Rajabai Clock Tower, Mumbai

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Rajabai Clock Tower is an 85-metre tall tower in the Fort Campus of the University of Mumbai. Sir George Gilbert Scott designed it in the 1860s, and Premchand Roychand, a businessman and a stockbroker, financed its construction.

But why was Rajabai Clock Tower built?

Roychand wanted to ensure his blind mother would be able to have her food on time. And that’s why he got the clock tower built, with a bell to keep track of the time. The tower was named Rajabai Clock Tower after Roychand’s mother. It has visual similarities to London’s Big Ben.

Take a walk towards the Rajabai Clock Tower, admire its captivating Venetian Gothic architecture, and listen to the chimes which fill the air every 15 minutes.

Architecture of Rajabai Clock Tower

Rajabai Clock Tower has an amalgamation of Gothic and Venetian architectural styles. It is 85-metre-high, 3.8-metre-wide, and has a huge clock, which is visible from a distance.

This tower was the tallest structure in Mumbai for decades.

The arches have the influence of Islamic architecture along with Victorian-Gothic style. And the sculptures on the clock were made by Indian artisans and the students of Sir JJ School of Art. Sir Lockwood Kipling guided them.

The tower is made up of locally sourced Kurla stones. And the material for the top was brought from Porbandar. Porbandar stone sculptures also decorated the sides of this heritage clock tower. The structure is also known for its colourful stained-glass windows, intricately carved spiral staircase, and the latticework on its surface.

History of Rajabai Clock Tower

Premchand Roychand, the 19th century Cotton King and Bullion King of Mumbai bore the entire cost of building Rajabai Clock Tower in Mumbai. And it was named after his mother.

British architect Sir George Gilbert Scott designed the tower. The construction work began in 1869 and was completed by 1878. The structure though started losing its shine with time because of lack of maintenance, and it underwent a planned restoration between 2013-2015.

Today, the tower stands magnificently in the University of Mumbai campus, and tourists gape at its architectural details.

The Rajabai Clock Tower restoration project received the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Award for Cultural Heritage Conservation in 2018. But it is closed to visitors, because of multiple suicide attempts.

Image Gallery of Rajabai Clock Tower Mumbai

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What to do at Rajabai Clock Tower?

Although the clock on the tower is functional, the public is not allowed to enter the tower and go to its top. However; you can admire it from the street.

Rajabai Clock Tower is among the tallest structures in the area, and it is a glorious blend of Venetian-Gothic architecture. Some designer windows have lost their shine over the years, but still, this tower has one of the best stained-glass works in the city. You can see detailed stonework on the tower, and carved statues along the façade, which depict the life of common people of that time.

During the British era, Rajabai Tower played sixteen tunes throughout the day. Britannia, God Save the King, and Home! Sweet Home! were among those tunes. Today, the bell chimes only one tune every fifteen minutes.

Rajabai Clock Tower Entry Fee and Timings

You don’t have to pay any fee to admire the beauty of Rajabai Clock Tower and click its photographs. You’re free to explore the streets, munch on local snacks, and click selfies with one of the oldest clock towers of the city. It is accessible from 9 AM until 10 PM.

Best Time to visit Rajabai Clock Tower

The best time to visit Rajabai Clock Tower is during the evening hours. Street food stalls line up as the sun sets down. Also, you can get better photographs in the evening than mid-day.

And schedule your Mumbai trip during the winter season, which starts around November and remains until early February. The weather is pleasant, humidity levels are low, and the temperature is lower than other months.

Time to explore Rajabai Clock Tower Mumbai

You can spend about 30-45 minutes at the clock tower. But if you have time, you should also explore the area nearby. Apart from the tower, you can wander around the university campus, check the library, and visit other places of tourist interests. Places like Jehangir Art Gallery, Flora Fountain and the Book Street are at a walking distance from Rajabai Clock Tower.

Interesting facts about Rajabai Clock Tower

• Sir George Gilbert Scott, the architect of the tower, never visited India. His advisor saw the construction as per the designs.
• The clock at the tower was designed by the popular watch company Lund & Blockley.
• Rajabai Clock Tower has 24 statues, portraying the life of common Indian people during the British rule.

How to reach Rajabai Clock Tower in Mumbai?

Rajabai Clock Tower is in the Fort area, in the heart of the city. So, it has easy accessibility from all parts of Mumbai. Taxis, cabs and autos are available to take you to the tower. You can also get regular public buses and local trains to go to Rajabai Clock Tower. It is at a walking distance from the iconic Churchgate Railway Station.For a more comfortable ride, you can hire a cab from top car rental companies in Mumbai and visit all the popular sightseeing places of Mumbai.

And here are the various ways to reach Mumbai –

By Road – Mumbai is the financial hub of the country, and it has strong road connectivity with all the towns and cities. You can drive your car on the highways or rent a cab to be in Mumbai from anywhere. Regular public and private luxury buses, too, run between Mumbai and nearby towns like Pune and Nagpur. Buses from far-off places like Ahmedabad and Panaji also are available at regular intervals to Mumbai Central Bus Depot. It is about 6 km away.

By Rail – Apart from roadways, railway travel is also a convenient option to go to Mumbai. Daily express trains run from the metropolitan cities like Delhi, Bangalore, and Hyderabad among other towns of India. Most of the trains stop at one of the two key railway stations – Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (about 1 km away) and Mumbai Central (about 7 km away). Some trains also connect Mumbai to other parts of the country through one of the suburban railway stations.

By Air – Mumbai is connected to all the major tourist destinations and business capitals of the world. Whether you’re in the US, the UK, or the UAE, you’ll find regular flights to Mumbai. Those flights arrive at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, which is only around 20 km away from Rajabai Clock Tower. Flights from all the major airports in the country also land at this airport.

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Location Map for Rajabai Clock Tower Mumbai