Why Is Mumbai Called The City Of Seven Islands?

The Mumbai we know today, from Colaba to Worli, was not always one continuous stretch of land. Before there were packed roads, local trains and towering skyscrapers, this part of the Arabian Sea was made up of seven separate islands. They were divided by creeks, marshes and tidal waters, and life here revolved closely around the sea. Over the next few centuries, land reclamation, causeways and ambitious engineering projects slowly brought these islands together, creating the city we know today. 

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These Were Mumbai's Seven Original Islands

Photo: Unsplash

The seven islands that eventually formed the core of present-day Mumbai were:

• Bombay Island: The main island, stretching roughly from Dongri to Malabar Hill, and the centre from which the colonial city developed.
• Colaba: The southernmost island, now one of Mumbai's best-known areas for heritage buildings, markets and the waterfront.
• Old Woman's Island: Also called Little Colaba, it lay between Colaba and Bombay Island.
• Mazagaon: An eastern island with deep roots in Mumbai's Koli fishing community.
• Parel: Located north of Bombay Island, Parel was home to early settlements long before Mumbai emerged as a major colonial port.
• Worli: The island that once stood across the Great Breach from Bombay Island.
• Mahim: The northernmost of the seven, separated from the others by tidal waterways. 

These islands were home to Koli fishing communities long before the colonial period. Their settlements remain part of Mumbai's landscape even today. 

How Did Seven Islands Become One City?

The transformation began in the colonial period. In 1661, the seven islands were transferred to the English Crown as part of the dowry associated with the marriage of Charles II and Catherine of Braganza. In 1668, the Crown leased Bombay to the East India Company, which began developing the islands as an important trading and administrative centre. 

As the settlement expanded, the marshy areas and tidal creeks became a major obstacle. Reclamation projects gradually filled these gaps. One of the most important was the Hornby Vellard, started in 1782 under Governor William Hornby and completed in 1784. It blocked the Worli Creek and helped reclaim the low-lying flats that were regularly flooded by the tide.

Photo: Unsplash

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But the Hornby Vellard did not, by itself, join all seven islands. Several later projects and causeways were needed. The Colaba Causeway was completed in 1838, while the Mahim-Bandra causeway was completed in 1845. By then, the islands had effectively been brought together into one landmass. 

You Can Still Spot The Old Mumbai

The history of the seven islands isn't confined to old maps. You can still find traces of it while exploring the city. Worli Fort offers views towards the sea and the modern Bandra-Worli Sea Link, while nearby Worli Koliwada remains a living fishing settlement with narrow lanes and a strong connection to the coast. 

In Colaba, the Causeway itself is a reminder of how the former islands were connected. The neighbourhood also offers some of Mumbai's best-known colonial-era architecture and waterfront sights. 

The next time you travel from Colaba to Worli without giving the geography a second thought, remember that this entire stretch you are covering once involved crossing from one island to another. Modern Mumbai simply turned those crossings into roads, neighbourhoods and one very busy city.