Go back in time with these #ThenAndNow photographs from Bombay (Vol 1)

Relive the nostalgia with this photo series featuring iconic places from the city of Mumbai. 

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (formerly V.T. Station, Bombay) & BMC Headquarters

Like every other Bollywood film establishing Mumbai, the opening sequence to this photo series also features the V.T. Station (V.T. stands for Victoria Terminus - the erstwhile name of the building until 1996). 

And here are #ThenAndNow pictures from 1895 and 2017 of these two heritage structures that are almost synonymous with the city of Mumbai. (Both designed by Frederick William Stevens). 

1895

2017

You can spot the horse drawn trams, the unique Nestle branding, the lamp posts - none of which exist in any living person's memory, but only with the Urbs Prima in Indis statue (atop the BMC building) that overlooks the area even today.

Note: The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus building is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Mumbai, Maharashtra. 

Photo Credits

1895 photograph (by an unknown photographer) credited to Clark Worswick's photo collection 'The Great Within: Photographs of India and The British Raj in the 19th Century'. Color photo by Hrishikesh Singh from 2017. 

Town Hall (Asiatic Library)

Take a look at these two photographs from Bombay shot almost 150 years apart, roughly from 1850s-1870s and 2018 - giving us a wide view of the The Asiatic Society of Mumbai (also known as the Town Hall/Central Library) in South Mumbai. The building on the left is a part of the cluster of buildings surrounding the Horniman Circle Gardens (formerly called the Elphinstone Circle). 

1850-1870

2018

The cluster of buildings resemble the ones at Bath's Royal Crescent in Somerset, England. There has been little to no change over the years, as you can see the town hall building, the structure on the left and the garden railing - all remain in their original spot.

Photo Credits

Older photograph credited to Francis Frith (later acquired by V&A Museum), although I'm told most photographs from his collection were not shot by the photographer himself and rather by an employee who was traveling to the city. Photo dates back to between 1850s-1870s. Color photo by Hrishikesh Singh from 2018. 

If you would like to share this on twitter, click here to see the thread. 

Kala Ghoda

Taking us back to a late 19th Century view of Kala Ghoda in Mumbai, here are two more photographs; shot almost over 150 years apart. Roughly, from between 1869-1875 and 2018.

1869-75

2018

The structures that we see in this #ThenAndNow view are that of the David Sassoon Library, Army Navy Buildings, and Watson's Hotel (also known as Esplanade Mansion) from the Kala Ghoda area in South Mumbai. 

That 19th Century view is almost unimaginable when you stand at the same location today, but the three buildings help make it easy. Also, as pointed out by Sidharth Bhatia on my thread - it's also one such place where you can see three distinct architectural styles in a row.    

Photo Credits

The black and white photo dates back to between 1869-1875 and is credited to Pratapaditya Pal's private collection. Source: Watson's Esplanade Hotel: A Birdcage Gone To Seed? by Abha Narain Lambah, Marg, Vol 56, No. 2, 2014. Color photo by Hrishikesh Singh from 2018. 

If you would like to share this on twitter, click here to see the thread. 

Majithia Chambers

A 5 minute walk down Hutatma Chowk on D.N. Road, the structure is lesser known by it's name, and more or so recognised as the Lawrence & Mayo headquarters. If you're still not quite sure, it's the building next to the LIC India building near Flora Fountain in Mumbai.

Photographs from 1960 and 2018. Not much info at hand on this, but this #ThenAndNow view really takes us back to a different time. 

1960

2018

Photo Credits

Black and white photo from Lawrence & Mayo archives. Color photo by Hrishikesh Singh from 2018. 

If you would like to share this on twitter, click here to see the thread. 

About the series

I've been #BimblingInBombay since the last couple of years, where I photograph and document things along the length & breadth of the city. Trying to find forgotten stories, saving some for the future, and all-in-all rejoicing in some history and heritage. 

However, the quarantine months put a pause on this activity, but like they say "when one road ends, another begins." So I went back to my collection of snaps from the city and matched it with ones from the last century, or one from even before that. The results, at least for a heritage enthusiast like me, were mesmerizing. 

I'd like to credit this practice to the digital project Mumbai Now & Then. (you should check it out on Twitter & Instagram).