Charming View of Girgaum During The British Era In Bombay, 1900 Photo
A 1900 photochrom photograph of a charming view of Girgaum during the British era in Bombay (Mumbai). The colour photo is by the photochrom process that was hugely popular in the 1890s. Faintly visible in the distance is a horse-driven tram seemingly making its way to its next destination.
Girgaum, or Girgaon, is situated with Back Bay and Chowpatty to its west, Grant Road and Malabar Hill to the north, Kalbadevi to the south, and Mazgaon to the east. It was traditionally home to the city’s respectable middle classes. In earlier times, Europeans built their residences either within the Fort area or in suburbs like Girgaum, Byculla, and Chinchpokli.
They built residences, groups of handsome houses, with buildings attached. Some of them can be seen in this image. The area was once covered with coconut groves. Although the coconut plantation slowly gave way to urban development. Houses and buildings began to spring up in every direction, gradually transforming the land beyond recognition.
Girgaum gradually emerged as a hub for migrants from across India. Its population grew rapidly in the late 19th century, giving rise to a vibrant mix of communities including Gujaratis, Konkanis, East Indians, and others. However, like many parts of Mumbai, Girgaum now appears to be grappling with the challenges of urban decay. Click on the photo to enlarge.
Did you know – Girgaum, or Girgaon, literally means ‘hill village’—a name derived from its location at the foot of Malabar Hill.
Past posts – Raja Ravi Varma’s “Birth of Shakuntala” Oleograph 1894., Kaisarbagh Palace Lucknow – Old Postcard 1897., Viceroy Visits Nizam’s Hyderabad, Old Print 1911.
