Mumbai’s Victorian & Art Deco Ensemble now UNESCO world heritage site

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New Delhi: After Elephanta Caves and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), now Mumbai’s Victorian and Art Deco buildings in the Fort area have been declared a Unesco World Heritage Site.

This area in Mumbai has been added to the global list of heritage sites at the 42nd session of the Unesco World Heritage Committee, which is currently underway in Manama, Bahrain.

The collection of the Victorian Gothic buildings and Art Deco buildings are set around the Oval Maidan, a large recreational ground that was once known as the ‘Esplanade.’

The east of the Oval is flanked by the Victorian Gothic public buildings and the western side is flanked by the Art Deco buildings of Backbay Reclamation and Marine Drive.

The 19th-century Victorian Gothic buildings that lie to the east of the Oval are mainly the Bombay High Court, the University of Mumbai and the City Civil and Sessions Court.

This stretch also houses one of the landmarks of Mumbai, the Rajabai Clock Tower. The 20th century Art Deco buildings flank the western stretch of the Oval and consist mainly of privately owned residential buildings and the Eros Cinema among others.

This ensemble of Victorian Gothic and Art Deco buildings was submitted for consideration to be added to the list of World Heritage Sites in May 2012. (ANI)