Gateway of India
The Gateway of India is a monument built during the British Raj in Mumbai (formerly Bombay), India. It is located on the waterfront in the Apollo Bunder area in South Mumbai and overlooks the Arabian Sea. The structure is a basalt arch, 26 meters (85 feet) high. It lies at the end of Chhatrapati Shivaji Marg at the water's edge in Mumbai Harbour. It was a crude jetty used by the fishing community which was later renovated and used as a landing place for British governors and other prominent people. In earlier times, it would have been the first structure that visitors arriving by boat in Mumbai would have seen. The Gateway has also been referred to as the Taj Mahal of Mumbai, and is the city's top tourist attraction.
The structure was erected to commemorate the landing of their Majesties King George V and Queen Mary at Apollo Bunder, when they visited India in 1911. Built in Indo-Saracenic style, the foundation stone for the Gateway of India was laid on 31 March 1911. The final design of George Wittet was sanctioned in 1914 and the construction of the monument was completed in 1924. The Gateway was later the ceremonial entrance to India for Viceroys and the new Governors of Bombay. It served to allow entry and access to India.
The monument has faced three terror attacks from the beginning of the 21st century; twice in 2003 and it was also the disembarkation point in 2008 when four gunmen attacked the Taj Mahal Palace & Tower.
Open Water Swimming
The Gateway of India channel swim (Gateway to India Challenge or Gateway to India (Mumbay) Challenge) 21.97-mile (35.3 km) marathon swim that goes through Mumbay bay in India and has been completed by the following swimmers:
- Rohan More in 1996 Dharmatar to the Gateway of India in India in 7 hours 29 minutes at the age of 11.
- Aditya Santosh Raut, 70 km two-way crossing on 24 November 2002 between the Gateway of India and Dharmatar in 21 hours 28 minutes at the age of 9 years
- Taranath Narayan Shenoy completed a 70 km two-way crossing
- Christian Jongeneel, 6 hours 49 minutes in December 2012
- Prakash Nadar, 18 hours from Gateway of India to Rewas in Raig in 2013
- Atharva Rakshe, 24 km from the Gateway of India to Belapur Jetty in the Arabian Sea in 4 hours 49 minutes in 2014
- Bhakti Sharma, 16 km from Uran Port to the Gateway of India in 4 hours in 2003
- Bhakti Sharma, 36 km swim from Dharmatar to the Gateway of India in 9 hours 30 minutes in 2004
- Bhakti Sharma, 72 km two-way relay crossing between Dharmatar to the Gateway of India in 16 hours 58 minutes in 2008 with Leena Sharma and Priyanka Gehlot
- Delphinus, a 286 km circumnavigation relay around Mumbai starting and finishing at the Gateway of India
- Sampanna Ramesh Shelar, 18 km across Mandva Jetty to the Gateway of India on 3 March 2015 at the age of 14
- Soham Sheth, 18 km across Mandva Jetty to the Gateway of India on 3 March 2015 at the age of 14
- Sampanna Ramesh Shelar, 24 km from Gateway of India to Belapur on 24 January 2015 at the age of 14
- The Sea Hawk, 433.11 km from Dona Paula in Goa along the Konkan coast to the Gate Way of India in 156 hours between 13-19 February 2015 that included Paramvir Singh, Gullupilli Narhari, Ankan Kumar Patel, Vicky Tokas, Ganesh Palande, and Manav Mehta
- Anushka Purandare, 24 km from the Gateway of India to Belapur in 4 hours 59 minutes on 12 March 2016; with pace swimmer Tejas Shankaran
- 61-year-old Ned Denison, chairperson of the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame 35 km swim from Dharmatar to Gateway of India in the center of Mumbai in 7 hours 52 minutes on 28 November 201
- 7-year-old Kiuchenghan Phukon swam unassisted 12 km from Elephanta Island to the Gateway of India on 4 February 2026 with observer Rahul Chiplunkar of the Open Water Amateur Aquatics Federation.
- 15-year-old Gariyashi Chutia pioneered an unassisted 16.3 km swim from Karanja Jetty to the Gateway of India on 7 Febuary 2026 with observer Pavitra Poilkar of the Open Water Amateur Aquatics Federation.
- 11-year-old Kangkita Das swam an unassisted 16.3 km from Revas Jetty to the Gateway of India on 7 February 2026 with observer Rahul Chiplunkar of the Open Water Amateur Aquatics Federation.
External links
- 3 Young Swimmers In India Complete Marathon Swimmers
- 2026 OWAAF National Sea Swimming Championship in India
- Rahul Chiplunka, Always Expanding Open Water In India
- Dr. Meenakshi Pahuja's Eco-swim Tribute To Her Father V.K. Pahuja
- Gunjan Parulkar, A Precocious Indian Swimmer
- Taranath Narayan Shenoy Talks About Overcoming Obstacles On WOWSA Live
- The Gate To India And Inspirational Smiles
- Becoming Free While Swimming Prakash
- Mother's Will Equaled By Son
- Swim To Educate With Bhakti Sharma
- Rohans Gives It More Than Ever
- Gateway to India data
- More Indian History In The Open Water
- The Gate To India And Inspirational Smiles
- Becoming Free While Swimming Prakash
- Mother's Will Equaled By Son
- Swim To Educate With Bhakti Sharma
- Rohans Gives It More Than Ever
- Gateway to India data
- More Indian History In The Open Water
- Record-setting Relays Rock N Roll
- Delphinus Swims 286 km Around Mumbai
- Sampanna, Sohem Swim To Gate Way Of India
- World Open Water Swimming Association
- The Evolution Of Distance, The Sea Hawks Soar To Record
- One More For Rohans More
- Sampanna Shelar Swims Fast For 30 km
- Open Water Swimming
- Daily News of Open Water Swimming
- Anushka Purandare Gets Schooled In Marathon Swimming
- Rohan Demonstrates So Much More
- More To Come
- Rohan More Honored By The Hall Of Fame
- Aquaman Finishes At The Gateway Of India
