CRAWFORD MARKET

ARCHITECTURE OF CRAWFORD MARKET

Crawford Market (Mahatma Phule
Market) located on the corner of One of the main features of the building is
Dr. DN and Lokmanya Tilak Roads. the Clock Tower, which is adorned with
The market is centrally situated-it’s A network of iron frames and beautiful Victorian carvings. Before it
opposite the Mumbai Police columns that supports the 50-ft-high stopped short in 2003, the clock at
headquarters and just north of roof, illuminating the enclosed Crawford Market had faithfully kept time
Victoria Terminus railway station market with natural light. Mumbai. for 134 years. For the last three years,
which is at a busy intersection. however, its hands have stayed still.

This market is mostly

closed on Sundays. On
other days, its open
from 11:00 am to 8:00
pm

One end of the market is a

pet store. Different varieties
of dogs, cats, and birds can The friezes on the outside entrance
be found in this area. Also, depicting Indian farmers, and the
endangered species are stone fountains inside, were designed
illegally sold there. Designed by William Emerson in by Lockwood Kipling, father of
1865 on the orders of Sir Arthur novelist Rudyard Kipling
Crawford, the Municipal
The market houses a wholesale
Commissioner of Bombay from 1865
fruit, vegetable and poultry
to 1871.
market. Most of the sellers The stone fountains
inside the market sell imported The building, completed in 1869, was The market was designed by British architect
inside were
items such as foods, cosmetics, donated to the city by Cowasji William Emerson. The edifice is a blend of
designed by
household and gift items. It Jehangir. After India's independence, Norman and Flemish architectural styles. The
Lockwood Kipling.
was the main wholesale market the market was renamed after market covers an area of 22,471 sq m (2,41,877
for fruits in Mumbai until Maharashtrian social reformer, sq ft), of which 5,515 sq m (59,363 sq ft) is
March 1996, when the Mahatma Jyotirao Phule. occupied by the building itself.
wholesale traders were
relocated to Navi Mumbai
(New Bombay).

The structure was built using coarse buff coloured Kurla stone,
The market also sells with redstone from Bassein. It has a 15 m high skylight awning
ready to stitch clothes for designed to allow the sunlight brighten up the marketplace.
women and ready-made
clothes for men and kids.