Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Malabar Point [Bombay], Govt. House.--The Bombay Governors Government House Malabar Hill.--Photographer: Unknown Medium: Photographic print Date: 1860

Malabar Point [Bombay], Govt. House.

Photograph of Malabar Point in Bombay (Mumbai), Maharashtra, by an unknown photographer, from an album of 40 prints taken in the 1860s. Government House (the residence of the Governor) can just be seen in the top right-hand corner. Bombay, one of the key cities of India, is a major port, busy manufacturing centre and capital of Maharashtra. During British rule, it was the administrative capital of the Bombay Presidency. It extends over a peninsula jutting into the Arabian Sea on the west coast of India. Originally a collection of fishing villages of the Koli community built on seven islands, Bombay was by the 14th century controlled by the Gujarat Sultanate who ceded it to the Portuguese in the 16th century. In 1661 it was part of the dowry brought to Charles II of England when he married the Portuguese princess Catherine of Braganza. Malabar Hill is the highest point in Bombay (15 metres above sea level). With its lush vegetation, sea breezes and coastal views, this area was the favoured habitat for the colonial regime and Europeans built many fine houses here. The Bombay Governors abandoned the old Government House in Parel in favour of Malabar Hill.
Malabar Point [Bombay], Govt. House.

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