 Amidst the various heritage monuments that dot the cityscape of south Mumbai, The Town Hall is perhaps the most royal and elegant. Its magnificent façade is awe inspiring and finds place in almost all tourist destination travel planners and Mumbai promotional brochures. Hardly anybody misses the pristine whiteness and imposing elevation of the building, with numerous stairs leading to it, in popular ‘Bollywood’ movies.
The building is neo-classical in architectural classification and is heavily influenced by Greek and Roman styles. Colonel Thomas Cowper of the Bombay Engineers is said to have designed it keeping in mind the ultimate purpose of the building. The building was required to house not only the civic offices but also a library and a museum. Colonel Cowper, however, did not live long enough to see his design evolve into a fine architectural piece in 1833.
The building that took 10 years and about 500,000 pounds to complete is at least 200 feet long and 100 feet deep. It is located in the prime Fort area of South Mumbai overlooking the Horniman Circle Gardens and the Reserve Bank of India. The Grecian portico with eight Doric columns forms the façade. A flight of 30 steps leading up to the building completes the royal look of this heritage monument. The Regency staircase in the building is divided by wrought iron and leads to the vestibule. The Durbar Hall personifies the majestic past of India as it was, while the easy chairs in the Periodical Rooms complete with matching footstools provide an unparalleled reading experience fit for the rich and the royal. All in all, the building and its interiors signify complete harmony of colonial India with its immediate environs.
A significant part of the Town Hall is occupied by the Library of the Asiatic Society of Mumbai that was founded by Sir James Mackintosh in the early 19th century. He was a distinguished lawyer, jurist and public figure in England who became the Recorder or the King’s Judge for Bombay. The library moved into the Town Hall in 1830 and has over a lakh of books. Out of these, at least 15,000 books are classified as rare and invaluable. The priceless first edition copy of Dante's ‘Inferno’ is a prized possession of the library. The library also prides itself in housing valuable articles, and over 3,000 ancient manuscripts in Persian, Sanskrit and Prakrit. An impressive numismatic collection of over 1,000 ancient coins and a rare gold mohur belonging to the Mughal Emperor Akbar can also be found in the library. The library is currently managed and run on an annual grant by the state of Maharashtra.
The other interesting ‘must see’ at the Town Hall is a small museum. The museum contains exquisite marble statues of some 19th century governors of Bombay as well as of British scholars and administrators. Statues of two of India’s greatest philanthropists and an Indian scholar also form part of the museum.
Standing on top of the main entrance staircase can especially be a great experience. One can get to see the famous St. Thomas Cathedral and Flora Fountain, Mumbai Samachar Building and the area’s oldest agiary (fire temple) from this vantage point. And not to mention – a casual walk in the neighbourhood can be an experience full of interwoven textures of the past and present.
Ruchika Batra
Address:
The Town Hall, Horniman Circle, Fort, Mumbai – 400 023
Tel: 2266 0956 |
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