History of Mumbai Timeline

(1507 - Present)

Mumbai, formerly known as Bombay, has a fascinating history spanning centuries. Originally an archipelago of seven islands inhabited by fishing communities, it passed through the hands of various rulers including the Portuguese and British. The city transformed dramatically under British colonial rule, becoming a major trading port and the headquarters of the East India Company's western operations. Over time, Mumbai grew into India's commercial, financial, and entertainment capital, home to Bollywood and one of the world's largest urban economies. More Less

Go to: Timeline | Event List | Key Facts | Directory

Early History

Early settlements on the Seven Islands

300 BCE

The seven islands of Mumbai were home to fishing communities and early settlers, including the Kolis, who established villages along the coast and worshipped local deities long before urban development began.

Image source: History of Mumbai

Buddhist caves built at Kanheri

100 CE

Buddhist monks carved an extensive complex of rock-cut caves and monasteries at Kanheri in the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, making it one of the most important Buddhist centers in western India.

Image source: Kanheri Caves

Elephanta Cave temples constructed

450 CE

Hindu rulers carved the magnificent Elephanta Caves on Gharapuri Island, featuring monumental sculptures dedicated to Lord Shiva that remain a UNESCO World Heritage Site today.

Image source: Elephanta Caves

Silhara dynasty rules the islands

810 - 1260

The Silhara dynasty governed the Mumbai islands for centuries, building the Walkeshwar Temple and Banganga Tank, and overseeing trade with merchants from Arabia and Persia.

Image source: Shilahara dynasty

Bhima of Mahikavati establishes a kingdom

1290

King Bhima of Mahikavati (Mahim) established his rule over the islands after fleeing Muslim invasions, setting up administrative structures and attracting settlers to the region.

Image source: Murder in Mahim

Colonial Era

Gujarat Sultanate annexes the islands

1348

The Gujarat Sultanate took control of the Bombay islands, establishing fortified posts and mosques, including the shrine at Mahim, as Islamic influence spread across the region.

Image source: History of Mumbai under Islamic rule

Portugal cedes Bombay to England

Jun 23, 1661

As part of Catherine of Braganza's dowry upon her marriage to Charles II of England, Portugal transferred the islands of Bombay to the British Crown.

East India Company leases Bombay

1668

The British Crown leased Bombay to the East India Company for a nominal annual rent, beginning the company's transformation of the islands into a major trading port.

Image source: East India Company

Gerald Aungier develops Bombay as a trading hub

1672 - 1677

Governor Gerald Aungier expanded Bombay's fortifications, established its courts and mint, and invited Gujarati traders, Parsis, and other communities, laying the foundation for its commercial growth.

Surat merchants relocate to Bombay

1687

The East India Company moved its headquarters from Surat to Bombay, establishing the Bombay Presidency and accelerating the city's rise as western India's premier port.

Image source: Mumbai

Construction of Bombay Fort begins

1715 - 1720

The British strengthened the fortifications around Bombay town, creating the Fort area whose boundaries shaped the city's colonial-era core.

Image source: Fort (Mumbai precinct)

First English newspaper published in Bombay

1777

Rustomji Keshaspathi launched the Bombay Herald, the city's first English-language newspaper, marking the growth of print journalism in colonial Bombay.

Hornby Vellard project completed

1784

The Hornby Vellard seawall was completed at Worli, preventing flooding during high tides and enabling the later reclamation and unification of the seven islands.

Image source: Hornby Vellard

Native Education Society founded

1820

The Native Education Society was founded to promote Western education among Indians, later evolving into Elphinstone College and helping make Bombay a center of learning and reform.

Image source: Elphinstone College

First Indian railway line opens in Bombay

Apr 16, 1853

India's first passenger train ran from Bombay's Bori Bunder station to Thane, covering 34 kilometers and inaugurating the subcontinent's railway era.

Image source: Great Indian Peninsula Railway

Bombay University established

1857

The University of Bombay was established as one of India's first three universities, alongside Calcutta and Madras, becoming a leading institution for higher education.

