St. Thomas Cathedral, Mumbai

St. Thomas Cathedral, Mumbai tickets: which one to buy

Saint Thomas Cathedral stands near Horniman Circle in the Fort area of South Mumbai, close to the Flora Fountain and the Bombay Stock Exchange, and entry is free. It is the oldest British building in Mumbai and the first Anglican church in the city. Heritage walks of the Fort area combine the cathedral with the Asiatic Society library, the Flora Fountain, the High Court, the University of Mumbai with the Rajabai Clock Tower and the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus railway station, a UNESCO site.

The Gateway of India and the Taj Mahal Palace hotel are about fifteen minutes' walk away. The cathedral is an active church, with services on Sundays, and visitors are welcome during the day. The cathedral is a peaceful place in the middle of Mumbai's busy business district. Taxis and the local trains to Churchgate station are the easiest way to reach the Fort area.

Visiting St. Thomas Cathedral, Mumbai: what to see

The cathedral was begun in 1676 under Gerald Aungier, governor of Bombay, and it was opened in 1718, when the town was a small British trading settlement. It became a cathedral in 1837. The church has been enlarged several times, and its facade combines classical and Gothic elements, with a tall clock tower added in 1838. Distances in the city were once measured from the cathedral, which served as the zero point for milestones. Inside, the cathedral is known for its many monuments and memorials to British officials, soldiers and their families, carved in marble by leading sculptors, including a monument by John Bacon to Governor Jonathan Duncan. The stained glass windows, the carved wooden pews and the brass plaques create a colonial atmosphere.

The cathedral was restored in the early twenty-first century and received a UNESCO Asia-Pacific heritage award. The organ in the gallery was installed in the nineteenth century and is still used. The cathedral's font, carved in marble, stands near the entrance. The walls hold monuments with figures of soldiers, angels and mourners, some carved in London. The clock tower's clock was donated by a Parsi philanthropist. The chancel's stained glass windows were installed in the nineteenth century. The cathedral's garden offers a quiet space among the office buildings. The restoration uncovered original paintwork and decoration. Plaques explain the history of the monuments.

St. Thomas Cathedral, Mumbai opening hours and the best time to go

The cathedral is open daily, with services on Sundays and some weekdays. Mumbai is hot and humid for most of the year, with the monsoon bringing heavy rain from June to September; the most pleasant season is from November to February. The Kala Ghoda Arts Festival in February brings exhibitions and events to the nearby streets. Christmas services are popular.

The Fort area is busy on weekdays and quieter on Sundays, which is the best day for heritage walks. Allow about twenty minutes for the cathedral, and walk to the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus station and the Gateway of India. The Jehangir Art Gallery and the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya museum are in Kala Ghoda, about ten minutes' walk away.