Gateway of India

The Gateway of India is synonymous with Mumbai. It is the most famous monument of Mumbai and is the starting point for most tourists who want to explore the city. Gateway of India is a great historical monument built during the British rule in the country. It was built as a triumphal arch to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary to Mumbai (then, Bombay). Gateway of India was built at Apollo Bunder, a popular meeting place. It was designed by the British architect, George Wittet.

The foundation stone of the Gateway of India was laid down by the then Governor of Bombay (Mumbai) on March 31st 1913. The archway is 26 meters high and joined with four turrets and intricate latticework carved on stones. The arch alone was built at the cost of 21 lakhs. It is built in Indo-Sarcenic style, though some influence of Gujarati style is also evident in its architecture. The structure itself is quite majestic and a hybrid of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.

In the past Gateway of India used to be the arrival point for visitors from the west. Ironically, when the Raj ended in 1947, this colonial symbol also became a sort of epitaph: the last of the British ships that set sail for England left from the Gateway. Today this symbol of colonialism has got Indianised, drawing droves of local tourists and citizens. This landmark of Mumbai is a must visit of the city.

The Gateway faces the vast Arabian Sea, flanked by Mumbai's another attraction, Marine Drive, a road running parallel to the sea. The majestic monument is a must-visit at night, in its pristine glory against the backdrop of the sea. It is visited by millions of people across the world every year and is a very significant figure in the lives of the people of Mumbai, as the Gateway defines the grandeur of the city that is a culmination of both, historic and modern cultural environment.

History
The Gateway of India was built to celebrate and honor the visit of King George V and Queen Mary to India for their formal proclamation as Emperor and Empress of India at the Delhi Durbar in December 1911. The foundation stone for the monument was laid by Sir George Sydenham Clarke, the Governor of Bombay on March 31, 1911 at what was a crude jetty used by the fishing community. A cardboard model of the proposed structure was presented to the Royal visitors and the final design of Scottish architect, George Wittet was sanctioned on March 31, 1914. Initial work to reclaim land for building the Gateway and a new sea wall at the Apollo Bunder (English: port) was started in 1915. Following completion of land reclamation in 1919, actual construction started and was completed in 1924. The formal inauguration of the Gateway of India was done by the Viceroy of India, Rufus Isaacs, Earl of Reading, on December 4, 1924. The approach road to the Gateway was never built due to lack of funds.
The Taj Mahal Palace hotel located right next to the Gateway of India was built by Jamshedji Tata and catered to a clientele of British elites, European and Indian Maharajas.

Design, Architecture & Structure
The Gateway of India was designed by Scottish architect, George Wittet and the construction work was carried out by Gammon India Limited, the only construction company in India boasting an ISO 9001: 1994 accredited certification in all fields of civil engineering at that time. The structure was built with yellow basalt stones enmeshed with reinforced concrete at the foundations. The stone was sourced locally. The perforated screens were brought from Gwalior. The structure cuts an angle to the road leading to it and stands facing out to the Mumbai Harbor from the tip of Apollo Bunder.

The structure is basically a Triumphal Arch, built predominantly in an Indo-Saracenic architectural style with some Muslim elements incorporated. This style of architecture was introduced by the British during their rule in India and it combines diverse elements of the Hindu and Muslim architecture with Gothic cusped arches, domes, spires, tracery, minarets and stained glass, in a uniquely playful style.

The rectangular structure consists of three sections. The central arches of the structure are 85 feet high. The central block houses a dome which is 48 feet in diameter and 83 feet in height. On each side of the arch, there are large halls with arches that are covered with intricately carved stone screens and can hold 600 people each. The central dome is joined by 4 turrets and is decorated with intricate latticework, the most prominent features of the entire structure of the Gateway of India. Steps from behind the arch of the Gateway lead directly into the Arabian Sea. The arch frames an impressive view of an expanse of Arabian Sea dotted with fishing boats as well as luxury yachts. The structure is illuminated after nightfall presenting a breathtaking view in combination with the adjacent Taj Mahal Palace hotel and tower.

A statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji was inaugurated on 26 January 1961, opposite the gateway as a symbol of Maratha pride and glory. Another statue of Swami Vivekananda is also present in the vicinity to celebrate his journey from Mumbai to Chicago for the Parliament of World Religions.