In What Way Is the Gateway of India a Blend of History and Architectural Brilliance?
Mumbai’s Gateway of India is a unique colossal landmark of 1924. It was designed by George Wittet and is one of the top tourist attractions. This is because it records more than 1,000 footfalls on a normal day! The arch monument was mainly built for King George and Queen Mary to enter India. The last British troops were also known to leave India in 1948 via this gate after the country gained independence.
Later, viceroys and newly elected governors of the city used it for entrance. Today, it is a gathering area for locals, street photographers, vendors, and NGO fund collectors. The Colaba Causeway and Nehru Science Centre are nearby. The Gateway of India is a must-visit after deboarding your Bengaluru to Mumbai flights. Here’s why it is an impressive blend of history and architecture.
Architectural Wonder
It is built in an Indo-Saracenic fashion. The ‘triumphal arch’ of Delhi’s India Gate is often compared with that of the Gateway of India. The grand structure is also a fantastic amalgamation of Roman triumphal arch elements and Gujarat’s architectural style. The arch of Gateway of India is made from pure yellow basalt and insoluble reinforced concrete.
The façade consists of complex lettering and lattice (jaali) works on them. It has adopted the style of the Arc de Triomphe of Paris. There are four turrets, detailed busts on the exterior, and steps at the back leading to the Arabian Sea. You can see huge halls on each side of the arch that can house 600 people at a time. The British architect has further inculcated Gothic-like flamboyance with Muslim-Indian architectural features. Understanding all of these will help you get an idea of the cultural aspects of Mumbai.
Historical Significance
The Gateway of India was built to commemorate the first visit of a British Monarch to India in 1911. But he only saw the cardboard model since the construction had not started by 1915. Today, it is one of the first monuments that visitors arrive via sea notice.
A professor at JNU named the Gateway of India a ‘symbol of conquest and colonisation’ and a ‘jewel in the crown’. In a way, it is just not a gateway to India but also India’s gateway to the rest of the world. No wonder, it is a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site and a must-visit via affordable and flexible Bengaluru to Mumbai flight.
What to Do in and around Gateway of India?
The Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation offers ferry services from here. You can visit the Elephanta Caves if you have some time before boarding your Mumbai to Delhi flight. People also drop by for a simple early-morning relaxing stroll before the sun starts getting hotter. Other attractions nearby are Marina Drive, Jehangir Art Gallery, The Taj Mahal Palace, and the Statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
The Gateway of India was chemically conserved due to the blackening of and algae formation of the stones. The Maharashtrian government had also launched a plan to clean, restore and beautify this precious monument. Besides historical and architectural importance, the Gateway of India also is quite popular in Bollywood with movies like Don, Hum Hindustani, Hotel Mumbai, and more shot around it.