This temple at the end of Marine Drive and
south of Malabar hill was built in 1780.A stone lingam of
Shiva is worshipped at Babulnath temple.
Built in the year 1899, the temple is
dedicated to the worship of the Sun God. It is situated at
Surajwadi, Panjiapol Lane, Bhuleshwar. The temple is built of
white stone and at the main entrance are carved figures of Jay
and Vijay, the celestial gatekeepers. There is a spacious
hall for the reading of the Puranas (Holy Books) and galleries
used by sadhus and visitors In the inner sanctuary seated on
a one-wheeled chariot, is the Sun God wearing a crown and
flanked on either side by his two wives Prabha and Chhaya.
The chariot is drawn by a horse with seven heads and the
driver is the Sun God’s lame charioteer Aruna.
Bhuleshwar, or more properly Bholeshwar
(the Pure One ) is built of black stone with an ornamental,
octagonal dome. The temple is covered with brass plate and
has a red flag adorned with representations of the sun and
moon. The original structure was built some 200 years ago and
the present temple structure supplanted in about 1830. The
lingam at Bhuleshwar is said to have miraculously risen to its
position. The inner shrine also contains images of Parvathi
and Ganesh.
The most noteworthy
feature of Mahim is the shrine of Makhtum Fakih Ali Paru. Of
Arab origin, he studied and travelled extensively and was
appointed law officer of Mahim. Makhtum Fakih Ali Paru is
noted for his commentary on the holy Koran. When he died in
1413, a shrine and mosque were built in his memory. The tomb
built of stone and mortar lies not far from the sea shore.
The main shrine, or dargah, stands on a masonry plinth and has
two entrances. A large central dome crowns the shrine with
four small domes, topping four minarets at each corner. To
the north of the shrine is a wooden mosque and near it an
ancient step well fed by an underground stream.
According to an old
Urdu account, the original Jama Masjid of Mumbai was situated
near Dongri. It was later removed and erected at Esplanade.
In 1770, this mosque too was demolished by an order of
Governor William Hornby which forbade the existence of any
building within 600 years of the walls of the Fort. The
construction of the present Jama Masjid started in 1775 but
work on it could not be completed till 1802. The Masjid is a
quadrangular pile of brick and stone encircled by a ring of
terraced roofed and double storeyed buildings. The main
eastern gate leads to an ancient tank filled with about 10
feet of water. From the depths of the tank rise 16 black
stone arches which support the whole fabric of the mosque.
Haji
Ali built to honour a Muslim saint, stands almost 500 yards
out at sea. It is approachable only during low tide by a
narrow rock causeway built above sea level.
Mumbai has two major
synagogues, one built in 1796 and the other in 1847. The
older synagogue is said to have been built by Samaji Hasanji
(Samuel Ezekiel) who joined the British army and grew to be
the native commandant of the 6th Battalion.
Serving in the Second Mysore War he was taken prisoner by Tipu
Sultan. Tipu’s mother and chief maulavi (priest) helped him
escape. In gratitude for his deliverance he built this
synagogue called Shaar Harahmeno i.e., the Gate of Mercy.
In the heart of commercial Fort District
stands St Thomas’ Cathedral. Work on the chruch commenced
under Gerald Aungier, Governor of Mumbai, in 1672 and the
church was opened to the public in 1718. Though essentially
simple in structure, the interior of the church has some
exquisite stained-glass windows. The most prominent feature
is the church’s tall steeple that was, till the mid 19th
century, clearly visible to travellers arriving into Mumbai by
the steamship route.
Situated at the end of
Colaba Causeway it was built in 1847 in honour of the soldiers
who died in the first Afghan war of 1843.It is impressive with
wide Gothic arches and beautiful stained-glass windows.
This
200 year old temple at Prabhadevi is one of the most popular
Ganesha temple in the city. Every Tuesday devotees throng this
temple in the firm belief that their wishes will be fulfilled.
