EXPLORE INDIA – START FROM THE GATEWAY

The history of India holds many a story to say. Of great emperors and foreign invaders, India has seen it all. Of all this today a lot many monuments and structures are left standing, as if never to let the world forget this country's colorful history. Saying a similar story is the Gateway of India. Located in the finance capital of India, Mumbai earlier known as Bombay, this structure was built as a memorabilia to the visit of King George V and Queen Mary in the December of 1911 before the darbar in Delhi. The foundation of this massive structure was laid in March 1911 but the final design of this much talked of structure was sanctioned only in August 1914 much to the relief of it's architect George Wittet. As with any architectural structure the foundation being the most important part of the it, the foundation for the Gateway Of India was completed in the year 1920, during which the reclamations for land on which the new sea wall along with the gateway was accomplished. The original plan for the Gateway included a boulevard that would find its way to the centre of the town. But unfortunately this never saw the light of the day due to lack of funds and to date the Gateway remains at an angle, facing the road that it leads to.

This amazing colonial structure is actually built in the Indo- Saracenic style with borrowed elements from the Islamic architectural styles of 16th century Gujarat. Built from yellow Kharodi and reinforced concrete this structure stands tall at 83 feet and the central dome has a diameter of 48 feet it cost the Indian government a whopping 21 lakhs. The final construction of the Gateway was however completed in the year 1924 and it was thrown open to the public on December 4th by the then Viceroy, Earl of Reading. The steps behind the Gateway lead to the waterfront where today you can enjoy the laudable natural harbor of Mumbai.

Today the Gateway of India is a must see for Indians along with anyone who visits this country. Mumbaiites are proud of this beautiful and imposing structure which finds its place among the splendid sights of India. The Gateway of India also represents the remnants of the British rule in this country which lasted for a painfully long time and has left its stamp on the face of India. Ironically, this structure that was conceived to commemorate the British visits to India ended up as an epitaph to the British rule in this country. As it bid farewell to the last British troops to leave India, the First Battalion of the Somerset Light Infantry that passed through the Gateway on February 28th, 1948 it also heralded a new beginning in the history of this country that fought it's way to freedom through will and determination on the path of non violence.