the pix the place is as lovely now. thank you for this post