28 September,2021 07:44 AM IST | Mumbai | Pallavi Smart
The library on the ground floor of Rajabai Clock Tower
When in South Mumbai's Fort area, one cannot miss the magnificent Rajabai Clock Tower of Mumbai University (MU) and the Cowasji Jehangir Convocation Hall adjacent to it. But hardly any Mumbaikar has seen these Victorian structures from inside. Now both have been declared as tourist destinations and will be available under the Mumbai University Heritage Walk.
The tour of the tower, however, will be limited to only the ground floor due to its heritage structure status. The State's Ministry of Tourism signed an MoU with the Mumbai University on Monday declaring these World Heritage structures as part of tourist destinations in Mumbai. These two will be open next week onwards for guided tourist walks on second and fourth Saturdays and other public holidays, so that MU's regular work continues hassle-free on working days.
"One will be able to book the guided tours on Book My Show. The Tourist Guide Association (TOGA), Mumbai will have its representatives on campus on tour days to provide information. MU students of the Department of History and Tourism course will also be part of these tours to get field experience. Indians and foreigners will be charged '100 and '300 respectively. Each troupe can have only 15 tourists and currently, the plan is to conduct a maximum of two tours a day," said Baliram Gaikwad, Mumbai University registrar. Considering the limited number of tourists in one troupe, the varsity administration is confident of ensuring full security and plans to increase the number of tours in a day in future, depending on the response. The tours were proposed by the State's Ministry of Tourism last year.
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The Yuva Sena, youth wing of the ruling Shiv Sena, which had demanded it, welcomed the move. Senior MU Senate member from Yuva Sena, Pradeep Sawant, said, "We have seen foreigners taking photos with these two monumental structures from outside. Even Mumbaikars did not have the opportunity to visit these heritage structures. This will also allow MU to generate extra revenue and let students gain experience."
The Rajabai Clock Tower in MU's Fort campus is 85 m tall. It is part of the Victorian and Art Deco Ensemble of Mumbai, which was added to the list of World Heritage Sites in 2018. Its foundation was laid in 1869 and construction was completed 1878. It was built in a fusion of Venetian and Gothic style. The Mumbai University Convocation Hall is also known as Cowasji Jehangir Convocation Hall, after the Parsi philanthropist Cowasji Jehangir Readymoney, who funded the construction. In 2006-07, the hall was restored by a team led by conservation architect Abha Narain Lambah. This project was given the award of distinction under the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation.
The university on Monday declared its winter session exam guidelines. November-December will be the exam months. While the exams are going to be online, this time there will be descriptive questions, too, for technical courses.
