The Ballard Estate
business district
Business is the practice of making one's living or making money by producing or buying and selling products (such as goods and services). It is also "any activity or enterprise entered into for profit."
A business entity is not necessar ...
is situated in the financial district of
Fort
A fortification (also called a fort, fortress, fastness, or stronghold) is a military construction designed for the defense of territories in warfare, and is used to establish rule in a region during peacetime. The term is derived from La ...
. Located between
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST), officially Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), also known sometimes as Victoria Terminus (VT), is a historic railway terminus and UNESCO World Heritage Site in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
The term ...
and Fort in
South Mumbai
South Mumbai, colloquially SoBo from South Bombay in Indian English, administratively the Mumbai City District, is the city centre and the southernmost precinct of Greater Bombay. It extends from Colaba to Mahalaxmi (Western side), Byculla ...
, it hosts the offices of
shipping
Freight transport, also referred to as freight forwarding, is the physical process of transporting commodities and merchandise goods and cargo. The term shipping originally referred to transport by sea but in American English, it has been ...
companies and the headquarters of the
Mumbai Port Trust
Mumbai Port (also known as the Bombay Port) is a port which lies midway on the west coast of India, on the natural deep-water Mumbai harbour in Maharashtra. The harbour spread over is protected by the mainland of Konkan to its east and north an ...
at the Port House. It has the
Reliance Centre, many mid-priced
hotels
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. Facilities provided inside a hotel room may range from a modest-quality mattress in a small room to large suites with bigger, higher-quality beds, a dresser, a refr ...
and a noted
Irani cafe,'' Britannia''.
Overview
The
Bombay Port Trust
Mumbai Port (also known as the Bombay Port) is a port which lies midway on the west coast of India, on the natural deep-water Mumbai harbour in Maharashtra. The harbour spread over is protected by the mainland of Konkan to its east and north an ...
reclaimed of land at Ballard Estate between 1914 and 1918, using material excavated from the Alexandra Docks for filling. Ballard Estate was named for
lieutenant general J. A. Ballard, a founder of the Mumbai Port Trust, which constructed the port and Ballard Pier.
George Wittet designed the buildings for the business district, imposing a uniformity of style and design through the use of European Renaissance facades. As it is built in the
Edwardian
In the United Kingdom, the Edwardian era was a period in the early 20th century that spanned the reign of King Edward VII from 1901 to 1910. It is commonly extended to the start of the First World War in 1914, during the early reign of King Ge ...
neoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture, sometimes referred to as Classical Revival architecture, is an architectural style produced by the Neoclassicism, Neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century in Italy, France and Germany. It became one of t ...
, it has a "
London
London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...
feel" to it and is often referred to as "London-like" by the locals.
A plan to relieve congestion, conserve the structures and enliven the historic area under the auspices of the Heritage Conservation Committee has been proposed.
In recent years, Ballard Estate has attracted luxury retail and art spaces, adding to its appeal as a destination for shoppers and art enthusiasts. Notable additions include the textile and fashion store Tilfi, known for its Varanasi-inspired craftsmanship, and designer Tarun Tahiliani’s boutique, offering high-end Indian fashion. The area also features art galleries such as Galerie ISA, which presents contemporary international art, and IF.BE, a multidisciplinary space housed in a renovated ice factory. These new establishments contribute to Ballard Estate’s blend of cultural, historical, and luxury offerings.
[https://www.architecturaldigest.in/story/heres-how-an-old-ice-factory-in-mumbai-was-transformed-into-a-cultural-hub/]
Images
File:Ballard estate bombay 2.jpg, Ballard Estate building detail
File:Britannia irani cafe.jpg, Britannia cafe, an Irani cafe at Ballard Estate
File:PortTrustMemorial.JPG, Port Trust World War I memorial
References
External links
Neighbourhoods in Mumbai
Edwardian architecture in India
{{Mumbai-geo-stub