For someone who worked in Mumbai for 3 years and most of it passing the best sights it had to offer, I went back to the same areas and checked out some sights. For example, I would go with my friends every week to Colaba on Friday nights but never made it to the Gateway of India which is a mere 500 metres away I think.
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| The Gateway of India |
The Gateway was built in 1924 - but was originally commissioned to be built to welcome King George V for his coronation as Emperor of India on his visit to India in 1911! The plaque on the gate says that it is dedicated to commemorate the landing in India of King George and Queen Mary.
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| Dedicated to commemorate the landing in India of King George V and Queen Mary |
A bit of a walk away - next to the CSM Vastu Sangrahalaya - I passed the famous Kala Ghoda area where the Kala Ghoda festival is held every year in February. Here there is a statue of a Kala Ghoda - called the Spirit of Kala Ghoda - it was erected in 2016 to represent the essence of art, culture and the free flow of ideas. The original Kala Ghoda however is a black stone statue of King Edward VII mounted on a horse built by David Sassoon and erected in this place - which was removed and placed inside the Byculla Zoo! So that lays to rest why it is called the Kala Ghoda!
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| Kala Ghoda |
This area has a bunch of buildings which are a delight to look at. The Army and Navy Building now called the Westside building and standing next to it - the David Sassoon Library.
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| David Sassoon Library |
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| Elphinstone College |
I also passed by Flora Fountain a thousand times and never went close enough to take a pic - thanks to my rendezvous with Mahender at Flora Fountain I got a pic.
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| Flora Fountain |
The Flora Fountain (1864) is named after Roman Goddess Flora (can make out by the looks of her) who is the goddess for flowers and spring, the four corners having four life sized female figures carrying stuff to represent the four seasons. It was part of the fountain that was built when the old Mumbai Fort was demolished (apparently it had three gates - Apollo Gate, Church Gate and Bazaar Gate) and the fountain stands where the Church gate stood.
I did not go far enough this time but right behind Flora Fountain is the statue of two patriots carrying a torch - the Hutatma Smarak Chowk which is what it is now called. The Martyrs Memorial Square is built in memory of 106 martyrs who died in police firing in November 1955 when they were peacefully demonstrating for a separate Maharashtra. The chowk has a wall with all the names of the martyrs and a Amar Jyothi. Next time.
The High Court Building is a beautiful building and so are many others.
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| Raja Bai Clock Tower - 1878 |
The Raja Bai Clock Tower is another beauty. Designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott the 85 metre, 25 storey tall tower stands within the University of Mumbai campus. The tower was partly funded by a wealthy broker Premchand Roychand Jain (who founded the BSE) and had it named after his mother Rajabai.
I passed by Haji Ali dargah a thousand times too in all these years. It was built in 1431 - 600 years old - and contain sthe tomb of Sufi saint Pir Haji Ali Shah Bukhari, a Sufi saint from Uzbekistan who settled down in Mumbai.
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| Haji Ali Dargah |
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| A closer look |
I wanted to visit it this time but didn't happen - so perhaps next time I may get the call the next time. All I got was a distant shot.
Some random shots and stories - much to explore here. Next time!
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