#OperaHouse by Khaki Tours

Scores of years before the Kala Ghoda precinct was identified as the art district of the city, this extreme end of ‘Native Town’ was the hub which witnessed over half a century of cultural evolution as it gave rise to the most prominent musicians, writers, actors, painters, filmmakers, sculptors and singers of their times. Finally in 1911, the Royal Opera House was inaugurated as if it was the jewel in the crown that this area had developed in the preceding five decades. Louis Rousselet, a French traveler, writer and photographer visiting Mumbai of the times felt that the art scene was so vibrant in this area that he likened it to Rue Breda of Paris’s Montmartre.

Date: 20th October 2019

Starting Time: 8 am

Starting Point: Royal Opera House, Charni Road

Duration: 2.5 Hours

Distance: 2 Kms

Charges: Rs 699/-

Highlights of the walk:

- Manto’s Bridge of winds

- Maker of the original Sai Baba idol

- Indian voice in the outer space

- Lady with a lamp

- Origins of Calendar Art

- First Hindustani musical “classes”

- Jinnah’s Mumbai connections

- Birth of Faster Fene

- A ‘fascist organization’ that made musicals

- Benham’s ‘Hole’

- Raja Ravi Verma’s Muse

- A male performer who was a trendsetter in women’s fashion

- Organization that fought ‘Racism in art’

- First Indian photo studio to have a branch in London

- And of course, the Royal Opera House from outside!

For more information please call Khaki Tours (8828100111) or follow Khaki Tours on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter