Golden Bridge
Encyclopedia
The Golden Bridge that connects Ankleshwar to Bharuch
was built in 1881 by the British
, who needed a bridge across the Narmada River
to create better access to trade and administration officials in Bombay (now called Mumbai).
The Bridge is actually called Narmada Bridge.
The Golden Bridge has seen many flood
s and natural disaster
s like earthquake
s, but it has stood for 129 years, providing daily transportation to the people of Ankleshwar and Bharuch.
In fact, the site is definitely worth a look. The bridge is as much a part of the rich history of Bharuch
as are its archaeological and architectural wonders, mostly temples.
The British, who needed a bridge across Narmada to enable easier access for trade and administration officials in Mumbai, built the Golden Bridge, or Narmada Bridge as it is named, in 1881.
According to legend, it is known as the "Golden Bridge" because the iron used in its construction is very sturdy, resistant to rust and rare, and it was so expensive to build the bridge that a bridge could have been made from gold over a small river like the Thames
in this much amount.
The bridge was originally built for the Bombay-Baroda-Ahmedabad Railway Line. But despite being so expensive it was not strong enough to carry the load of the freight trains. Hence a new bridge was made for railways and the Golden Bridge was converted into a road bridge.
The bridge connects Ankleshwar to Bharuch The Golden Bridge got its name on account of the heavy expenditure incurred on building it for more than seven times, after it continued to get damaged due to heavy water flow of river Narmada.
It was said then that the cost incurred was so high that the bridge could be constructed in gold. The Golden Bridge has seen many floods and natural disasters like earthquakes and continues to provide daily transportation to the people of Ankleshwar and Bharuch.
It is not just been a connection between two towns, rather it is a tourist spot for people who throng it in the evenings and enjoy the sight of the Narmada.
The original construction was started in 1861 and in 1863 the pillars got washed away. Then in 1867, more pillars got washed away and the same happened in 1871.
The next two years, the work that was done also got washed away. Finally, the British undertook the job in 1877 and completed the bridge on May 6, 1881 at a cost of Rs 45.65 lakh and called it Narmada Bridge.
In 1860, the work for laying railway tracks was also started adjacent to the Narmada Bridge. With the construction of a new bridge, the railway tracks were laid on the new bridge.
At one time during World War II, financial crunch had even forced the government to decided on destroying the bridge for its iron, but the love of locals for the bridge saved it.
After Independence, it became part of the national highway. Later, after the construction of a new national highway, vehicle flow was restricted.
Bharuch
Bharuch , also known as Broach, is the oldest city in Gujarat, situated at the mouth of the holy river Narmada. Bharuch is the administrative headquarters of Bharuch District and a municipality of more than 1,50,000 inhabitants. As Bharuch is a major seaport city, a number of trade activities have...
was built in 1881 by the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, who needed a bridge across the Narmada River
Narmada River
The Narmada , also called Rewa is a river in central India and the fifth largest river in the Indian subcontinent. It is the third largest river that completely flows within India after Ganges and Godavari...
to create better access to trade and administration officials in Bombay (now called Mumbai).
The Bridge is actually called Narmada Bridge.
The Golden Bridge has seen many flood
Flood
A flood is an overflow of an expanse of water that submerges land. The EU Floods directive defines a flood as a temporary covering by water of land not normally covered by water...
s and natural disaster
Natural disaster
A natural disaster is the effect of a natural hazard . It leads to financial, environmental or human losses...
s like earthquake
Earthquake
An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. The seismicity, seismism or seismic activity of an area refers to the frequency, type and size of earthquakes experienced over a period of time...
s, but it has stood for 129 years, providing daily transportation to the people of Ankleshwar and Bharuch.
In fact, the site is definitely worth a look. The bridge is as much a part of the rich history of Bharuch
Bharuch
Bharuch , also known as Broach, is the oldest city in Gujarat, situated at the mouth of the holy river Narmada. Bharuch is the administrative headquarters of Bharuch District and a municipality of more than 1,50,000 inhabitants. As Bharuch is a major seaport city, a number of trade activities have...
as are its archaeological and architectural wonders, mostly temples.
The British, who needed a bridge across Narmada to enable easier access for trade and administration officials in Mumbai, built the Golden Bridge, or Narmada Bridge as it is named, in 1881.
According to legend, it is known as the "Golden Bridge" because the iron used in its construction is very sturdy, resistant to rust and rare, and it was so expensive to build the bridge that a bridge could have been made from gold over a small river like the Thames
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
in this much amount.
The bridge was originally built for the Bombay-Baroda-Ahmedabad Railway Line. But despite being so expensive it was not strong enough to carry the load of the freight trains. Hence a new bridge was made for railways and the Golden Bridge was converted into a road bridge.
The bridge connects Ankleshwar to Bharuch The Golden Bridge got its name on account of the heavy expenditure incurred on building it for more than seven times, after it continued to get damaged due to heavy water flow of river Narmada.
It was said then that the cost incurred was so high that the bridge could be constructed in gold. The Golden Bridge has seen many floods and natural disasters like earthquakes and continues to provide daily transportation to the people of Ankleshwar and Bharuch.
It is not just been a connection between two towns, rather it is a tourist spot for people who throng it in the evenings and enjoy the sight of the Narmada.
The original construction was started in 1861 and in 1863 the pillars got washed away. Then in 1867, more pillars got washed away and the same happened in 1871.
The next two years, the work that was done also got washed away. Finally, the British undertook the job in 1877 and completed the bridge on May 6, 1881 at a cost of Rs 45.65 lakh and called it Narmada Bridge.
In 1860, the work for laying railway tracks was also started adjacent to the Narmada Bridge. With the construction of a new bridge, the railway tracks were laid on the new bridge.
At one time during World War II, financial crunch had even forced the government to decided on destroying the bridge for its iron, but the love of locals for the bridge saved it.
After Independence, it became part of the national highway. Later, after the construction of a new national highway, vehicle flow was restricted.