Built on reclaimed land of the Apollo Bundar, the Gateway of India was constructed to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary to India in 1911, the first ever by a British Monarch. Later, it became a landing port for British governors and distinguished guests and also the port of exit for the British Empire when the country gained its freedom.

Designed by Scotsman George Wittet, the Gateway of India is a perfect example of an Indo-Saracenic style of architecture. With a signature central dome and largely Hindu designs and inscriptions, the monument is simply a gateway to the Indian society and showcases its unity in spite of its cultural diversity. Although the foundations for the building were laid in 1913, work did not start until 1920 due to the time taken for reclamation of the land. Built from yellow basalt sourced from local quarries, the structure was formally inaugurated in 1924 and cost the government 2.1 million Indian rupees to build.
 
Boats ferry from this point to the Elephanta Caves or one can just take a luxury boat around the harbour for a couple of hours. The famous Taj Mahal Hotel, which is twenty years older than the Gateway of India stands exactly opposite this monument and is also known for its architecture.

The Taj Mahal Palace & Tower is a five-star hotel located in the Colaba region of Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, next to the Gateway of India. Part of the Taj Hotels, Resorts and Palaces, this building is considered the flagship property of the group and contains 565 rooms. From an historical and architectural point of view, The Taj Mahal Palace and the Tower are two distinct buildings, built at different times and in different architectural designs. The hotel has hosted notable guests including The Beatles, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Bill Clinton, Jacques Chirac, The King & Queen of Norway, The Duke & Duchess of Kent, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales, Roger Moore, Joan Collins, Mick Jagger, Deep Purple, Michael Palin, Hillary Clinton, Michelle & Barack Obama as well as professional cricket teams on tour. According to the BBC, after the Mumbai attacks of November 2008 by terrorists, the hotel serves as a symbol of Mumbai's resilience.

If you love visiting museums and artefacts from the city’s past, then the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya in Mumbai is a must visit. Set in the backdrop of the very busy and urban South Mumbai, the Museum manages to take its visitors away from the hustle bustle around. In the midst of a breathtaking garden, the Indo-Saracenic styled building looks enchanting.

Built in the early 20th century, the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya was constructed in honour of King George V, who was then, the Prince of Wales. The foundation stone was laid by Prince of Wales on the 11th of November 1905. The building took 9 years to complete after which it was used by the military as a hospital. It was not until 1922 that the premises were finally declared a museum and opened to the public.

The Museum is one of the finest in the country and boasts a vast collection of artefacts right from the Indus valley civilization to relics from flourishing empires like the Rastrakuttas, Guptas, Mauryas, Chalukas and of course the Mughal era.

The Jehangir Art Gallery is Mumbai (India)’s most famous art gallery and a tourist attraction. It was founded by Sir Cowasji Jehangir at the urging of K. K. Hebbar and Homi Bhabha. It was built in 1952. Managed by the Bombay Art Society, the entire cost of this mansion was donated by Cowasji Jehangir. This gallery is situated at Kala Ghoda, behind the Prince of Wales Museum, in South Mumbai near the Gateway of India and has four exhibition halls. The gallery was designed by G.M.Bhuta for G.M. Bhuta & Associates. A mammoth institution in itself, its history is linked with the renaissance of Indian art. The complex also has the popular café of Samovar, which is reminiscent of the 70s socialist culture. It also houses Natesans, the country's oldest licensed antique dealers. Entry is free.

Mumbai is a large metropolis with a history that goes back several centuries. A long walk in South Mumbai will introduce you to the city’s brilliant combination of people, heritage and history. Although the city is crammed with urban styled buildings, residential complexes and skyscrapers, it still has its fair share of monumental buildings, heritage spots and architectural wonders. One such place you will come across while exploring the city is the David Sassoon Library.

Built in 1870, it is one of the many sites in the city protected and deemed as a heritage spot. The Library is a fantastic Venetian Gothic style building, with a unique rustic appeal that takes you back to the era of black and white. In the midst of the hustle and bustle of the city, the Library stands out with its simplicity and modest look. The building was constructed after receiving assistance from a rich banker by the name Sir David Sassoon. His contribution of a sum of Rs. 60,000, gave the Library its name. However, the initial idea for the Library was the brainchild of a group of young mechanics and foremen, who wanted to establish an education centre displaying various mechanical models. Today, along with the Library that houses a collection of rare books, the building also boasts a museum which is worth visiting.

On your visit to South Mumbai, one structure that has an overpowering presence in the region is the Rajabai Tower. One just cannot miss the glorious, ornate tower, standing poignantly, overlooking the High Court in Mumbai.

The construction of the Rajabai Tower was initiated on 1 March 1869. Financed by Premchand Roychand, the founding father of the Bombay Stock Exchange, the construction of this structure is believed to have taken a sum of Rs. 200,000 a great amount for any construction. The Tower gets its name from Premchand’s mother, Rajabai. It is said that Rajabai was blind and the Tower with its chimes every hour allowed her to keep time.

