Bazaargate Street, Bombay Green, and Horniman Circle

The layers of Bombay’s commercial history are best explained by Bazaargate Street, Bombay Green, and Horniman Circle. Together, they reflect Bombay’s transition from a fortified trading town to a metropolitan financial powerhouse.

Bazar Gate was built in 1772 as one of the three main gates of the Fort. As the name suggests, it was home to the local market and the ‘Angrez Bazar’. Most of the trade in the city took place here. Once the Fort walls came down, the area became residential quarters for merchant communities.

Bombay Green was an open space in the Fort area and a gathering ground for local traders in the 19th century, especially during the cotton trade boom. The Native Share and Stock Broker Association was founded there in 1851. By the late 19th century, Bombay Green had developed into a garden with walkways and trees. Office buildings inspired by London’s Park Crescent surrounded the circle. After Independence, it was renamed Horniman Circle in honour of Benjamin Horniman, an editor who supported India’s freedom movement.

Horniman Circle remains a prominent social and financial landmark, retaining its colonial architectural character.