Page 452 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - India

450  SOUTHWESTERN INDIA

The Gateway of India with the red-domed Taj Mahal Hotel behind it
1 Gateway of India into the horizon beyond it. This by a prominent Parsi industrialist,
is the heart of Mumbai’s tourist Jamshedji Tata (see p229) who,
Apollo Bunder, Chhatrapati Shivaji
Marg & PJ Ramchandani Marg. 4 district, the city’s most popular it is said, decided to construct
gathering place, and is always this magnificent hotel when he
Mumbai’s most famous teeming with with locals, visitors, was barred from entering the
landmark, the Gateway of India, vendors and boatmen. Boats and “Whites Only” Watson’s Hotel.
was the first sight to greet barges moored here provide The Taj, with its splendid Moorish
travellers to Indian shores during regular services across the bay arches and columns, majestic
the heyday of the British Raj. and to islands such as Elephanta stairways and galleries, remains
Ironically, it also became the (see p465). They can also be hired one of Asia’s grandest hotels,
exit point for British troops for leisurely trips down the while Watson’s, also known as
after India gained Mumbai coastline. “Esplanade Mansion”, is now
independence in North of the Gateway of India, a dilapidated building, the
1947. It was built to towards Wellington Fountain, hotel having closed down
commemorate the is Chhatrapati Shivaji long ago.
visit of King George V Road. Formerly Apollo The eastern sea face
and Queen Mary in Pier Road, it has been stretching in front of the
1911, en route to the renamed after Gateway of India is Mumbai’s
Delhi Durbar, but in Shivaji (see p475), favourite promenade. Called
fact, the King and Maharashtra’s Apollo Bunder, it was once
Queen were met with great warrior-hero. the traditional dockyard of the
a mock card board Shivaji’s equestrian local Koli fishermen, the islands’
structure – the statue is placed original inhabitants. Today,
actual Triumphal here in a pleasant astro logers and ear-cleaners
Arch, built in Statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji garden, in line hustle for business among
honey-coloured opposite the Gateway with the Gateway. pedestrians. Dozens of yachts,
Kharodi basalt, was Standing nearby fishing boats and ferries are
completed only in 1924, years is the statue of the 19th- century moored in the waters beyond.
after the royal visit. Later, it Hindu philosopher and reformist
became the ceremonial entrance Swami Vivekananda (see p619).
to India for viceroys and new Around the Gateway are some
governors of the city. This 26-m majestic buildings dating from
(85-ft) high monument, with two the colonial era. These include
large reception halls, arches and the old Yacht Club, which now
minarets, and embellish ments houses the offices of the Atomic
inspired by 16th-century Gujarati Energy Commission (entry
architecture, was designed by restricted), the Royal Bombay
the Scottish architect George Yacht Club, originally built as a
Wittet in Indo-Saracenic style. residential annexe to the Old
The Gateway commands a Yacht Club, and the Taj Mahal
spectacular view of the sea and Hotel, behind which lies the
looks particularly impressive at busy Colaba Causeway.
night, when it is illuminated, The stately, red-domed Taj The Royal Bombay Yacht Club, a relic of the
with the inky black sea stretching Mahal Hotel was built in 1903 British Raj
For hotels and restaurants in this region see p700 and pp714–15

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