Mumbai's historic, second oldest Sephardic synagogue gets a facelift

Decorative interiors such as Victorian stained glass windows and rich Burmese teakwood furnishings have also been restored

Inside a narrow alleyway in a thriving art precinct in South Mumbai, the “blue temple”, as the locals call it, was always a head turner. Even though age and weather had taken their toll of it, it never failed to draw admiring glances and a regular trickle of tourists. Now newly renovated, the 135-year-old blue synagogue is a glamorous showstopper in an enviable lineup of heritage buildings in Mumbai’s historic Fort neighbourhood.  

The Keneseth Eliyahoo Synagogue was built in 1884 as a house of prayer for the powerful community of Baghdadi Jews in the city. It is the second oldest Sephardic