Colaba

Colaba ([koˈlaːbaː]; or ISO: Kolābā) is a part of the city of Mumbai, India. It is one of the four peninsulas of Mumbai while the other three are Worli, Bandra and Malabar Hill. During Portuguese rule in the 16th century, the island was known as Kolbhat. After the British took over the island in the late 17th century, it was known as Kolio.^{[citation needed]}

History

The name Colaba comes from Kolabhat, a word in the language of

In 1743, British Colaba was leased to

A Colaba Observatory, a meteorological observatory was established in 1826 in the part that was called Upper Colaba. The Colaba Causeway was completed in 1838, and thus, the remaining two islands were joined to the others. Gradually, Colaba became a commercial center, after the Cotton Exchange was opened at Cotton Green in 1844. The real estate prices in the area went up. The Colaba Causeway was widened in 1861 and 1863.

Colaba became a separate municipality ward in 1872. The Sick Bungalows (now known as INHS Asvini) were built in the 19th century. The construction of the

The horse-drawn tram-cars were introduced in 1873 by Stearns and Kitteredge, who had their offices on the west side of the Causeway, where the Electric House now stands.

The Prong's lighthouse was constructed at the southern tip of the island in 1875. The eponymous

The Mumbai City Improvement Trust reclaimed around 90,000 square yards (75,000 m²) on the western shore of Colaba. Eminent citizens of Mumbai, such as Sir Pherozeshah Mehta, opposed the work, fearing that the reclamation would depress prices of land. However, the reclamation work continued and was completed in 1905. There was no fall in the land prices. In 1906, a seafront road with a raised sea-side promenade was completed, and named as "Cuffe Parade" after T. W. Cuffe of the Trust.

Present day

The

Colaba is home to the Cooperage Football Ground.

Transport

Nearest railway stations:

• Churchgate
• Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus
  ("CSMT", Victoria Terminus)

Visitor attractions

• Colaba Causeway
• Colaba Observatory
• Cowasji Jehangir Hall
• Ballard Estate
• Cathedral of the Holy Name
• Prong's Lighthouse
• Gateway of India
• Sassoon Docks
• David Sassoon Library

Gallery

• 
  Cafe Mondegar on Colaba Causeway
• 
  Colaba Apartments
• 
  Colaba Causeway construction, view from Colaba island, 1826

Terrorist attack in November 2008

On 26 November 2008, terrorist strikes occurred at various places in and near Colaba, notably the

See also

• Colaba Woods
• Other business districts in and around Mumbai:
  Lower Parel

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Colaba.

External links

• History of Colaba