Shivaji Park

Dadar's Shivaji Park.

One of the most important Landmark of Dadar.

A place where the  young and the elderly have been hanging out since 1925, a place where legends such as Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar, Sanjay Manjrekar,etc learnt their trade, a place where the massive Rallies take place.

Shivaji Park is pretty much the hub of all activity in and around Dadar.

Overview

it is a circular /d shaped field where the  'health conscious' walk/run/ jog routinely.one can also spot many 'optimists' who tread the periphery  hoping for decrease in the what marathi call "Dheree" i.e. bulging stomach.

At any given point,one can see the old 'ajobaa's'[grandpa's] sitting on the benches kept near the Smt. Meenatai Thackerey statue entrance[denoted by 5], chatting with em matey's , happy in the knowledge that their grandkids are having a blissful time in the Children's Park adjacent to the entrance.

The Children's Park

 

Then there's always this rush at the Amul Ice-Cream stall,Tibb's Frankie's and Move n Pick takeaways.

And it's precisely at these places where optimists end up nullifying the previous hours' hard-work.

Tibb's Frankie.

Opposite to the Smt. Meenatai Thackerey statue entrance is the Udhyan Ganesh Mandir. Many devotees of Lord Ganesh come here.

The Ganesh Mandir

There's a Tennis court adjacent to the Children's park.It's Floodlit and the place is quite active.

Just besides it is the Shivaji Park Gymkhana[denoted by 8]. It's a club, quite frequented by many living nearby and also the future Rooney's and Messi's who happen to kick the ball in it's premises.

The Shivaji Park Gymkhana

At position no 6 we have the Samarth Vyayam mandir. Now Vyayam literally means Exercise in English,but it's not just treadmills,dumbells,etc it's the likes of Malkham,Lejhim,Yoga,Wall climbing,etc that is done/taught here.

 

Boy performing Malkham

I'm sure by now you must be wondering with so many varieties of activities going on within the area, how did Sachin Tendulkar manage to learn the Game,when apparently, there does not seem to be any space left!

sadly you're mistaken. All I covered was the periphery of the Park.

The whole area,sans the places i mentioned is available for playing purposes!

There's Acres of space to play on.

Typically,you would find people playing cricket in the afternoon right till probably 6 in the evening. Later on,focus shifts towards Football. People play football till 10-11 in the night.

Shivaji Park is the Home ground of Adarsh F.C and Kenkre F.C too.

Playing Cricket

Intense Football

Best way to play the beautiful game

 

A nearby attraction is the Dadar Chowpatty. One of the famous Chowpatty's of Mumbai,the place has undergone significant infrastructural changes and now many come there to enjoy the cool breeze,to dance.The place is a great favorite with couples.

Dadar Chowpatty

Some more of the favorite friends' and cronies' hangout's are Barista Lavazza,Cafe' Coffee day,Naturals Ice-Creams,Smokin Joe's,Baskin Robbin,etc.

all these are on the borders of Shivaji Park.

No wonder then Shivaji Park is a Very important and integral part of Dadar and Mumbai as such.

For all those living in Dadar, the place holds a lot of  memories and so a special relevance. for them its a space to be.