Once a low lying swamp submerged by every high tide, Byculla was transformed by ambitious reclamation into a rich suburb in the early 19th century, attracting the most affluent of Bombay’s citizens and its most sophisticated public infrastructure – including its very first museum! In the latter 1800’s, the building of mills and workers’ housing shifted the character and fortunes of Byculla. With the Bombay Plague outbreak of the 1890s, one tumultuous Byculla century gave way to another. To walk through Byculla today is to experience many places, many landscapes, all at once.
This version of the Byculla walk includes a personal highlights tour of the history, building and collection of the Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Mumbai City Museum, where the walk host worked for many years.
Start: Gloria Church
End: BDL Museum
Alisha Sadikot uses walks as a tool to instigate closer looking and creative, critical public engagement with Mumbai's urban histories, art and museum collections. She believes Mumbai is SO much more interesting outside of cars and off the main roads - wouldn't you agree?
Alisha has also worked at the BDL Museum for several years as a curatorial associate, later Curator for Education and Outreach and independent consultant. It is her favourite museum anywhere.