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Gateway of India
Contents
- Overview
- [+] Visitor Quick Facts
- [+] Historical Quick Facts
- History
- Myths or Facts
- Architecture And Structural Description
- Things To See
- Nearby Attractions
- Other Information
[ Edit ] Overview
The Gateway of India is synonymous with the city of Mumbai and its most famous landmark. The monument was built to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary to Bombay.
The Gateway of India, completed in 1924, faces the vast Arabian Sea, and is flanked by Mumbai’s another famous attraction - the Taj Mahal Hotel. It has become a de facto stop for tourists visitng the city. Furthermore, it is the starting point for most ferries that ply between Mumbai and Elephanta Caves.
Visitor Quick Facts
[ Edit ] Famous For
The Gateway of India is famous for:
- Being the first landmark visible to those coming to Mumbai by the sea.
- Being the spot from which the last British troops in India, exited the country in 1948 following India's independence.
[ Edit ] Location
Mumbai, Maharastra, India
[ Edit ] Best Time To Visit
The best months to visit Mumbai are between October through to March. Monsoons (June to September) and summers (March to May) are best avoided for tourists.
[ Edit ] Days of Operation
Open daily.
[ Edit ] Hours of Operation
The Gateway of India is accessible at all hours.
[ Edit ] Entry Charges & Fees
There are no charges to see the Gateway of India.
Historical Quick Facts
[ Edit ] Type
[ Edit ] Architecture
While formally defined as Indo-Saracenic, the architectural style / elements used for the Gateway of India are thought to be derived from the Gujarati Muslim of the 16th century.
[ Edit ] Construction Period
1911 - 1924
[ Edit ] Built By
Gateway of India was built by the British Raj.
[ Edit ] History
The foundation stone for the Gateway of India was was laid on 31 March 1911, by the Governor of Bombay. However, the final design of the monument was not actually approved until August 1914.
Construction did not begin till 1920 given that land reclamations, for the proposed site of the Gateway of India at Apollo Bundar, were under way during this period and a new sea wall was built.
Construction was finished in 1924. The Gateway of India was innaugarated in December 1924 by the Earl of Reading, Viceroy of India.
The total cost of the monument was Rs. 21 million (or ~$45,000).
[ Edit ] Myths or Facts
Myths and facts of the Gateway of India:
- When the Gateway of India was originally designed, the plan was to have the entire harbour front realigned such that a planned esplanade would sweep down to the centre of Mumbai from the Gateway. However, due to lack of funds, this approach road was never built. As such, the Gateway of India stands at an incongrous angle to the road leading up to it.
[ Edit ] Architecture And Structural Description
Notes on the architecture and design of the Gateway of India:
- The central dome is 49 feet in diameter and is 85 feet high at its highest point.
- The dome is joined with four turrets and intricate latticework carved on stones.
- It is reported that the Arch alone cost Rs. 2.1 million to build.
- Some architects describe the Gateway of India as a hybrid of Paris' Arc de Triomphe.
- The entire structure has been built using yellow basalt and reinforced concrete.
- The design appears to have been influenced by Gujarati Muslim architecture of the 16th century.
[ Edit ] Things To See
[ Edit ] Nearby Attractions
Other nearby attractions to the Gateway of India include:
- Victoria Terminus (CST)
- Taj Mahal Hotel
- Elephanta Caves
- Haji Ali
[ Edit ] Other Information
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