WATSONS HOTEL
SHADES OF OBLIVION
I bet most of you don't even know where this is in Mumbai?
119 years ago an audience of European paid a Rupee each to watch a show which has been billed as "The Marvel of the century". That rainy Tuesday in July 1896 , motion pictures debuted in India, at Watson's Hotel in then what was called Bombay.
Watson's Hotel at one time, the swankiest hotel in town is located in South Mumbai and is now called Esplanade Mansion. It's story dates back to the mid 19th century when the city was beginning to prosper, thanks to a booming cotton trade. The hotel threw its doors open to "European only" clientele in 1871.
The hotel had 131 rooms, its cast iron structure was fabricated in England and then put together in Bombay. On Monday nights they hosted a ball, a very sought after social gathering of Europeans, an excellent band was engaged and the dancing went on till the wee hours of the morning.
As the hotels reputation spread visiting dignitaries only stayed at Watson's. Like all hotels Watsons also witnessed suicides, drunken guests who fell off balconies and midnight brawls.
As Bombay continued to grow, trams came in in 1874 and electricity in 1882.
In 1882 Watsons went in for a major face lift, adding a hydraulic lift and a bar.
Mark Twain stayed in the hotel in 1896, in a chapter of his book Following the Equator, he describes his visit as follows" The lobbies and halls were full of turbaned, and fez'd and embroidered cap"d and barefoot, and cotton-clad dark natives........in the dining room every man's own private native servant standing behind his chair, and dressed for a part in Arabian Nights."
The hotels decline was gradual but stark. The death of the Founder, J H Watson, followed by the subsequent sale and new competition.
The Taj Mahal opened with 400 rooms in 1903 with attractions like electric lifts, lights, bars, smoking rooms and a hotel orchestra. A popular myth is that J N Tata built the Taj Mahal after he was denied entry into Watsons.
In 1960 Watsons closed down. Today all that is left of this majestic hotel is its magnificent iron pillars and wooden staircase. The place has been divided into small rooms which have been rented out to tailors, photo copy shops and lawyers.
THEN
NOW
SHADES OF OBLIVION
I bet most of you don't even know where this is in Mumbai?
119 years ago an audience of European paid a Rupee each to watch a show which has been billed as "The Marvel of the century". That rainy Tuesday in July 1896 , motion pictures debuted in India, at Watson's Hotel in then what was called Bombay.
Watson's Hotel at one time, the swankiest hotel in town is located in South Mumbai and is now called Esplanade Mansion. It's story dates back to the mid 19th century when the city was beginning to prosper, thanks to a booming cotton trade. The hotel threw its doors open to "European only" clientele in 1871.
The hotel had 131 rooms, its cast iron structure was fabricated in England and then put together in Bombay. On Monday nights they hosted a ball, a very sought after social gathering of Europeans, an excellent band was engaged and the dancing went on till the wee hours of the morning.
 |
| MONOGRAM "W" ON THE BALCONY RAILING |
As the hotels reputation spread visiting dignitaries only stayed at Watson's. Like all hotels Watsons also witnessed suicides, drunken guests who fell off balconies and midnight brawls.
As Bombay continued to grow, trams came in in 1874 and electricity in 1882.
In 1882 Watsons went in for a major face lift, adding a hydraulic lift and a bar.
Mark Twain stayed in the hotel in 1896, in a chapter of his book Following the Equator, he describes his visit as follows" The lobbies and halls were full of turbaned, and fez'd and embroidered cap"d and barefoot, and cotton-clad dark natives........in the dining room every man's own private native servant standing behind his chair, and dressed for a part in Arabian Nights."
The hotels decline was gradual but stark. The death of the Founder, J H Watson, followed by the subsequent sale and new competition.
The Taj Mahal opened with 400 rooms in 1903 with attractions like electric lifts, lights, bars, smoking rooms and a hotel orchestra. A popular myth is that J N Tata built the Taj Mahal after he was denied entry into Watsons.
 |
| SMOKING ROOM TAJ MAHAL HOTEL |
THEN
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| VERANDAH OF WATSONS HOTEL,1870 |
NOW
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