Town Hall - A Storehouse of Information

If you wish to read at a calm, magnificent library, then Mumbai's Town Hall is the place to be. Located in the Fort area of South Mumbai, this colonial structure is possibly one of the most credible heritage buildings of our times. This giant pillared monument houses the Asiatic Society of Bombay and is immensely lauded for being an imperial construction. The hullabaloo surrounding Town hall compelled me to check out this place. Recently when I dropped by, I was impressed with its exquisite aura. The Spiral Staircases, Wooden Floors, well shaped Iron Loggias and Marvellous Marble figures of late patrons, all took me back to a time that was gone by but preserved so well. The Asiatic Society over here comprises of a large library and is known for hoarding more than 8,00,000 sets of antique volumes.

This building was erected in the 1830's and its architecture chiefly comprises Roman and Greek styles of construction. The porch here includes 8 Doric pillars and one needs to climb nearly 30 steps to reach the entrance. This neo-classical building surely leaves you enthralled with its mesmerizing Grecian porticos and columns.

One of the most treasured possessions of this place is Dante's first version of 'Inferno' which is undoubtedly a priceless reserve. The society's remarkable museum has a numismatic compilation of extraordinary Gold Mohurs and 1000 ancient coins that once belonged to the great Mughal emperor, Akbar. Although to have a look at the priceless heritage one needs to seek prior permission from the concerned authorities. Apart from this, the public library which is open to all can be accessed by everyone without any trouble. Senior citizens and locals usually come here to read the newspapers and rejuvenate their spirits. So, if you too are interested in gaining some knowledge then do visit this 200 feet long museum cum library to broaden your horizons.