Knesset Eliyahoo Synagogue

One of the oldest synagogues in the city, the Knesset Eliyahoo Orthodox synagogue was founded in 1884. This historic building stands out from the others in Kala Ghoda mainly because of its blue color. Victorian sky and stained glass. The synagogue was built under Jacob Elias Sassoon, grandson of David Sassoon, who led the Jewish community in Bombay after emigrating from Baghdad while fleeing persecution.

It was designed by British architecture firm Gostling & Morris and built in the classical renaissance style. The original Minton tiled floor was imported from the UK with a typical synagogue decor with Victorian stained glass windows, a staircase and luxurious Burmese teak furnishings.

The synagogue began to suffer from water infiltration, damaging the surface of the roof, ceiling, and walls. Stained glass panels must be cleaned and restored, and windows, wooden balconies and stairs need careful restoration. So in 2010, WMF funded the creation of a comprehensive conservation plan for the Keneseth Eliyahoo Synagogue. The plan addresses structural and architectural integrity as well as the restoration of historic finishes and stained glass. Beginning in 2017, the synagogue received structural and roof repairs, restoration of decorative finishes, and restoration of the synagogue's beautiful 19th-century stained-glass windows. And the work was completed in January 2019.

In October 2019, the project received the Certificate of Merit at the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation 2019.

Keneseth Eliyahoo Synagogue continues to be used as a synagogue and is the center of Jewish religious and cultural life in Mumbai. The building contains unique features that appealed to different cultural forces in 19th-century Mumbai, combining Jewish traditions with Victorian Indian and British influences.

The Orthodox Synagogue is a mark of diversity true to Mumbai's growing population. With a small but thriving community of about 4,000 Jews remaining in Mumbai, the synagogue serves as a reminder of this self-contained ethnic community.

Opening hours: 09:00 - 17:00 (Monday)

10:00 – 17:00 (Sunday)

10:30 – 17:30 (Tuesday – Thursday)