Information on Rajabai Tower (Mumbai, Maharashtra) - History & Architecture

The Rajabai Tower is basically a clock tower situated in South Mumbai of India. It is placed around the campus area of Mumbai University. The elevation of this tower is about 85 metres (or 280 ft). This massive clock tower was established by Sir Gilbert Scott, better known as the constructor of the Big Ben, another world famous clock tower of the Westminster Palace in London in 1878. The main feature of this tower is that a giant clock is fixed at the top, which plays pleasant tunes at fixed period.

Rajabai Tower Architecture

The Rajabai Clock Tower is mainly famous for its attractive architectural significance. A striking combination of styles comprising of both Vietnam and Gothic architecture were used for the construction of this tower. Stained glass with superior quality was used for the windows. The Kurla stones, which was buff in color was the important material used for the establishment of this tower and was available in the local areas. Two rooms each computing 56 * 27.5 ft (17 * 8.5 metres) and a spiral staircase of 2.6 square metres (28 sq. ft) were present in the ground floor of the tower. The tower generally holds the shape of a square starting from the ground floor to the top of the first floor at an elevation of about 68 ft. There consists a large gallery. Then is the second level of the monument where the square shape turns into an octagon. The elevation of the octagonal part to the tower from the gallery is about 118 ft (36 metres). Then is the final or the topmost level of the clock tower, which measures about 94 ft (28.7 metres) from the top to the finial. Hence, the total height of the monument measured is approximately 280 ft (85 metres). Rajabai clock tower was considered to be the tallest in Mumbai in the earlier years.

Rajabai Tower History

The structure of Rajabai Tower was started on the first day of March in the year 1869 by Sir Gilbert Scott who was a professional English architect. The tower was finally completed on the month November in 1878 at a total cost of Rs. 200,000, which was a massive sum of amount in those days. During the British rule, a total of sixteen musical tunes including "Rule Britannia", "Home! Sweet Home!", "A Handel Symphony" and many more were played. During that time, the melody was altered every four times in a particular day. However, nowadays only a single tune can be heard after a fixed period of 15 minutes. The whole amount for the construction was paid by Premchand Roychand. He was a famous broker by profession, who was also involved in the foundation of the Bombay Stock Exchange but on one circumstance that the name of the clock tower should be on the name his mother Rajabai.

Rajabai Tower Tourism Importance

The artistic structure and historic elements made the Rajabai Tower a must watch for all the tourists. The tourist can enjoy the musical tune along with the beauty of the location and the architecture of the tower. The tower can be visited by the people who have the love for cultural heritage. It is one of the attractions for the tourist as it is historical as well as the importance of this tower is quite known among the Mumbaikiers.