Mumbai Bombay history

Mumbai owes its colourful present to its equally interesting past. Originally a group of seven islands inhabited by Koli fishermen, the area was surrendered to Portugal in 1534 who in turn handed it over to Britain in 1661. Three years later, the city (then called Bombay) was leased to the East India Company who governed the area until 1858 when control passed back to the Crown. The city stayed in British hands until independence in August 1947, and it was during this 90-year period that modern Bombay really took shape.