Crawford Market

Crawford Market (officially Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Mandai) is one of South Mumbai's most famous markets. The building was completed in 1869, and donated to the city by Cowasji Jehangir. Originally named after Arthur Crawford, the first Municipal Commissioner of the city, the market was later renamed to honour Maharashtrian social reformer Mahatma Jotirao Phule. The market is situated opposite the Mumbai Police headquarters, just north of Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus railway station and west of the J.J. flyover at a busy intersection. It was the main wholesale market for fruits in Mumbai until March 1996, when the wholesale traders were relocated to Navi Mumbai.

Crawford Market

Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Mandai
Commercial, Shopping
View of Crawford Market
Crawford Market
Location in Mumbai, India
Coordinates: 18.947414°N 72.834710°E / 18.947414; 72.834710
CountryIndia
StateMaharashtra
DistrictMumbai City
CityMumbai
Founded byCowasji Jehangir
Government
 • TypeMunicipal Corporation
 • BodyBrihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (MCGM)
Language
 • OfficialMarathi
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
Area code(s)022
Civic agencyBMC
Crawford Market, c. 1905

In 1882, the building was the first in India to be lit up by electricity.

Architecture

The market was designed by British architect William Emerson, and represented an early effort to blend Victorian Gothic architecture with indigenous elements.[1] The market covers an area of 22,471 sq m (2,41,877 sq ft), of which 5,515 sq m (59,363 sq ft) is occupied by the building itself. The structure was built using coarse buff coloured Kurla stone, with redstone from Bassein. It has a 15 m high skylight awning designed to allow the sunlight to brighten up the marketplace.[2]

The original design consisted of three doorways at the entrance, each divided with a column, with space for a carved panel depicting every day life. Two such panels were carved by the artist, John Lockwood Kipling (the father of author Rudyard Kipling) depicting an image of workers working, but he was not able to complete the third before leaving India.[1]

Timing

This market is mostly closed on Tuesdays. So if you are planning to do shopping in and around that area, avoid Tuesday as very few shops would be open. On other days, its open from 11:00 am to 8:00 pm.

Items sold

The market houses numerous items, from wholesale fruits, vegetables and poultry to clothes, dress materials, toys, jewelry, and even a pet store. At the pet area, different varieties of dogs, cats, and birds can be found.[3] There have also been stories of the illegal sale of endangered species.[4]

Reaching there

One can easily reach Crawford market area from CSTM railway station or take a cab from there. You can also take a bus to CSTM station or ride in your car. There is car parking available but very costly and has to be paid on an hourly basis (80-100 Rs/hr and 400 Rs./day) and still difficult to get after first half of the day.

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See also

References
  1. Chopra, Preeti (2011). A Joint Enterprise: Indian Elites and the Making of British Bombay (NED - New ed.). University of Minnesota Press. doi:10.5749/j.ctttsrnj.6. ISBN 978-0-8166-7036-9.
  2. "Crawford Market". Archived from the original on 9 July 2012. Retrieved 18 June 2011.
  3. "Animal crackers at Crawford Market". Times of India. 28 March 2003. Retrieved 18 June 2011.
  4. Vora, Dhara (4 June 2011). "Buy your own Star Tortoise for Rs 600". Mid-Day. Retrieved 18 June 2011.
  • A 137-Year Legacy; Times News Network, Times of India (Mumbai edition); 2006-03-25; pg-2
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