Prince of Wales museum,

Now it s known as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS)
(Isn't a short and sweet name ? ;)

Loction
It is located between KALA GHODA and REGAL CIRCLE , Mumbai India,

Short History
The foundation stone of the museum was laid in 1905 by the Prince of
Wales during his first visit to city.( who later became KING GEORGE V)
This building was supposed to be a house for the children OR a hospice.
But as it was completed in 1914, during the World War I, therefore used as a hospital for the people who were involved into the war. Again during WW II it was used for same purpose and after that converted into the museum and still serve as a museum. Some also say that it was built as a museum to commemorate the first visit of King George V when he was a price of wales.

Brief intro to Design
It was designed by George Wittet in the Indo Saracenic style with Hindu and Muslim  touch. For eg the DOME  on top bears a striking resemblance of the GOL GUMBUZ at Bijapur which is a Muslim touch and on the blackish walls just below the dome one can see small lotus flowers and all the BRACKETS are the HINDU touch.
There is also a huge garden just outside the Museum. Here, YOU ( the reader) have to make a guess in comment section, that whose touch it is ? Is it a Hindu touch or a Muslim touch?
I will give you the ANSWER only if I get at least 10 guesses ;)

Collections
This is one of the biggest museum in Mumbai having around 50,000 historical artefacts related with sculptures, painting, arts, civilisations, terracottas found from Harappan Sites, trades and rulars.
It also has a great collection of Mughal miniatures, Buddhist, Jain and Hindu sculptures, handicrafts and tools and weapons used in different periods.

A large portion of the Art collection was gifted by Sir Ratan Tata ( current CEO of TATA Industry) including paintings, Oriental arms, a unique collection of jade, China and porcelain, Indian silver and bronzes. Some of the collection related with Mughals miniatures and Maratha relics were gifted by Sir Dorab Tata.
The museum also has paintings related with Rajputs and some rare artefact and paintings by the legal luminary is given by Karl Khandalawala, who was the trustee of the museum of several years.

To know more about the city, important buildings, people,places and stories behind them then don't forget to follow my blog and yea you can also read my another blog known as My Journeys and My Dreams

Gateway of India

Gateway of India

Gateway of India is located at Apollo Bunder an area in south Mumbai, within the state Maharashtra, in India.

It is one of the most famous monuments and has its own significance for its existence.

During colonize period Apollo Bunder was one of the main landing place, whoever used to come to India they mostly came through this harbor.

Idea to build a gate at the Apollo Bunder came during the visit of the King George the V^th and Queen Mary to India in 1911. As he was the first British King to visit India, the gate was built to welcome him in a different way, but it was not the same you see it today, at that time it was made up of plaster of palace, means it was a temporary gate just built to commemorate the king and queen's visit.

The foundation stone was laid in 1911, but actual design of Sir George Wittet was sanctioned in 1913 and finally the construction was completed in December 1924.

George Wittet combined the elements of Roman triumphal arch and the 16th-century architecture of Gujarat it is also called 16^th century Victorian design with Hindu and Muslim touch. The arch is of Muslim style while the decorations of flowers on the walls are Hindu style.

It is built from yellow basalt and reinforced concrete . The central dome is 48 feet (15 meters) in diameter and 83 feet (25 meters) above the ground at its highest point

Apart from the King and Queen's visit there are two more important events which make this gate very popular and tourist attractions,

1- When Gandhi Ji came to Mumbai first time ever he came through this gate and

2- When India got its Independence the troop of the British Empire went through this gate.