The Gateway of India is one of the major landmarks of India. It is located on the waterfront in the Apollo Bunder area of south Mumbai and overlooks the Arabian sea.
Gateway of India Information
| Place | – | Gateway of India, Mumbai, Maharashtra |
| Construction started | – | 31st March 1911 |
| Inaugurated | – | 4th December 1924 |
| Height | – | 26 m |
| Architect | – | George Wittet |
| Architectural style | – | Indo-Saracenic |
History of Gateway of India, Mumbai (Bombay)
An ancient monument in the city of Mumbai in India built during the British Rule in India.
If one ever goes to Mumbai and asks for places to visit from any local, he/she will be asked to go to the Apollo Bunder area in south Mumbai.
This is the area where the Gateway of India stands overlooking the Arabian Sea and with The Taj Mahal Palace and Tower Hotel in the vicinity.
The gateway is an arch-like structure with a height of 26 meters. Located on the seashore, it marks the end of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Marg.
This monument was used by fishermen as a place where they used to anchor boats until the renovation was done and the monument gained significance as it was used to be the landing place of British Governors and the other British delegates who used to visit India.
The construction of the Gateway of India was made in the Indo-Gothic style and the foundation stone was laid on March 31st, 1911. The design was proposed by George Witter in 1914 and construction was completed in 1924.
A stone was placed next to the monument on which the name of the city was inscribed as Bombay. The foundation stone for the monument was laid by Sir George Sydenham Clarke on 31st March 1911.
The building material used for basalt and concrete and the arch-like structure was built in an Indo-Gothic architectural style. The foundations and the sea wall were completed by 1920 and the gate was opened on December the 4th 1924 by the Earl of Reading.
The most important tryst with the history of this gate was, however, the departure of the last British Troops, the Somerset Light Infantry’s first battalion from India, hence signaling the end of the British Raj in India on February 28th, 1948.
The arch combined the architectural styles of medieval Rome and Hindu and Muslims. The Gateway of India was built to show the supreme power and authority of the powerful British Raj in India for British arriving from outside the country.
Today the Gateway is a major tourist attraction where a lot of vendors gather to sell tourist-oriented products. Lots of photographers can be found around the area too.
There is also the majestic and beautiful Taj Mahal Hotel next to it and also a few landmark buildings. The majority of tourists visiting the city is found near these areas in the evenings.
Also, read the article: Facts about Taj Mahal
There have been several terror attacks on this monument, most notably in 1993 and twice in 2003. On the infamous terror attack day of 26/11/2008, the terrorists disembarked from their boats on the Gateway of India before taking to the streets and creating trouble in the Taj Hotel.
In the following months, several musical shows and gatherings were held at this monument to show the spirit of the people after the terror attacks.
To reach the Gateway of India you can take a taxi from the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus or from any other famous point in the city. The architectural firm that completed the construction of the monument was Gammon.
