Golden Bridge

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 floods and natural disasters like earthquakes, 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 and other material 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.

Coordinates: 21°41′40″N 73°00′15″E / 21.6943777°N 73.004263°E / 21.6943777; 73.004263