The South Mumbai area of Mumbai is particularly famous for British Era buildings which have come to define the Mumbai Skyline for past more than 100 years. Some of the iconic buildings of this area include Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (Victoria Terminus) Building, Bombay Municipal Corporation Building, The Taj Hotel building among many others. Most of these buildings are designed in Victorian and Art Deco design and South Mumbai boasts second largest number of art deco buildings in the world after Miami City. The famous Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus Building has been declared as the World Heritage Building in 2004. This is an article about a walkthrough the South Mumbai during the COVID Lockdown period.
The COVID lockdown period was a period of grief and suffering to many people and families due to the economic hardships and the unfortunate deaths and sufferings. However due to countrywide locks lock down the traffic on the roads was minimal and cities had become pedestrian friendly. This helped us to see the cities in the original form in the sense that the streets were not claimed by the car traffic.
During the COVID Lock down period I was posted in Mumbai and my office was located in one of the heritage building known as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus. During my free time I used to walk in the streets of South Mumbai city and was able to click some beautiful pictures of the most iconic buildings of the South Mumbai. This post is about some of those photographs.
1. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus Building
This iconic building was designed by British architectural engineer Frederick Williams Stevens. The building is designed in Gothic style and was completed in 1887 marking 50 years of Queen Victoria’s rule. The building was declared as World heritage Building in April 2004. The building is currently the headquarter of Central Railway.
2. Churchgate Terminus( Western Railway Headquarters Building)
This beautiful building was designed by Frederick Williams Stevens. The construction began in 1889 and completed in 1899. The building presently houses the Western Railway Headquarter.
3. Municipal Corporation Building(BMC Building)
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), or Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) is the governing civic body of Mumbai. The building was designed by Robert Fellowes Chisholm who is credited with the revival of Indo Saracenic style of architecture in India. The foundation stone was laid in December 1884 and the building was completed in 1893.
4. Flora Fountain
Built at a total cost of Rs. 47,000, or 9,000 pounds sterling Flora Fountain is located on historic Dada Bhai Naoroji Road on Hutatma Chowk. The fountain depicts the Roman Goddess Flora and is a famous icon of the fort business district of South Bombay.
5. Asiatic Society Circle/Fort Area(Mumbai)
During the COVID period this place was very calm having no people at all. Shooting pictures of this place at that time was once in a lifetime opportunity.
6. Kala Ghoda
This area is particularly famous for being the art district of Mumbai area. Many of the art festivals including the kala ghoda festival is held in this area.
7. Sunset at Marine Drive
During the COVID period the environment was clean and hence the Mumbai skyline was very clear from the Marine drive. The view of the sunset from this point was particularly mesmerizing.
8. Other Random Clicks
Due to less vehicular movement and the area being free of crowd the entire area was pretty beautiful and all the buildings were giving their most beautiful view.
Overall seeing the city of old Mumbai during the COVID times was once in a lifetime experience.
Wizards of Life! 