The Walkeshwar Temple complex on Malabar Hill is one of Mumbai's oldest active temples, associated with the Ramayana legend — the name means "sand Shiva," from a story that Rama fashioned a Shiva linga from the beach here while searching for Sita. The current temple dates from the 11th century and has been continuously rebuilt and restored. It overlooks the Banganga Tank, a sacred pool also associated with Rama, and the ensemble creates one of Mumbai's most atmospheric pilgrimage sites.
The stone ghats descending to the Banganga Tank are reminiscent of the sacred tanks at Varanasi on a small scale. The area around the tank retains the character of a temple precinct, with priests, flower vendors, and devotees. The annual Banganga Music Festival transforms the tank into an open-air concert venue each January.