Spectacular View of British Era Bombay From Malabar Hill, 1900 Photo
This rare 1900 photograph of British-era Bombay (now Mumbai) captures a breathtaking panoramic view of Malabar Hill and the Back Bay waters. Visible in the distance are some of the city’s most iconic colonial landmarks, such as the Bombay High Court, the Rajabai Clock Tower, and the Secretariat.
In the foreground, the image showcases an undeveloped but beautiful Chowpatty Beach, framed by quaint tiled houses and shady trees. At this time, the Colaba Causeway connected the area to Colaba, while the famous Marine Drive promenade had yet to be built—it would only be constructed in 1915.
Decades later, the stretch along Marine Drive became home to the world-renowned Art Deco buildings of Bombay, completed in the 1930s and now recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This historic image of Malabar Hill and Back Bay in 1900 provides a fascinating window into Bombay’s transformation during the colonial era. Click photo to enlarge.
Read more The Making of Marine Drive.
Did you know – out of the seven islands, the H-shaped island where the Back Bay is located was called Bombay.
From the collection – Rural Life In India Watercolour Painting By N. Mukherjee., Biplane At Cochin Air Base WW2, 2 Old PCs 1942., New Harbour Works At Madras or Chennai – Old Print 1880., Maharaja Of Travancore’s Elephants & Sunbeam Car.
