The Bombay High Court building will be open from October 16 to heritage enthusiasts, as part of the Maharashtra state government's efforts to boost tourism in the region.
As per the reports, the high court and the Tourists Guide Association have taken this initiative jointly. Known for being one of the country’s oldest courts, the said building was built over a period of 7 years in the Gothic revival in the early English style architecture and was commissioned in services in 1878.
The initiative has been implemented by the Directorate of Tourism (DoT),which as per its statement, visitors will be allowed to take a tour of the building on weekends from 10 AM to 2 PM, and the duration of each heritage walk will continue for an hour.
Reports have it that a total of three heritage walks will be conducted on Saturdays and Sundays in three different languages, i.e., English, Marathi, and Hindi. As per the DoT’s statement, a nominal entry fee of INR 100 (plus taxes, if applicable) will be charged per walk for Indian tourists, while INR 200 (plus taxes, if applicable) will be charged per foreign tourist.
The structure of the building has been designed like a courtroom of a judge, and it was one of the three high courts in India established at the Presidency Towns by Letters patent granted by Queen Victoria.
To create awareness about the rich history, heritage, and architecture of this iconic structure, the DoT proposed to facilitate heritage walks in the Bombay High Court premises, after seeking guidance and approval of the concerned authorities of the court.
