RAJABAI CLOCK TOWER, Mumbai

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A landmark in Bombay since its completion in 1878, the Gothic revival Rajabai Clock Tower is part of the University of Mumbai campus. The tower was financed by a wealthy local stockbroker and cotton merchant, Premchand Roychand, who named it after his mother Rajabai. The tower rises 78 metres and dominates the skyline over the Oval Maidan park.

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The tower was built in a fusion of Venetian and Gothic styles. It is built out of the locally available buff coloured Kurla stone. The tower has one of the best stained glass windows in the city.

The ground floor has two side rooms, each measuring 56 × 27.5 ft (17 × 8.5 m). The tower forms a carriage porch 2.4 m² (26 ft²), and a spiral staircase vestibule of 2.6 m² (28 ft²). The Tower, over the carriage porch, has a square form up to the gallery at the top of the first level which is at a height of 68 feet (20.7 m) from the ground. The form changes from a square to an octagon and the height from this gallery to the top of the tower is 118 feet (36 m) and the third stage to the top of the finial is 94 feet (28.7 m), thus making a total height of 280 feet (85 m).

During its time, it was the tallest structure in the city of Mumbai.

Situated in South Mumbai, Raja Clock Tower is a vintage clock tower. This is a spectacular Victorian establishment which in the current times is situated in the confines of the Fort campus of the University of Mumbai. This structure is modeled on Big Ben and is an amalgamation of Venetian and Gothic style of architecture. During my college days Rajabai Clock Tower used to be me and my gang’s meeting point and nobody used to be late as this huge clock was always their to tell the right time and thus nobody could ever make excuses for being late. It strikes a wafting chime every quarter hour reminding us always that we are late for our classes.

This clock is built overlooking The Oval University grounds and thus is always an important landmark in the city which can be seen through the sky high buildings. Next to the High Court this is a 260 feet high clock tower and is tastefully decked with oriental figures. Under this tower the University Library is situated which is adorned with exquisite stained glass windows which is definitely worth a look.

The Rajabai Clock Tower is Mumbai's equivalent to London's Big Ben and it was, indeed, modelled on the famous London landmark. It was designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott and built between 1869 and 1878 in the grounds of Bombay's University overlooking The Oval. The total cost of construction came to Rs. 2 lakhs (Rs. 200,000), a princely sum in those days. At one time the tallest building in Bombay at 85m (280ft) high, it was funded by 'Cotton King' Premchand Roychand, a prosperous broker who founded the Bombay Stock Exchange on the condition that the tower be named after his mother Rajabai. During the British reign it played the tunes of "Rule Britannia", "God Save the King", "Auld Lang Syne" and "A Handel Symphony", out of a total of sixteen tunes which changed four times a day. It currently chimes only one tune every 15 minutes.

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The original Bombay University is part of the area constructed in the 1860-1870’s around the Oval Maidan forming a then impressive seafront esplanade. To see it as it must have been requires a bit of imagination, however, as the area became landlocked during the 1920 land reclamation in the Back Bay. Designed in the 1870’s, Bombay University and its Venetian Gothic architecture remembers an era long gone from today’s Mumbai. The two buildings of note facing the cricket fields of the Oval are the Convocation Center to the south and the University Library with its elaborate spiral staircases and grand galleries. The 80 meter Rajabai Tower rises above the Library studded with figures depicting the castes and communities of India. The main university has moved to a campus closer to the airport adding to the quieter and reflective nature found today.

The Rajabai Tower was built in the 19th century Gothic style in the university garden. The clock tower is 280 feet high and commands a great view of the city. The university library is housed in the tower. The Rajabai Tower in located in the Fort campus area of the University. This tower was build by Sir George Gilbert Scott, who was an English architect and the design of the tower was based on the Big Ben. Work on the tower began on 1st march 1869 and was completed in November 1878. The cost of the tower was borne by Premchand Roychand a prosperous broker who founded the Bombay Stock Exchange. He laid down a condition that the tower should be named Rajabai, after his mother. The tower has some of the best stained glass windows in the city. The style of architecture used to build the tower is a blend of the Venetian and Gothic styles. The tower was constructed at a cost of Rs.2 lakhs, which was an enormous sum of money in those days. Local buff colored Kurla stones were used to build the tower. Initially the tower was open to the public, but was closed after it became a haunt for those attempting to commit suicide.

The ground floor has two side rooms. The tower forms a carriage porch and a spiral staircase vestibule. The tower over the carriage porch has a square form up to the gallery at the top of the first level, which is at a height of 68 feet from the ground. The shape of the tower changes from square to an octagon and the height from this gallery to the top of the tower is 118 feet and the third stage to the top of the finial is 94 feet, making the total height of the tower 280 feet.

Chimes
The Rajabai clock tower chimes once every 15 minutes. During the British period some of the tuned that the clock played included "Rule Britannia", "God Save the King" and "A Handel Symphony" out of a total of 16 tunes that changed four times a day. Today the clock plays only one tune every 15 minutes.

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The Rajabai Clock Tower is a prominent feature of the Mumbai University complex. The clock has been likened to Big Ben in London. Apparently in the old days it used to play Rule Britannia, God Save the King and a Handel Symphony along with 13 other tunes that changed four times a day. Now with the British rule long gone, it now only plays the chimes of Big Ben every quarter hour. Standing at 280 feet tall, it was named after the mother of a 19th century stockbroker, who helped to fund the building of the tower and library that lies underneath the clock. The magnificent 5 storey spiral staircase was once open to the public but was closed after to visitors after several discontented citizens hurled themselves from the top.

The Rajabai Tower could be called the Mumbai Big Ben of which resembles the sounds on the quarter hour.
It takes its name from the mother of a stockbroker of the 19th century who contributed to its construction.