Indian Monument : Gateway of India

Construction Started : 31 March, 1913

Construction Completed : 1924

Inaugurated : 4 December, 1924

Cost of Construction : 2.1 million Rupees in 1913

Maintained By : Archeological Survey of India

Where is it Located : Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Why was it Built : To commemorate the 1911 royal visit of King George Vand Queen Mary to Mumbai (erstwhile Bombay)

Dimensions : The central dome is 48 feet in diameter and 83 feet in height

Materials Used : Yellow Kharodi basalt and reinforced concrete

Architectural Style : Indo-Saracenic with Muslim influences

Architect : George Wittet

Visit Timing : Open to public 24 hours a day, all days of the week

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.