For many Mumbaikars, Sagar Upvan Garden in Colaba is a pleasant spot for morning strolls. Few, however, are aware that the lush garden was once a sprawling dumping ground. Before 1995, the site was buried under waste. Its transformation began when the Mumbai Port Trust reclaimed the land and developed it into a botanical garden. With support from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the space was carefully landscaped with native and exotic species, medicinal plants and themed garden sections. Today, the 12-acre green pocket stands as one of South Mumbai’s most inspiring examples of ecological restoration.

Fish Poison Tree (Samudraphal)