Standing the test of time: India’s tallest clock towers

Posted on November 5, 2023 by problogic

India has an amazing and beautiful array of clock towers situated across the country. Ranging from standalone towers to those that are incorporated into palaces, offices, government buildings, railway stations, universities, and other structures, these clock tower adorn the landscape while offering a unique perspective into varying architectural styles and artistic flair. The list below identifies the tallest of these clock towers.

Chennai Central Station Clock Tower – Source: en.wikipedia.org

As can be seen from the data, the clock towers date as far back as the 18th century, though most are from the 19th and 20th centuries. Of those towers for which the completion date is known, the construction history breaks down as follows:

  • 1700s/18th century = 1
  • 1800s/19th century = 39
  • 1900s/20th century = 46
  • 2000s/21st century = 3
Ujjain Clock Tower – Source: commons.wikimedia.org

Given the widespread use of wristwatches and cellphones, the need for clock towers has lessened since the mid-20th century. However, they remain both endearing and enduring. While some aging clock towers have deteriorated, many others have been and are being lovingly restored. These stand as testaments of time and are sources of local and national pride.

Impressive Husainabad Clock Tower in Lucknow – Source: outlookindia.com

After the rankings is a second list with clock towers whose height has not been found in publications or online. Any additions, corrections, or suggestions to complete the data for these (and other missing) clock towers would be most appreciated. Peace!

General Post Office Clock Tower in Lucknow – Source: medium.com
  1. Infosys Clock Tower (proposed) – Mysore = 443 feet/135 m

2. Rajabai Clock Tower (1878) – Mumbai = 280 feet/85 m

3. Husainabad Clock Tower (1881) – Lucknow = 220 feet/67 m

4. King Edward Memorial Hall Clock Tower (1911) – Kanpur = 180 feet/55 m

5. NIT Trichy Clock Tower (1967) – Tiruchirapalli = 174 feet/53 m

6-9. Hooghly Imambara (1861) 2 towers – Hooghly; Prag Mahal Clock Tower (1879) – Bhuj; Telangana State Legislative Assembly Clock Tower (2019) – Hyderabad; and Indian Institute of TechnologyThompson College Clock Tower (1847) – Roorkee = 150 feet/46 m

10. Ghanta Ghar (1880) – Kanpur = 148 feet/45 m

11. Ripon Building Clock Tower (1913) – Chennai = 141 feet/43 m

12. Sultan Bazar Clock Tower (1865) – Hyderabad = 140 feet/43 m

13. Central Station Clock Tower (1873) – Chennai = 136 feet/41 m

14. Madras University Clock Tower (1913) – Chennai = 133 feet/40.5 m

15. Lal Imli Woolen Mills Clock Tower (1910) – Kanpur = 128 feet/39 m

16. Bikaner Clock Tower (1967) – Bikaner = 123 feet/37.5 m

17-19. Kacheguda Railway Station Clock Tower (1910s) – Hyderabad; Secunderabad Clock Tower (1897) – Hyderabad; and Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology Shibpur Clock Tower (1865) – Howrah = 120 feet/36.5

20-21. Khalsa College Clock Tower (1912) – Amritsar and Meerut Ghantaghar (1914) – Meerut = 115 feet/35 m

22. Chinnakada Clock Tower (1944) – Kollam = 112 feet/34 m

23-24. Chimnabai Clock Tower (1896) – Vadodara and Hazarduari Palace Clock Tower – Murshidabad (1837) = 108 feet/33 m

25. Khilwat Clock Tower @ Chowmohalla Palace (1750s) – Hyderabad = 105 feet/32 m

26-27. Bombay Mutual/LIC of India Clock Tower (1955) – Chennai and Ghanta Ghar (1891) – Mirzapur = 100 feet/ 30.5 m

28-30. General Post Office Clock Tower (1932) – Lucknow; VOC Park Clock Tower (1887) – Coimbatore; and Panaji Clock Tower (19th century) – Goa = 98 feet/30 m

31-33. Gaiety Theatre Clock Tower (1887) – Shimla; Ghadi Chowk (1896) – Raipur; and Nehru Gate Clock Tower (1935) – Morbi = 90 feet/27 m

34. Aberdeen Clock Tower (1902) – Port Blair = 87 feet/26.5 m

35-40. Ajmer Clock Tower (1887) – Ajmer; Chaura Bazaar Clock Tower (1906) – Ludhiana; Dehradun Clock Tower (1953) – Dehradun ; and Doveton Clock Tower (1882) – Chennai; Lake Town Clock Tower – Kolkata; and Jabalpur Clock Tower (1909) = 85 feet/26 m

41. Sabzi Mandi Ghantaghar (1941) – Delhi = 84 feet/25.5 m

42-43. Dina Bhai Ni Haveli Clock Tower (19th century) – Ahmedabad and Rajwada Clock Tower (18th century) – Indore = 82 feet/25 m

44-46. Kolkata Time Zone Clock Tower – Kolkata; Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi Road Clock Tower (1880) – Rajkot; and Jubilee Clock Tower (1939) – Jamnagar = 80 feet/24 m

47-50. Silver Jubilee Clock Tower (1927) – Mysore; Diamond Jubilee Clock Tower at Andhra University (1937) – Visakhapatnam; Rani Mangammal Clock Tower (1861) – Tiruchirappalli Mueller Clock Tower (1912) – Prayagraj = 75 feet/23 m

