Glimpse of Colonial Era Borah Bazar Street Bombay, 1895 Photo
An 1895 photo of Borah Bazar Street in Bombay (Mumbai). The scene provides a rare glimpse into the city during the colonial era. Much like the neighborhoods of Bhuleshwar, Bhendi Bazar, and other native quarters of colonial Bombay, Borah Bazar was an important hub of trade and settlement.
The photograph shows a relatively quieter street and less populated compared to the bustling marketplace it has become today. The buildings had shops on the ground floor while the upper floors likely housed residential quarters. The locality was historically home to prominent trading communities, including the Parsis, Bohras, and other merchant groups, as early as the mid-1700s. They contributed significantly to the commercial growth of Bombay. Under both the East India Company and later the British Crown.
Located in the Fort area of Bombay, Borah Bazar developed as an extension of the early trading nucleus of the city. It is bound by Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (Victoria Terminus) in the north, Bombay Harbour in the east. Flora Fountain and Horniman Circle to the south, and Cross Maidan to the west. Interestingly, Borah Bazar lay just outside the original East India Company’s factory and fortified castle. Over time, it grew into one of the busiest commercial districts, a character it retains to this day.
Modern Bora Bazaar (near CST, South Mumbai) is now one of the city’s most crowded wholesale markets, and countless smaller trading shops. The transformation from a sparsely populated street to a bustling marketplace reflects the rapid urban growth of Bombay from the 19th century to the present day. Click photo to enlarge.
Did you know – the Borah Bazar Street area, like many other places in Mumbai, was developed from reclaimed land.
From the collection – Rural Life In India Watercolour Painting By N. Mukherjee., Chowringhee Road Calcutta, Old PC 1910., The Residency Lucknow British India – Old Print 1850., Map Of Travancore Backwaters & Coast 1866.
