Seven Islands of Bombay

16th century Portuguese colony

The Seven Islands of Bombay (Portuguese: Ilhas de Bom Baim) were 16th-century Portuguese colonial possessions lying off the Konkan region by the mid-west coast of India.

History

They were partly handed over to England under this title as part of the dowry of Catherine Braganza when she married Charles II in 1661. The isles and islets had earlier been part of indigenous polities like the Silhara dynasty and the Gujarat Sultanate before they were captured by the Portuguese Armadas in 1534. After acquiring them as through a royal dowry from the Kingdom of Portugal, Charles II leased Bombay and adjacent islets to the East India Company in 1668 for £10 per year.

By 1845, the islands had been merged^[1] into one landmass by means of multiple land reclamation projects. The resulting island of Bombay was later merged with the nearby islands of Trombay and Salsette that lay to its north-east and north respectively to form Greater Bombay. These islands now constitute the southern part of the city of Bombay (Mumbai).

The original seven islands handed over to England were as follows:

Colaba
Isle of Bombay
Mahim
Mazagaon
Old Woman's Island (Little Colaba)
Parel
Worli

Evolution of the seven islands of Bombay

The original seven islands
Map of Bombay in 1893.

There also are several smaller islands that lie to the east of the main seven islands:

Butcher Island
Cross Island
East Ground
Elephanta Island, also Known as Gharapuri
Middle Ground
Oyster Rock

References

^ "Bombay: History of a City". The British Library. Archived from the original on 25 June 2013. Retrieved 20 October 2014.

External links

The Seven Islands: Mumbai
Story of cities #11: the reclamation of Mumbai – from the sea, and its people?

Mumbai topics

History

Geography

Buildings

Transport

Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST)
Mumbai Suburban Railway
- Central Line
- Harbour Line
- Nerul–Uran Line
- Trans-Harbour Line
- Western Line
Central Railway
Western Railway
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport
Bandra Terminus and suburban station
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus
Dadar railway station and suburban station
Lokmanya Tilak Terminus
Mumbai Central railway station
Juhu Aerodrome
Auto rickshaw
Metro
- Line 1
- Line 2
- Line 3
- Line 4
- Line 5
- Line 6
- Line 7
- Line 8
- Line 9
- Line 10
- Line 11
- Line 12
- Line 13
Monorail
Skywalk
Western railway elevated corridor
Water transport
Mumbai Bus Rapid Transit System
Mumbai Urban Transport Project

Roads

Economy

Education
and research

Universities and colleges	University of Mumbai (MU) SNDT Women's University IIT Bombay (IIT-B) Institute of Chemical Technology (formerly UDCT) Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute (VJTI) NITIE Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies (JBIMS) Alkesh Dinesh Mody Institute SP Jain Institute of Management and Research Dr. Homi Bhabha State University Sydenham Institute of Management Studies, Research and Entrepreneurship Education(SIMSREE) NMIMS Mithibai College St. Xavier's College Sathaye College Ramnarain Ruia College D. G. Ruparel College Ramniranjan Anandilal Podar College of Commerce and Economics Mulund College of Commerce V. G. Vaze College of Arts, Science and Commerce Sir J. J. School of Art
Schools	Balmohan Vidyamandir Bombay Scottish School Campion School Cathedral and John Connon School Dhirubhai Ambani International School Don Bosco High School Dr. Antonio Da Silva High School Holy Family High School Lilavatibai Podar High School R. N. Podar School Sacred Heart Boys High School Jamnabai Narsee School Utpal Shanghvi Global School Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan Raja Shivaji Vidyalaya (King George High School) St. Theresa's Boys High School J.B. Petit High School for Girls
Institutes for science and learning	Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) Nehru Planetarium Nehru Science Centre Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences (UM-DAE CBS)