Image source: University of Mumbai

Cotton boom transforms Bombay's economy

1861 - 1865

The American Civil War disrupted global cotton supplies, triggering a massive cotton export boom through Bombay that enriched merchants and financed the city's rapid expansion.

Opening of Suez Canal boosts Bombay's trade

Nov 17, 1869

The opening of the Suez Canal dramatically shortened sea routes between Europe and India, cementing Bombay's position as the gateway port to western India.

Image source: Suez Canal

Great Indian Peninsula Railway headquarters completed

1888

Frederick William Stevens completed the Victoria Terminus, now Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, a masterpiece of Victorian Gothic Revival architecture that became the city's iconic landmark.

Image source: Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus

Independence and Growth

Indian National Congress holds first session in Bombay

Dec 28, 1885 - Dec 31, 1885

The inaugural session of the Indian National Congress was held at Gokuldas Tejpal Sanskrit College in Bombay, marking the birth of organized political nationalism in India.

Image source: Indian National Congress

Plague epidemic strikes Bombay

1896 - 1906

A devastating outbreak of bubonic plague killed thousands and prompted mass migration, sanitary reforms, and the establishment of the Haffkine Institute in the city.

Image source: Third plague pandemic

Gateway of India construction completed

1924

Built to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary in 1911, the Gateway of India was completed on Apollo Bunder and became Bombay's most famous waterfront monument.

Image source: Gateway of India

Back Bay Reclamation Scheme begins

1929 - 1930

Major reclamation works along Back Bay created new land for Marine Drive and Art Deco residential buildings, reshaping the city's southern skyline.

Image source: Marine Drive, Mumbai

Naval mutiny breaks out in Bombay

Feb 18, 1946 - Feb 23, 1946

Sailors of the Royal Indian Navy aboard ships in Bombay harbor mutinied against British officers, sparking sympathy strikes across the city and signaling the decline of British authority.

Image source: Royal Indian Navy mutiny

Bombay becomes capital of Maharashtra

May 1, 1960

After years of agitation by the Samyukta Maharashtra movement, Bombay was made the capital of the newly formed bilingual state of Maharashtra following the division of Bombay State.

Modern Mumbai

Navi Mumbai planned as twin city

1972

To decongest Bombay, authorities planned Navi Mumbai across Thane Creek, one of the world's largest planned townships, which grew steadily over subsequent decades.

Image source: Navi Mumbai

Bombay riots erupt following Babri Masjid demolition

Dec 1992 - Jan 1993

Communal riots shook the city in December 1992 and January 1993 after the demolition of the Babri Masjid, followed by coordinated serial bomb blasts in March 1993 that killed hundreds.

City officially renamed Mumbai

1995

The Shiv Sena-led Maharashtra government renamed Bombay as Mumbai, restoring the name derived from the goddess Mumba Devi and reflecting Marathi cultural identity.

Mumbai floods paralyze the metropolis

Jul 26, 2005 - Jul 27, 2005

Record-breaking rainfall of over 940 millimeters in a single day caused catastrophic flooding across Mumbai, killing more than a thousand people and exposing the city's infrastructure vulnerabilities.

26/11 terrorist attacks on Mumbai

Nov 26, 2008 - Nov 29, 2008

Ten Lashkar-e-Taiba militants carried out coordinated attacks across Mumbai, targeting the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Oberoi Trident, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, and Nariman House, killing 166 people over four days.

Image source: 2008 Mumbai attacks

Key Facts

Mumbai was originally an archipelago of seven separate islands that were gradually joined together through land reclamation projects, most notably the Hornby Vellard project in the late 18th century.
The seven islands were ceded to the Portuguese in 1534 and later given to the British as part of Catherine of Braganza's dowry when she married Charles II in 1661.
Bombay (now Mumbai) played a crucial role in India's independence movement, including hosting the first session of the Indian National Congress in 1885.
Mumbai is home to Bollywood, the largest film industry in the world by number of films produced annually.
In 1995, the city was officially renamed from Bombay to Mumbai, derived from Mumba Devi, the patron goddess of the city's original Koli inhabitants.

Source

This History of Mumbai timeline was generated with the help of AI, using information found on the internet.

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