Among the many iconic structures built by the British in Mumbai, one of the most significant is the Gateway of India. This grand monument was erected at Apollo Bunder in Mumbai to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary to India in 1911. For their welcome, a temporary royal pavilion was set up at Apollo Bunder. At 10 a.m., the royal couple arrived at the port aboard the ship Marina. Upon their arrival, they were honoured with a military salute, followed by a grand procession in a royal carriage. As the procession was to pass through the streets, large crowds had gathered on both sides of the road to catch a glimpse of the royal guests. The couple stayed aboard the Marina for three days. After their tour of the city, they proceeded to Delhi and Kolkata. On January 10, they returned to Mumbai and departed for England by sea from the same location—what would later become the Gateway of India. ... To permanently commemorate this royal visit, it was decided to build a monument. The Gateway of India was conceived by architect George Witted. Though its foundation was laid on March 31, 1911, the final design was approved in 1914, and the construction was completed in 1924—taking a total of eleven years to finish. The monument is a splendid example of Indo-Saracenic architecture from the 16th century. The Gateway stands 26 meters (85 feet) tall and is built from yellow basalt stone sourced from the Khardi quarry in Thane district. The structure has a rectangular plan, with a grand central archway and two smaller arched entrances on either side. The central dome and balconies are made of reinforced concrete. The monument’s front facades are symmetrical, and nearby, three old cannons are mounted upside down for display, possibly as symbolic artefacts. Standing at this site, one can take in views of the vast sea and the cargo ships from India and abroad anchored at the harbour. This historic structure, a pride of Mumbai, continues to stand majestically and remains one of the city's top tourist attractions. Visitors can easily reach the Gateway of India either by walking or taking a bus from Churchgate or Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus while enjoying Mumbai's architectural beauty along the way.
© Suresh Nimbalkar