Dhobitalao

Dhobitalao
neighbourhood
Parsi Hospital at Dhobitalao
Dhobitalao
Coordinates: 18°56′36″N 72°49′43″E / 18.9433°N 72.8286°E / 18.9433; 72.8286
Country	India
State	Maharashtra
District	Mumbai City
Metro	Mumbai
Zone	1
Ward	A and C
Government
• Body	MCGM
Elevation	11 m (36 ft)
Languages
• Official	Marathi
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN	400 002
Lok Sabha constituency	Mumbai South
Vidhan Sabha constituency	Colaba
Civic agency	MCGM

Dhobitalao (धोबीतलाव, "Washerman's Lake") is a neighborhood in the city of Mumbai (formerly Bombay) in India. Located in the South Mumbai area at an elevation of 11 m (31 ft), it used to be a location where linen was washed. In British times, dhobis used to wash the British soldiers clothes' here. It was filled up in the mid-17th century as the city began to expand. The lake used to be fed by a number of underground freshwater springs, which were recently uncovered while constructing the subway in the locality.

A public library stands over the land that was the lake. Just off the current site, is the famous Metro Adlabs (formerly Metro Cinema).

The north-eastern part of Dhobitalao is called Cavel, from the Koli name Kolwar. The Kolis of this village were converted to Christianity by the Portuguese in the 16th century. Cavel became a Christian enclave, and later immigrants of this religion, from Goa, Daman, Bassein and Salsette settled here. Other Christian enclaves in Dhobitalao are Sonapur and Dabul.^[1]

Dhobitalao is home to the highest number of kudds, Goan clubs that house migrants from Goan villages seeks opportunities and employment in Mumbai.^[2]