Birds Eye View of Back Bay British Era Bombay – 2 Postcards 1890
Two postcards (1890 and 1900) with Birdseye View of Back Bay and BB&CI building in British Era Bombay (Mumbai). The panoramic views show the Back Bay, the headquarters of the BB&CI or Bombay Baroda & Central India Railway. It is also known as the Churchgate Station headquarters.
The Churchgate Railway Terminus is just opposite to the BB&CI headquarters. In the foreground is the Oval Maidan. Before the 1900s, the Oval, Azad, Cross Maidans, and Cooperage Ground formed the once vast open space known as the Esplanade. The Esplanade can be seen partially in both images.
A finger-shaped land projecting out into the waters of the Back Bay can be seen in the second postcard. This is the back bay reclamation that was in progress during the 1900s. The reclamation formed the famous Marine Drive, Chowpatty Beach, the Art Deco buildings, etc. The reclamation work would progress into the early 1960s, and Nariman Point was also reclaimed from this project. Bombay itself was created by reclamation from a group of seven islands it was once. It took 150-plus years to reclaim the city. The view seems to be most likely from the Rajabai Clock Tower. Click on the photo for better view.
Did you know- that the Portuguese owned Bombay before gifting it to the British in 1661.
From the collection- 1964 M. Suriyamoorthy Charcoal Art Abstract (#11)., Kerala Backwaters & Village, Old Photo 1945., Aerial View of Parliament New Delhi – Old Print 1946., Indian Revolt Lucknow & The Residency – Vintage Map 1900.