Tuesday, April 17, 2012

The Gateway of India

The Gateway of India -

As the name suggests, this place is one of the heritage sites in the country. Built in bui;t in 1911. Quoting from the Wikipidea -  "The Gateway of India (Marathi: भारताचे प्रवेशद्वार) is a monument in Mumbai (formerly Bombay), India. Located on the waterfront in Apollo Bunder area in South Mumbai, the gateway is a basalt arch 26 metres (85 feet) high. It lies at the end of Shivaji marg.[1] It was a crude jetty used by fisher folks and was later renovated and used as a landing place for British governors and other distinguished personages. In earlier times, the gateway was the monument that visitors arriving by boat would have first seen in the city of Bombay.[2] The gateway has also been referred to as the Taj Mahal of Mumbai[3], and has also lent its name to the city ofMumbai.[4] It is the city's top tourist attraction.[5]
The monument was erected to commemorate the landing on the Apollo Bunder of their Majesties King George V and Queen Mary when they visited India in 1911. Built in Indo-Saracenic style, the foundation stone for the Gateway of India was laid on 31 March 1911. The construction of the monument completed in 1924 after the final design of George Wittet was only sanctioned in 1914. The Gateway was latterly the ceremonial entrance to India for Viceroys and the new Governors of Bombay.[6] The monument now stands at an angle of the road leading up to it as the approach road was never built due to lack of funds.[7]
The historic monument has always been a terror target from the start of the 21st century. The monument was targeted three times; twice in 2003 and then in 2008." 

I shot this image at night from my digital panasonic lumix FX 700. Usually throughout the day the place is a hangout and on visual itinerary for the visitors. Quite number of foreigners are seen moving around the place, as there are a number of other places on interest in the nearby areas. The most famous being the "Taj Mahal Hotel" right opposite to it facing the sea. The Gateway is well lit up in the evening and forms a picturesque  backdrop for portraiture or landscaping. 



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