Flaunting a brilliant blend of Venetian and Gothic style of architecture, the Tower was designed by renowned British architect, Sir Gilbert Scott, who also worked on the Big Ben in London. Soaring at a height of 85m, the Tower took nine years to be completed and when the project concluded in 1878, it was the tallest building in the region. Constructed with the famous buff coloured Kurla stone, the Tower boasts some of the best stained glass windows in the country. The insides of the Tower are not open for visitors since like most tall structures around the world, the site became prone to suicide attempts.

One building that just cannot be missed in Mumbai is the High Court. Standing tall in dark brown, this majestic building truly is a representation of authority, law and order. Located just opposite the Rajabai Towers, this impressive structure has an overpowering presence in South Mumbai.

Inaugurated in the mid-19th century, the High Court stands as one of the oldest structures in Mumbai. The construction of the building was completed in the month of November in 1878. Designed by British engineer Col. J.A. Fuller, the layout of the building is said to have been inspired from a German Castle. Boasting a brilliant English Gothic style, the High Court commands a degree of respect like no other in Mumbai.

The Bombay High Court had its first sitting in 1879, and for over a century now, it has stood as a pillar of constitution, law and justice. Although the name of the city changed from Bombay to Mumbai in 1995, as an institution, the court did not follow and is still regarded as the Bombay High Court. With a sanctioned strength of 75 Judges, the Bombay High Court asserts jurisdiction over states of Maharashtra & Goa, and the Union Territories of Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli.

Mumbai is the perfect place, if you love to go for long walks and explore the land and its diverse culture and heritage. One such area worth visiting on foot is the Hutatma Chowk.
Known for its bloody past, the Hutatma Chowk was the breeding ground for the idea of an independent state of Maharashtra. Commemorating this event is a statue of a martyr with a torch, which reminds the people of the bloody struggle in 1960 between the members of the Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti and the Government of India, which led to the independent state of Maharashtra.

The Chowk is also known for another monument, the Flora Fountain. Ornate, immaculate and timeless, the Flora fountain has overlooked this neighbourhood for over two centuries. Built in 1864, the Fountain was built in honour of the then Governor of Bombay, Sir Bartle Frere. Carved in stone, the fountain was designed by Norman Shaw and created by James Forsythe. Representing Flora, the goddess of abundance, the fountain was constructed by the Agri-Horticultural Society of Western India. Apart from the statue and the fountain, the entire area is filled with buildings and structures constructed during the Britain’s colonization of the country. A must visit when in Mumbai.

Located in the Fort area of South Mumbai is an imperial building housing the Asiatic Society of Bombay and a museum- the Town Hall. The origin of the Asiatic Society can be traced back to 1804 when the first meeting of Literary Society of Bombay was held. In 1811, James McKintosh proposed the idea of the Town Hall. The structure consisting of a portico with 8 Doric pillars was designed by Colonel Thomas Cowper in 1830. The marble statutes of benefactors of the city, wrought iron loggias, parquet flooring and spiral staircases are all a part of the exquisite edifice which is highly influenced by Greek and Roman architectural styles. The construction cost of this neolithic building was around 500,000 pounds and the construction materials were brought from England.

The library contains a collection 8,00,000 books making it Mumbai’s largest library. One of the valuable reserves in the library is a first edition copy of “Inferno” by Dante. On the other hand a rare gold mohur(coin) belonging to the great Mughal Emperor, Akbar is exhibited in the museum along with a numismatic collection of over 1000 ancient coins. These treasures can be viewed with permission only but the library is open to the public. The library aims at encouraging research in sciences, literature and oriental arts.

The Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus in Mumbai was declared a UNESCO Wolrd Heritage Site in 2004 and is truly the icon of the city. Located in the Bori Bunder aream it is the busiest railway station in India. Its edifice designed by Frederick William Stevens, a British architect was built over a span of 10 years starting in 1878 and was inaugrated on the silver jubilee of Empress Victoria in 1887. Formerly known as Victoria Terminus, the building was  intended to house administrative offices of the Great Indian Peninsula Railway but serves as the headquarters of the Central Railways now. In order to honour the great Maratha warrior, Shivaji, the terminus was renamed as Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus the Ministry of Railways in 1996. This terminus, used by over 3 million commuters everyday was one of the sites attacked by terrorists in 2008.

The terminus is a perfect blend of Indian and the Victorian Italianate Gothic Revival architecture. Pointed arches, turrets anchoring the 4 corner wings, railings of ornamental iron and brass, balustrades for the grand staircases, Neo-Gothic roof in the hall and a central dome with dovetailed ribs are some of the evident architectural highlights of this historical building. An interesting symbolisation of Britain and India in the form of a stone sculpture of a lion and a tiger is seen atop the entrance gate. A symbolisation of progress is seen in the form of a 4m high statue of a female figure holding a spoked wheel in her left hand and a torch in her right, on top of the octagonal ribbed central dome having animal shaped water sprouts.