Asiatic Library, Mumbai
The Asiatic Society of Mumbai is housed in the magnificent 19th century Town Hall, with a classical Greek temple style facade with 8 Doric columns along the pedimented portico that can be accessed via a flight of 30 steps, which has featured in numerous movies including Dev and Jazbaa.
The Asiatic Society of Mumbai is housed in the magnificent 19th century Town Hall, with a classical Greek temple style facade with 8 Doric columns along the pedimented portico that can be accessed via a flight of 30 steps, which has featured in numerous movies including Dev and Jazbaa. A regency stairway with wrought iron banisters next to the statue of philanthropist Jagannath Shankar Sheth leads to the vestibule. The vestibule and the Durbar Hall are dotted with statues, busts and portraits of scholars and philanthropists who have contributed to the Asiatic Society.
The library has a treasure trove of old books, ancient manuscripts, rare periodicals, maps, painted folios, prints, and over 11,500 antique coins of historical value. One of its highly valued possessions is an original manuscript of Dante's Divine Comedy, of which only two exist in the world. It also houses the manuscript of Shahnama of Firdausi in Persian, a 16th century Sanskrit manuscript of Aranyakaparvan from the Mahabharata, and a 13th century copy of Vasupujyacharita - a Sanskrit text on the life of the Jain Tirthankara Vasupujya. The Sopara relics here are believed to be fragments of the Buddha's begging bowl.