Kaka Baptista Gardens on Mazagaon Hill is named after Joseph ‘Kaka’ Baptista, who was born in Matharpacady in 1861. In 1925, he was elected as the mayor of the Bombay Municipal Corporation. A barrister by qualification, he practised law at the Bombay High Court. He was also involved in politics and advocated for the rights of the East Indian community. Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Kaka Baptista were close allies during the Indian Home Rule Movement.
Chawls provided affordable housing solutions for the working-class population. Typically, a chawl is a multi-storeyed structure and has individual living units arranged around a central courtyard. The units open on a running balcony which is used to socialize with neighbours. The residential unit may include a bedroom, sitting room, and kitchen, though washroom facilities are usually common.
As a gesture of goodwill and public service, the descendants of Nawab Ayaz supported the construction of a sizable tank on the site of which a pyau (drinking waterspout) was placed in 1916. Horses and bullocks that pulled carts carrying cargo to the warehouses and dockyards had their own section of the tank. Subsequently, the tank was filled and transformed into a playground. It also has a subterranean water tank.
Though Mazagon was an island with sea on all sides, it was well-known for freshwater resources. Before the days of municipally supplied tap water, there were a lot of wells and tanks that supplied drinking water. While some of these wells were privately dug within homes, others were open to the public. This covered well, for instance, is a private well located inside a Parsi mansion.
A tailor operates a sewing machine on the ground floor of Khorshed Mansion. This building, located on Nawab Tank Bridge Road, is extremely narrow, and the shop stands on its wedged corner. The floor space of the shop is barely a metre wide, enough to run a tailoring business.
Stained glass artwork on the windows at 22 Matharpacady, depicting Mother Mary and infant Jesus (on the right panel), and the Holy Communion (on the left panel). The house was donated by the Miranda family and was renamed Eymard Cottage, and opened as the Provincialate (HQ) of the SSS Order, on September 14, 2006. It has a Blessed Sacrament Chapel and offers a daily Mass for senior citizens of the gaothan.
The Lion’s Den bungalow is named after the twin lion-mounted gate posts. The lions are associated with the Biblical story of Daniel, who was thrown in the lion's den by Darius the Mede, King of Babylon. Pleased by Daniel’s blameless character, the God of Israel sent an angel to close the jaws of the lions. Thus, Daniel survived the lion's den unharmed and was released by Darius.
Matharpacady has a strong historical connection with Goa and Goan Christians. The neighbourhood has several kudds; dormitories that provide accommodation to migrant workers from Goa at a nominal fee. The kudds are managed by clubs linked to villages in Goa, which patronize them. This kudd, 21/B Ground Floor, Matharpacady, is run by the Association of Paroda from Paroda village, in Salcete taluka, South Goa district. It was established in 1900.
The six-pointed Star of Bethlehem is associated with the Nativity story. The star served as a navigation aid for the three wise men who visited the manger where Jesus was born. It represents the divine light and hope brought into the world by the birth of Jesus Christ. This star of Bethlehem, stored in the open veranda at 20 Mataharpacady, will be hoisted during Christmas.
Marian Villa is among the better-preserved Portuguese-style bungalows in Matharpacady, home to the Mascarenhas family. Azulejo tiles are used for the nameplate, similar to those used in Goan homes. Arabic in origin, these blue and white tiles were produced by the Spanish from the 14th century onward to decorate their churches and monasteries. The Portuguese imported the tiles from Spain and, in the 17th century, started exporting them to their colonies, from where they reached Goa.