Who doesn’t dream of visiting Mumbai? For some, it’s the city of art, for others, it’s the city of dreams. It’s considered a glamorous city. However, its many mysterious temples, modern restaurants, beaches, and Bollywood’s Film City attract a lot of people. This is why Mumbai is a must-see on the travel lists of tourists from all over the world.
You may have visited Mumbai many times, but do you know how the city came into existence? The story behind this city’s creation is linked to the British and is quite interesting. So, let’s find out how Mumbai came to be.
How Mumbai was built
It’s worth noting that Mumbai is made up of seven islands. Even Mumbaikars themselves are unaware that Mumbai is made up of Mahim, Worli, Parel, Mazgaon, Bombay, Little Colaba, and Colaba. Today, these islands form the core of Mumbai.
The British played a key role
In 1782, the British played a key role in developing the city of Mumbai. That year, they began the world’s largest project: connecting the seven islands. This meant filling the water gap between the seven islands with sand.
Horn by Willard Project
The project that connected the seven islands was named Hornby Willard. This project was initiated by Governor William Hornby in 1782 and was completed by 1838. All the islands were now connected. The entire project cost £100,000.
Portuguese received Mumbai as dowry
Another interesting fact about Mumbai that few people know is that in 1662, Mumbai was under Portuguese control. In 1661, King Charles of England married Princess Catarina de Braganza of Portugal. As a dowry, Charles received the city of Bombay, now known as Mumbai. However, in 1668, Mumbai passed into the hands of the East India Company.
