Thursday, April 23, 2026

Government House at Parel in Bombay (Mumbai), Maharashtra,-PAINTING-1771[ originally a Portuguese Franciscan friary, completed in 1673 and taken over by Governor Boone in 1719 ]

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Photograph of Government House at Parel in Bombay (Mumbai), Maharashtra, taken by an unknown photographer, from an album of 40 prints of the 1860s. The busy port and industrial hub of Bombay is the capital of Maharashtra. During British rule, it was the administrative capital of the Bombay Presidency. Extending over a peninsula into the Arabian Sea on the west coast of India, Bombay prospered with maritime trade and became the chief commercial centre of the Arabian Sea. 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 passed to the English as part of the dowry brought to Charles II by the Portuguese princess Catherine of Braganza. This building was originally a Portuguese Franciscan friary, completed in 1673 and taken over by Governor Boone in 1719 as a country residence after which it became the official summer home of Governors of Bombay, and Parel developed as an affluent district. In 1771, when William Hornby resided here as Governor, it became the new Government House in place of the original one in the Fort. The banqueting hall and ballroom are housed in the shell of the original vaulted chapel, and were much admired for their splendour. Several mills now sprang up on the newly-reclaimed flats around Parel and the ensuing congestion and pollution resulted in the shifting of the Governor's residence to a new Government House at Malabar Point. After the plague epidemics in the 1890s, the house at Parel was converted into the Haffkine Research Institute.
Credit: The British Library.
Originally, Parel was a separate island. As such, an inscription dated January 26, 1187 (Paurnima of Magha, Saka 1108) is found there recording of a grant made by Shilahara king Aparaditya II out of the proceeds of an orchard in a village named Mahavali (close to Kurla) for a Vaidyanatha temple.[5] Parel is one of the Seven Islands of Bombay which were ceded by the Portuguese to England in 1661; it was linked up with the other islands in the 19th Century.[citation needed]
In the 1770s, William Hornby, the Governor of Bombay, shifted his official residence to Parel. This area then became one of the poshest areas of the city. In 1867, tanners and dealers in dry fish were relocated in this area. By the 1870s, several cotton mills had been established in the reclaimed lands in Parel (West). Gradually, Paral became very polluted. In 1883, the Governor's wife died of cholera in the Government House. Two years later, the Governor's Mansion was moved to Malabar Point. During the plague epidemics of the 1890s, the old Government House was leased to the newly founded Haffkine Institute.[6]
Credit: Wikipedia
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Cyrus Sarkari
It was said to be so beautiful from within that it had no parallel. as people in those days could not pronounce the word 'parellel' and said "parell" instead, the locality came to be called "Parel"
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STORY AND HISTORY
OF GOVERNMENT HOUSES IN BOMBAY



A beautiful responsive image

'Parell. The Government House, Bombay'. Lithograph by Day & Son from Sir Harry Darrell's China, India and the Cape London, 1852. Proof.

Image courtesy of the British Library | All Rights Reserved

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'Parell. The Government House, Bombay'. Lithograph by Day & Son from Sir Harry Darrell's China, India and the Cape London, 1852. Proof.

'Parell. The Government House, Bombay'


A beautiful responsive image

'Parell. The Government House, Bombay'. Lithograph by Day & Son from Sir Harry Darrell's China, India and the Cape London, 1852. Proof.

Image courtesy of the British Library | All Rights Reserved

 Actions
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In the 1880s, the location of the Government House was moved once again to Malabar Point.
Below:- government house at malabar hill 1850's


Once tigers, maha ..

Government House Raj Bhavan Bhawan Walkeshwar Malabar Hill Bombay Mumbai Maharashtra India Indian Asia Asian old vintage 1900s pictureCaptions are provided by our contributors



above photo of malabar hill forest;below matunga forest 1850's At Walkeshwar Road
preview
Bombay. On the Walkeshur Road. Viceregal carriage and mounted escort passing along the road- Lord Curzon's visit to Bombay
Raj Bhavan Area


 At Walkeshwar Road

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Government House in Bombay-1700-2024



umesh kasikar

Government Houses: The shifting nucl ..



The Government House, Bombay. 1810.


The Illustrated London News
Title
Government House, Bombay, the residence of the Prince of Wales
Description
English: Visit of the Prince of Wales to India. Illustration for The Illustrated London News, 20 November 1875.
  • "Visit of H.R.H. the Prince of Wales to India: Arrival at the

UNKNOWN PERSON

Government House, Bombay, November 1905 Nov 1905

Photograph of part of Government House in Bombay (now Mumbai), showing a long bungalow with thick vegetation shading the building. There are two Indian guards on duty. 



