History
Founded in 1804 by Sir James Mackintosh, the Asiatic Society of Mumbai has been a centre of research and scholarship, preserving India’s colonial, cultural, and intellectual records under one roof at Horniman Circle.
Architecture
The 220-year-old Town Hall features a grand flight of 30 majestic stone steps, eight Doric columns, teakwood floors, and Regency-style banisters — key elements of its neoclassical design and heritage value.
Treasures of Knowledge
The Society’s library houses over one lakh books, including 15,000 rare volumes, 3,000 ancient manuscripts in Sanskrit, Persian, and Prakrit, and 1,300 maps. Its numismatic collection of 11,829 coins includes a gold coin of Kumaragupta I, Akbar’s rare mohur, and coins issued by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
Heritage
The Town Hall building also accommodates the State Central Library and museum, Maharashtra Women’s Association, and the Additional Stamp Controller Office, reflecting its continued civic and cultural importance.
Preservation
The Asiatic Society continues to digitise rare books, maps, and manuscripts to make them accessible to researchers and the public, ensuring the preservation of India’s historical knowledge for future generations.
Athough the Asiatic Library (Town Hall) is not a UNESCO hertiage site, it is still classified as a Grade-I heritage structure.
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