Magnificent View of British Era Bombay, 1890 Photo
A magnificent view of British-era Bombay (Mumbai) is seen in this 1890 photo. Bombay has never looked far better than from around 1870 to the 1930s, for its appealing old-world charm. The street seen in the foreground is Esplanade Road (now MG Road), and the view of the harbour is in the background. In between are the quaint and charming European-style structures.
The Esplanade Road forks out at Flora Fountain. One continues as the Mahatma Gandhi Road, the other as Dr Dadabhai Naoroji Road (formerly Hornby Road). It was because of the capabilities of Henry Bartle Frere the city grew rapidly. His first task was to demolish the massive walls of Fort George when he took over as the Governor of Bombay in 1862.
It took a year to complete the demolition and left ample space for development. The place still retains the name ‘Fort’. Frere spared no effort in the rapid growth of the city. That would continue even after his tenure. The “Flora Fountain” was originally named “Frere Fountain”. It was named in gratitude for his efforts in making Bombay a magnificent city during the British era. Which can be partly viewed in this old 1890 photo.
Did you know – the Mumbai Port Trust owns, in all, some 2332 acres of land, or about one-eighth of the whole island of Mumbai.
Past posts – 1964 M. Suriyamoorthy Charcoal Art Abstract (#9)., Cochin Snake Boat Race – Old Postcard 1951., Duke of Connaught At The Delhi Durbar, 1903 Print., Chennai Central Railway Station Without Clocks 1874.