Before the construction of the , Apollo Bunder (now known as Wellington Pier) served as a rudimentary jetty and customs landing area for passengers arriving on steamers in Mumbai. The site was originally a native fishing ground and mud flats, which were later reclaimed from marshy land in the 1830s to create a functional pier for horse-drawn carts and colonial officials.
Key historical characteristics of the pre-Gateway Apollo Bunder include:
Function: It acted as the primary point of entry for travelers and traders, where passengers were ferried from anchored ships to the shore for customs formalities.
Defense: Early iterations of the pier featured cannons near the edge to deter potential attacks from pirates or enemies, though these threats largely subsided by the 19th century.
Transformation: Between 1915 and 1919, extensive land reclamation and sea wall construction were undertaken to expand the waterfront, preparing the site for the Gateway of India monument, which was completed in 1924.
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