Did you know? (Part 1)

Last week I went on a Heritage Bus Ride which was part of the Kala Ghoda Festival and the things that I learnt were amazing! Did you know….

The Police Headquarters near Regal cinema was once a sailor’s home where sailors would rest when visiting Mumbai. On the top of the building one can see King Neptune that is carved in stone.

King Neptune carved on top of the Police Headquarters

The Yacht Club which lies on the right side of the road as you approach the Gateway of India is not the original Yacht Club! The original club is the building that is opposite! It was shifted after the lease of the original club lapsed.

The Colaba Causeway is so called because it was built to join the islands of Colaba and Little Colaba. All roads that were built to join the islands together were called causeways hence Mahim Causeway!

The Regal circle was previously known as the Wellington circle and the fountain that stands there even today was known as the Wellington fountain and was built to commemorate the Duke of Wellington's visit to Bombay in 1801.

The Wellington Fountain

Churchgate is so called because it was an opening from the sea to the first church in Mumbai – the St. Thomas’ Cathedral, Fort.

Churchgate Station

All the land from Nariman Point to the Oval Maidan is reclaimed land.

The Fort area in Mumbai derives its name from the fact that the area fell within an actual fort! A small fragment survives as part of the eastern boundary wall of the St. George's Hospital. The buildings that are on D.N. Road like the Thomas Cook building and Siddharth college building are built where the moat of the Fort was!

The Bombay Gymkhana was formed in 1875 exclusively for Europeans. There was a sign which hung outside which said “Coloured people and Pets Not Allowed”. Indians then began started various gymkhanas based on the different communities existing in Mumbai at that time. Hence, various Parsi, Muslim, and Hindu gymkhanas were started nearby with fierce sports competitions among them being organized on a communal basis.

The first test cricket match was played on the grounds of the Bombay Gymkhana! This match was between India and England in 1933 where England won by 9 wickets.