Built-in 1781, during the period of Peshwa rule in the Deccan, the Vyankatesh Balaji Temple is a typical Peshwa-style temple, with its arched nagarkhana gateway, Mangalore tiled roofing, and a high domed roof. Inside, there is a courtyard and dharamshala, still occupied by the family of the pujaris who maintain the temple. The layout of the site is asymmetric, and the gateway is placed off-center due to this peculiar arrangement.
The northeast lane to Banganga Tank has a contemporary wall mural created by award-winning installation artist Shilo Shiv Suleman in 2021. Titled Pyaas, it draws attention to the origin myth of the Banganga Tank. The theme alludes to the role of women and the importance of water in the daily life and livelihoods of the local residents at Walkeshwar.
The Vyankatesh Balaji Temple has retained many of its original architectural features, including the Mangalore tiled roof, thanks to the effort of conservation architect Sudhir Joshi. The interior receives natural light through high windows on three sides. The windows have wooden balustrades which are indicative of the floor being used as a working space.
Built of black stone, the Jabreshwar Mahadev Temple is squeezed on a flat plinth along the slope of Jabreshwar Gali. An urban legend explains the quirky name of the temple because it was apparently built on land acquired by force (jabardasti). The entrance to the temple opens to Jabreshwar Gali from the side, because of buildings surrounding it on three sides.
The Lakshmi Narayan temple was built in the 1890s by Mathuradas Damodardas Jhaveri, in memory of his late wife, Kesarbai. The Jhaveris are jewelers and they historically migrated to Mumbai from Gujarat, hence elements of Gujarati architecture are reflected in the sitting platform (otla), the use of Gujarati language, and the use of decorative torana over the door.
The Banganga tank precincts are full of shrines and memorials of those who attained samadhi (state of meditative consciousness) and were buried, instead of cremated. The Dasmaniya Akhada burial ground has been in use since the 18th century as a cemetery for sanyasis of the Goswami community, who attained samadhi here.
A little away from Banganga Tank, on Dr. Bhagwanlal Indrajit Marg, is the local Dhobi Ghat. Dhobis wash the clothes manually using water from a deep well. Laundry is dried in the sea breeze and hung on cable lines without using clips, instead they are twined between cables.
Among the many contributions of philanthropist Jagannath Shankarseth was the donation of land to the north of Banganga Tank to be used as burning ground for those Hindus who wished to be cremated at Walkeshwar in the vicinity of the Banganga Tank. A bust of Jagannath Shankarseth is now installed at the crematorium which is also named after him.
Temples at the northeast corner of Banganga Tank; (from left to right) Mahalakshmi Temple (yellow wall), Vyankatesh Balaji Temple (white dome), Jagannnath Mahadeo Temple (white shikara), and Siddheshwar Temple (yellow shikhara). Over time, the addition of new buildings and encroachments have blocked the view of the temples from the ghats.
Mace-bearing dwarapala at the Lakshmi Narayan Temple wearing the Marathi turban, called pheta or pataka. The dwarapalas at Vishnu temples are modeled on Jaya and Vijaya, the gatekeepers at Vaikuntha, the heavenly abode of Lord Vishnu. The interesting detail is the presence of a small lion at the base.