Gateway of India

The Gateway of India as seen from the harbour

The Gateway of India (Marathi: गेटवे ऑफ इंडिया) is a monument in Mumbai (formerly Bombay), India. Located on the waterfront in Apollo Bunder area in South Mumbai, the Gateway is a basalt arch 26 metres (85 feet) high. It was a crude jetty used by fisher folks and was later renovated and used as a landing place for British governors and other distinguished personages. In earlier times, the Gateway was the monument that visitors arriving by boat would have first seen in the city of Bombay.

Its design is a combination of both Hindu and Muslim architectural styles, the arch is in Muslim style while the decorations are in Hindu style. The Gateway is built from yellow basalt and reinforced concrete. The stone was locally obtained, and the perforated screens were brought from Gwalior.

The central dome is 15 metres (49 feet) in diameter and is 26 metres (85 feet) above ground at its highest point. The whole harbour front was realigned in order to come in line with a planned esplanade which would sweep down to the centre of the town. The cost of the construction was Rs. 21 lakhs (2,100,000), borne mainly by the Government of India. Due to lack of funds, the approach road was never built, and so the Gateway stands at an angle to the road leading up to it.

 The Gateway today

History

The Gateway of India was built to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary to Bombay, prior to the Delhi Durbar, in December 1911. The foundation stone was laid on 31 March 1911, by the Governor of Bombay Sir George Sydenham Clarke, with the final design of George Wittet sanctioned in August 1914. Between 1915 and 1919 work proceeded on reclamations at Apollo Bundar (Port) for the land on which the gateway and the new sea wall would be built. The foundations were completed in 1920, and construction was finished in 1924. The Gateway was opened on 4 December 1924, by the Viceroy, the Earl of Reading. The well-known Jewish business family, the Sassoon's, were one of the great contributors to Mumbai, and offered the largest donation for the construction effort, contributing 10 Lakhs of Rupees for the construction. Out of the total expenses, Gammon India claims that it did India's first pre-cast reinforced concrete job for the foundation of the Gateway of India.

 The Gateway, 1920s

The last British troops to leave India, the First Battalion of the Somerset Light Infantry, passed through the Gateway in a ceremony on 28 February 1948.

From here people can visit Elephanta Caves by ferry boats. There are luxury boats which take visitors around the harbour for a couple of hours. Opposite the Gateway stands the Royal Taj Mahal Hotel and Taj Towers. In front of the Gateway, there is a statue of Chatrapati Shivaji.

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Mumbai

Bollywood is based in Mumbai.

Mumbai ( /mʊmˈbaɪ/; Marathi: मुंबई, Mumbaī, IPA: [mumbə.i]), formerly known as Bombay (/bɒmˈbeɪ/) in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the sixth most populous city in the world, with a population of approximately 20.5 million. Along with the neighbouring urban areas, including the cities of Navi Mumbai and Thane, it is one of the most populous urban regions in the world. Mumbai lies on the west coast of India and has a deep natural harbour. As of 2009, Mumbai was named an Alpha world city. Mumbai is also the richest city in India, and has the highest GDP of any city in South, West or Central Asia.

Rajabai Clock Tower at the University of Mumbai

The seven islands that came to constitute Mumbai were home to communities of fishing colonies. For centuries, the islands came under the control of successive indigenous empires before being ceded to the Portuguese and subsequently to the British East India Company. During the mid-18th century, Mumbai was reshaped by the British with large-scale civil engineering projects, and emerged as a significant trading town. Economic and educational development characterised the city during the 19th century. It became a strong base for the Indian independence movement during the early 20th century. When India became independent in 1947, the city was incorporated into Bombay State. In 1960, following the Samyukta Maharashtra movement, a new state of Maharashtra was created with Bombay as capital. The city was renamed Mumbai in 1995.

 BMC headquarters

 Dharavi is a large slum in Mumbai

 Asiatic Society of Bombay is one of the oldest public libraries in the city

 Ganesh Chaturthi, a popular festival in Mumbai, involves worship of Ganesha

 The Bandra-Worli Sea Link is a cable-stayed bridge that connects central Mumbai with its western suburbs

 The Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, formerly known as Victoria Terminus, is the headquarters of the Central Railway and a UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport is currently India's busiest airport in terms of passenger traffic

 Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust is the busiest port in India

 The Hutatma Chowk memorial, built to honour the martyrs of the Samyukta Maharashtra movement. (Flora Fountain is on its left in the background.)

 The Bombay High Court exercises jurisdiction over Maharashtra, Goa, Daman and Diu, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli

 A BEST Starbus. BEST buses carry a total of 4.5 million passengers daily.

 The temple of local Hindu goddess Mumbadevi, after whom the city of Mumbai derives its name

The Haji Ali Dargah was built in 1431, when Mumbai was under the rule of the Gujarat Sultanate

 India's 400 million strong middle-class population is growing at an annual rate of 5%.Shown here is an upmarket residential area of Mumbai

 Clockwise from top: Skyline at Cuffe Parade, the Rajabai Clock Tower, the Taj Mahal Hotel, Nariman Point and Gateway of India

 Brabourne Stadium, one of the oldest cricket stadiums in the country

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Dashashwamedh Ghat

Dashashwamedh Ghat (Hindi: दशाश्वमेध घाट) is main ghat in Varanasi on the Ganges River, it is located close to "Vishwanath Temple", and is probably the most spectacular ghat. Two Hindu mythologies are associated with it: According to one, Lord Brahma created it to welcome Lord Shiva. According to another legend, Lord Brahma sacrificed ten horses during Dasa -Ashwamedha yajna performed here.

Close to the ghat, overlooking the Ganges lies the Jantar Mantar, an observatory built by Maharaja Jai Singh, of Jaipur in the year 1737.

 Ganga Aarti with incense at Varanasi ghats

Ganga aarti

A group of priests daily in the evening at this ghat perform "Agni Pooja" (Worship to Fire) wherein a dedication is made to Lord Shiva, River Ganga, Surya (Sun), Agni (Fire), and the whole universe. Special aartis are held on Tuesdays and on religious festivals.

 Preparation for incense aarti of Ganges, Varanasi Ghats.

 Ganga aarti at Varanasi

 Evening Ganga aarti with incense at Ganga ghat, Varanasi

 Incense smoke Aarti, Ganges, Varanasi

 Incense aarti at Dashaswamedh ghat, Varanasi

 Lamps in preparation for evening Aarti

 Multi-tiered aarti stand being lit, for Ganga Aarti

 Evening Ganges aarti lamp held aloft, Varanasi

 Aarti raised up during evening Ganga aarti, Varanasi.

 Evening Ganga Aarti, at Dashashwamedh ghat, Varanasi

 Evening Aarti, at Dashashwamedh ghat

Aarti singers during evening Ganga aarti, at neighbouring Sitala ghat

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