51-53. University of Kerala Clock Tower (1921) – Thiruvananthapuram; Mehboob Chowk Clock Tower (1892) – Hyderabad; and Hampankatta Clock Tower (1933) – Mangalore = 72 feet/22 M

54. Ghadi Chowk (1882) – Raipur = 71 feet/22 m

55-56. Royapettai Clock Tower (1943) – Chennai and Thanjavur Maratha Palace Clock Tower (19th century) – Thanjavur = 70 feet/21 m

57. Vizianagaram Ganta Stambham Clock Tower (1885) – Vizianagaram = 68 feet/21 m

58. Clock Tower of Haridwar (1938) – Haridwar = 66 feet/20 m

59. Heritage Clock Tower – Ahmedabad ~ 65 feet/20 m

60-63. Visakhapatnam Clock Tower (under construction) – Visakhapatnam; Mint Clock Tower (1948) – Chennai; Mohamedally Tower (1915) – Siddhpur; and Rajwada Clock Tower (1874) – Jaipur = 60 feet/18 m

64. Mahboob Chowk Clock Tower (1892) – Hyderabad = 56 feet/17 m

65. Hamid Park/Irshad Clock Tower at City Station (ca. 1922) – Lucknow = 55 feet/16 m

66. Anantapur Clock Tower (1947) – Anantapur = 47 feet/14 m

67. Sardar Market Clock Tower (1911) – Jodhpur = 44 feet/13 m

68-71. Kalimpong (Graham’s) Clock Tower (1965) – Kalimpong; Hari Nagar Ghanta Ghar (1950) – Delhi; Ghanta Ghar (19th century) – Kota; and Gorakhpur Clock Tower (1989) – Gorakpur = 40 feet/12 m

72. SSN College of Engineering Clock Tower – Chennai = 35 feet/10.5 m

73-75. Lytton Memorial Clock Tower (1877) – Nahan; Ghanta Ghar (1884) – Udairpur ; and Nainital Clock Tower (1883) – Nainatal = 30 feet/9 m

76. Chinna Mani Kundu (Petite Tower Clock) – Punducherry = 25 feet/7.5 m

Charming Tejookaya Park Clock Tower in Mumbai – Source: forbesindia.com/aperture/slideshow/frozen-in-time-a-photo-tour-of-bombay039s-public-clocks/57611/15#photo

More information needed:

  • Aligarh Clock Tower (1893) – Aligarh
  • Aminabad Park Clock Tower (1911) – Lucknow
  • Bahraich Clock Tower (1911) – Bahraich
  • Bari Sadir Clock Tower – Bari Sadri
  • Belgaum Native General Library Clock Tower (1935) – Belagavi
  • Bhadra Fort Clock Tower (1878) – Ahmedabad
  • Bheemili Clock Tower (1860) – Bheemili
  • Central Bank Clock Tower (1884) – Hazratganj/Lucknow
  • Chinnakada Clock Tower (1944) – Kollam
  • Christian College Clock Tower – Lucknow
  • Dholpur Clock Tower – Dholpur
  • Dufferin Clock Tower – Mysore
  • Ghanta Ghar at Lal Chowk (1980) – Srinagar
  • Golden Rock Railway Workshop Clock Tower (1928) – Tiruchirappalli
  • Golden Temple Clock Tower (1830) – Amritsar
  • Gujarat University Clock Tower (1949) – Ahmedabad
  • James Street Clock Tower (1900) – Hyderabad
  • Kalpi Clock Tower – Kalpi
  • Kamla Market Clock Tower (1951) – Delhi
  • Karimnagar Clock Tower – Karimnagar
  • Kathivakkam (Ennore) Clock Tower – Chennai
  • King George Hospital Clock Tower (1923) – Visakhapatnam
  • Kothawali Clock Tower (1929) – Kanpur
  • Lawrence School Clock Tower – Lovedale
  • Lohia Park Clock Tower (2007) – Lucknow
  • Mandi Clock Tower – Mandi
  • Muthialpet/Grand Bazaar Tower Clock (1849) – Punducherry
  • Nagercoil Clock Tower – Nagercoil
  • Nanamiy Hava (Kalupur) Clock Tower (1925) – Ahmedabad
  • Pantnagar Clock Tower – Pantnagar
  • Pattalam Clock Tower (1948) – Chennai
  • Periya Mani Kundu (Grand Tower Clock) (1851)- Punducherry
  • P. Orr & Sons Clock Tower (1848?) – Chennai – partially demolished?
  • Presidency College Dome Clock Tower (post 1872) – Chennai
  • Saifai Clock Tower – Saifai
  • Selby Hall Clock Tower – Lucknow
  • Shah Ali Banda Clock Tower (1904) – Hyderabad
  • Shivpuri Clock Tower – Shivpuri
  • Tejookaya Park Clock Tower – Mumbai
  • Tiruchy Court Clock Tower (1921) – Tiruchirappalli
  • Tondiarpet Clock Tower (1948) – Chennai
  • Ujjain Clock Tower – Ujjain
Rajabai Clock Tower in Mumbai – Source: walkthroughindia.com

SOURCES:

This entry was posted in archaeology, architecture, art, Asia, cities, civics, culture, engineering, geography, government, historic preservation, history, India, infrastructure, land use, landscape architecture, pictures, placemaking, planning, product design, skylines, skyscrapers, Statistics, tourism, Travel, urban design, urban planning and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.