British Era Bombay View from Rajabai Clock Tower, 1890 Photo
This rare 1890 photograph captures the stunning landscape of Bombay (Mumbai) during the British colonial era. The vantage point is from the Rajabai Clock Tower, overlooking the historic Fort area of Bombay.
Prominently visible is the tower of St. Thomas Cathedral. The bustling harbour filled with steamships and boats reflects the city’s growing maritime importance. In the distant horizon lies Elephanta Island, faintly visible across the harbour waters. Once a cluster of seven islands, Bombay was transformed into a single landmass through extensive reclamation projects, much of which was completed by 1860.
When Sir Bartle Frere became Governor of Bombay in 1862, he undertook the massive project of demolishing the walls of Fort George. Which took a year to complete. This freed vast tracts of land, paving the way for modern urban development. Under Frere’s leadership, Bombay was redesigned into a European-style city with wide roads, grand colonial buildings. This 19th-century photograph is a glimpse into that transformation, showing how colonial Bombay evolved into a world-class city during the British Raj. Click photo to enlarge.
Did you know – the buildings constructed were in the “Gothic Revival” style.
From the collection – Raja Ravi Varma’s “Birth of Shakuntala” Oleograph 1894.