Provenance

  • From an album of photographs collated and arranged by Queen Mary (1867-1953)

>>>Viceroy & Government House Bombay – 2 Postcards 1912

Viceroy & Government House Bombay – 2 Postcards 1912

Viceroy At Government House Bombay, Old PC 1912

viceroy lord hardinge

government house bombay

Two old 1912 postcards of the Government House and with Viceroy Lord Hardinge in Bombay (Mumbai). The group includes Viceroy Lord Hardinge and Sir George Clarke Governor of Bombay Presidency. Also seated are Lady Hardinge and Lady Clarke. Others are possibly important members of the British Indian government service and families. In the background is the Bombay Government House, today it is the Raj Bhavan.

The first Government House or Governor’s house was in Fort Castle, then shifted to Parel in the 1770s. Because of the pollution and congestion, the Governor’s House was transferred to Malabar Point. Malabar Point is a finger-like land jutting into the sea, with water on its three sides. This would become the permanent residence of the Governor of Bombay from 1880. From 1947 onwards it became the Raj Bhavan the residence of the Mumbai Governor. Click on the photo for better view.

Read more Raj Bhavan Mumbai.

Did you know- that 15,000 square feet of tunnels, bunkers, and ammunition storage rooms were discovered in the Raj Bhavan in 2016. 

From the collection- 1964 M. Suriyamoorthy Charcoal Art Abstract (#9).

See More


vintage photo Government House, Bombay, India, early 20th century. Mumbai Maharashtra India


 Posted on: 28 October 2011

Government House, Malabar Point, Bombay - 1860

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.


 Government House, Fort, Bombay.




Lithograph of the Government House in the Fort in Bombay by Jose M. Gonsalves (fl. 1826-c.1842). Plate 2 from his 'Lithographic Views of Bombay' published in Bombay in 1826. Gonsalves, thought to be of Goan origin, was one of the first artists to practice lithography in Bombay and specialised in topographical views of the city.

The location of the Government House in Bombay changed several times. Originally, the Government House was located in Bombay Castle.



The second Government House, shown in this view, was situated in the fort area on Apollo Street and functioned as the official residence of the Governor until 1829.
 below:- Apollo street of Bombay fort


Scotch Church, Court-House, and entrance to the Dock-Yard [Bombay].--Photographer: Scott, Charles Medium: Photographic print Date: 1850--

THE ICE HOUSE NEXT TO THE CHURCH (DOMED STRUCTURE);WHERE ICE IMPORTED BY SHIP WAS STORED;TILL ICE MAKING WAS DISCOVERED ;NEXT BUILDING IS LAW COURT

Photograph from 'Views in the island of Bombay' by Charles Scott,1850s. This is a view looking north along Apollo Street from the Apollo Gate towards the dockyards entrance on the right. The Scotch Church stands in the left foreground, with Hornby House beyond. The classic Georgian style Saint Andrew's or Scotch Kirk was completed in 1819. Hornby House, which initially began as a residence to the Governor Hornby, served as the Law Court until the late 1870s when it became the Great Western Hotel. Between this building and the church, stands the domed Ice-House, erected by subscription in 1843 for the consignments of ice which were imported regularly and sold to the public. When ice began to be manufactured in Bombay the Ice-House lost its purpose and was used as a godown until it was demolished years later.
A PALKHI WALA (PALANQUIN CARRIER)CAN BE SEEN SITTING NEXT TO THE PALKHI ;NEAR CHURCH STEPS.THE ROAD LEADS TO THE 'CHURCH GATE' OF THE BOMBAY FORT WALL

Apollo Gate, Bombay. 1833 below:-
 The third Government House at Parel had already been used as a Country retreat for the Governor from 1719.
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 The third Government House at Parel had already been used as a Country retreat for the Governor from 1719. Day & Son from Sir Harry Darrell's China, India and the Cape London, 1852. Proof. > Large image

'Parell. The Government House, Bombay'. Lithograph by Day & Son from Sir Harry Darrell's China, India and the Cape London, 1852. Proof.


A beautiful responsive image

'Parell. The Government House, Bombay'. Lithograph by Day & Son from Sir Harry Darrell's China, India and the Cape London, 1852. Proof.

Image courtesy of the British Library | All Rights Reserved

 Actions

'Parell. The Government House, Bombay'. Lithograph by Day & Son from Sir Harry Darrell's China, India and the Cape London, 1852. Proof.

'Parell. The Government House, Bombay'


A beautiful responsive image

'Parell. The Government House, Bombay'. Lithograph by Day & Son from Sir Harry Darrell's China, India and the Cape London, 1852. Proof.

Image courtesy of the British Library | All Rights Reserved

 Actions
 ...........................................................................................................................

In the 1880s, the location of the Government House was moved once again to Malabar Point.
Below:- government house at malabar hill 1850's


Once tigers, maha ..

Government House Raj Bhavan Bhawan Walkeshwar Malabar Hill Bombay Mumbai Maharashtra India Indian Asia Asian old vintage 1900s pictureCaptions are provided by our contributors



above photo of malabar hill forest;below matunga forest 1850's At Walkeshwar Road
preview
Bombay. On the Walkeshur Road. Viceregal carriage and mounted escort passing along the road- Lord Curzon's visit to Bombay
Raj Bhavan Area


 At Walkeshwar Road









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