Sassoon Dock - Mumbai

Sassoon Dock is one of those places in Mumbai where history is still very much at work.

Located in Colaba, not far from the busy Colaba Causeway, Sassoon Dock was Bombay's first wet dock. Built on reclaimed land by the Sassoon family, it was formally inaugurated in 1875. Albert Abdullah David Sassoon, son of the well-known merchant David Sassoon, was behind the project. The dock initially played an important role in Bombay's growing maritime trade, particularly at a time when the opening of the Suez Canal was changing commercial links between India and Europe.

The Heritage Entrance and Clock Tower

Even before entering the dock, there is something worth stopping for.

The old gateway is dominated by a handsome clock tower. With its arched openings, contrasting stonework and clock face high above the entrance, the structure looks quite different from the crowded commercial surroundings of present-day Colaba.

The clock itself has an interesting connection with London. It was designed and manufactured by Sir John Bennett, the noted British watch and clock maker. The old clock mechanism was later restored after remaining non-functional for several decades.

It is easy to walk past such a structure while heading towards Mumbai's better-known colonial landmarks. But the gateway is a reminder that the city's architectural heritage was not limited to grand railway stations, government buildings and mansions. Even its working docks had structures designed with character.

From Cotton to Fish

Walk through the historic gateway and the atmosphere changes completely.

Sassoon Dock today is closely associated with Mumbai's fishing industry. It houses one of the city's largest wholesale fish markets, and mornings can be exceptionally busy. Fishing boats bring in their catch, fish is unloaded and sorted, auctions take place, ice is crushed and boxes are prepared for transportation.

This is not a heritage monument separated from everyday life by fences and ticket counters. The dock continues to function.

That is perhaps what makes Sassoon Dock particularly interesting.

The clock tower outside speaks about nineteenth-century Bombay and the city's maritime ambitions. Pass beneath it, and you enter a noisy working world of fishing boats, traders, carts, ice and seafood.

Two very different faces of Mumbai, separated only by a gateway.

Happy travelling.