Sassoon Docks

Sassoon Docks is a historic wet dock and active wholesale fish market located in Colaba, South Mumbai. Built in 1875 by David Sassoon & Co., it was the first commercial wet dock in western India and originally facilitated the cotton trade. Today, it remains one of Mumbai's largest fish markets, receiving daily catches from over 1,500 boats. It is one of the few docks in the city open to the public and features vibrant street art from urban art festivals.

Visitors can expect a bustling pre-dawn wholesale fish market environment where trawlers offload fresh catch and Koli fisherwomen conduct domestic sales. The site functions as an active working dock rather than a conventional tourist attraction, offering opportunities for observing maritime commerce and viewing large-scale street art murals created during urban art festivals. Access is generally permitted during early morning hours, though photography is strictly prohibited in specific domestic market areas.

Built in 1875 on reclaimed land by David Sassoon & Co., Sassoon Docks was the first commercial wet dock in western India. Headed by Albert Abdullah David Sassoon, a prominent Baghdadi Jewish community leader, the dock played a pivotal role in establishing Mumbai's cotton trade during the American Civil War era when Indian cotton filled global supply gaps. The government acquired the dock for the Bombay Port Trust in 1879, after which it transitioned from international trade to becoming a primary fishing harbor.

Sassoon Docks represents the living heritage of Mumbai's Koli fishing community, particularly the women who traditionally manage domestic fish sales at the market. The site has also become a cultural canvas through the St+art Mumbai Urban Art Festival, which transformed the historic dock into a public art exhibition space featuring works by local and international artists, blending maritime tradition with contemporary urban expression.