Crawford Market Fountain, Heritage fountain in Crawford Market, Mumbai, India
Crawford Market Fountain is a stone fountain with four tiers featuring sculptures of bears, fish, alligators, rams, and cows, topped by a bird perched on a sphere. The structure sits within the narrow lanes of Crawford Market, surrounded by shops selling fresh produce and goods.
The fountain was built in 1874, designed by William Emerson with carvings by John Lockwood Kipling, father of the novelist Rudyard Kipling. It was part of the Victorian infrastructure that shaped Mumbai during the 19th century.
Four carved plaques depict Indian river goddesses, blending local mythology with 19th-century colonial design. Visitors can see how indigenous symbolism was incorporated into the structure through detailed sculptural work.
The fountain sits within the busy and narrow lanes of the market where crowds can build up quickly. Visiting early in the morning provides better views of the sculptures and easier navigation through the surrounding shops.
The design draws from an unexecuted plan by William Burges for the Sabrina Fountain in Gloucester that was later adapted with Indian decorative elements. This transformation shows how British architectural ideas were reimagined for the colonial Indian context.
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