A distinct material culture at Banganga Tank is the popularity of bathroom tiles for decor and restoration purposes. The tiles are used not only for floors, the purpose for which they are designed but also on walls and the interior of garbagrihas in temples. This shrine below a banyan tree in front of Walkeshwar Temple has been restored using bathroom tiles.
In front of Walkeshwar Temple is the Onkareshwar Mahadeo Temple, commissioned by Mathuradas Dwarkadas. This temple has a squat deepstambha adjoining it. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, represented by a stone lingam that is fabled to be swayambhu (self-manifesting). Next to the temple stands an old banyan tree.
This nine-inch-tall Ganesha idol is worshipped at the Ganapati Temple. It is made of white marble quarried from Rajasthan and is enclosed in a glass casing. The shrine is made from wood and has a dome similar to the dome on top of the temple.
The neighborhood of Walkeshwar is one of the few places in Mumbai that has a marked elevation due to its location on Malabar Hill. There are several theories about how the hill got its name after the Malabar coastline in modern Kerala. One theory is the hill being used as a refuge by pirates from the Malabar coast who preyed upon European shipping. Another theory is the hill got named after pilgrims from the Malabar coast who used to visit the original Walkeshwar Temple and the Shri Gundi sacred rock, both of which were later destroyed, thus ending the long-established practice.
The Jagannath Mahadev Temple has anthropomorphic wood-carved brackets supporting the roof. These are in the form of female musicians playing a variety of musical instruments. They are heavily decked in jewelry and wear a blouse and skirt-like garment. The brackets are painted in bright colors and add an element of playfulness to the overall decor of the temple.
Hindu pilgrims perform parikrama along a path going around Banganga Tank, starting from the south end. The important temples are located on the parikrama path. The ghats have spatial division according to specific rituals; south and west are used for rituals of the dead, and north and east are used for auspicious rites.
The Heritage Project draws attention to how women are integral to the growth and development of the Banganga neighborhood, and their role in sustaining ecology. Shilo Shiv Suleman depicts this interdependence with the use of a mix of text, portraits, and elements of Hindu mythology to create awareness and promote dialogue for social change.
Diverse architectural elements are incorporated within a compact forecourt at the Vyankatesh Balaji Temple. The entrance gate doubles as a naubatkhana (drum house); a flight of steps leads to a platform where musicians played the nagara and shehnai. Next to the gateway are shrines dedicated to Garuda and Ganesha, separated by a deepastambha.
The lingam worshipped in the garbagriha of Walkeshwar Temple is said to be swayambhu (self-manifested). The lingam has a brass kavach (armor) and is protected within the coil of a brass Naga (serpent). It is believed that this lingam was brought from Varanasi by Lakshman, hence Walkeshwar is also referred to as Lakshmaneswar.
Siddheshwar Mahadev temple forms part of what was once known as Jairamgir Bawa’s Math, where samadhis of ascetics of the orthodox Giri Smarta sect were erected. The samadhis of the founder (Jairamgir Bawa) and two other ascetics were also built here. The temple overlooks the Banganga Tank and is noted for its arched gateway, grayish-blue basalt walls, pyramidical shikhara, and compact sabha mandap.