Facts about Gateway of India, Mumbai

Year of establishment – 4^th December 1924

Location – Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Governing body – Archaeological Survey of India

Why is was constructed – It was built to celebrate the 1911 royal visit of King George Vand Queen Mary to Mumbai (Bombay)

Architect – George Wittet

Visit Timing – It is open all 24 hours and seven days of the week. (24*7)

Entry fee – There is currently no entry fee taken for Gateway of India.

How to reach – One can take the local trains which are available in Mumbai and the nearest station is Churchgate. One can even take shared or individual taxies which are available and can commute from buses as well.

Introduction

The Gateway of India, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Mumbai stands facing the Arabian Sea and in the bustling Colaba area of Mumbai. It is one of those monuments which reminds us of Bombay’s rich colonial part and the influential heritage of India. It is sometimes popularly also called as ‘TAJ MAHAL OF MUMBAI’

History

It was built to commemorate and honor the visit of King George V and Queen Mary to India in December 1911. The foundation of this prestigious monument was laid by Sir George Sydenham Clarke, the Governor of Bombay on March 31, 1911. Hence, the final and the formal inauguration of Gateway of India was done by then Viceroy of India, Rufus Issacs on 4^th December 1924. The road towards the gateway was never completed due to the lack of funds for the finishing of the monument.

Design & Architecture

The famous architect behind this great monument was the Scottish architect George Wittet, who made the final design and craved out the structure. The stone used was Yellow Basalt and was made up of concrete. The monument faces the Mumbai harbour. On each side of the arch, there have been two large halls built up to accommodate approx. 600 people in each. The total cost that was borne by the government was around Rs 21 lakhs (two million one hundred thousand rupees) but it was believed that due to the scarcity of the funds the approach road was never made and therefore the Gateway stands at an angle to the road leading up to it.

Inscription

The following inscription which one can read on the Gateway of India –

ERECTED TO COMMEMORATE THE LANDING IN INDIA OF THEIR IMPERIAL MAJESTIES KING GEORGE V AND QUEEN MARY ON THE SECOND OF DECEMBER MCMXI