Time in Mumbai: Old Bombay
Mumbai is the capital city of Maharashtra state of India and located near the Indian Ocean. During your time in Mumbai, you will experience the second most crowded settlement in the whole of India and also in the top 10 in the world. Maybe you heard the name Bombay which is the official name of Mumbai until 1995. British changed the most the traditional places name during their reign over India (British Raj). After the British left India in 1947, they start to change those names to originals in time. During your time in Mumbai, you will experience a very cosmopolite city with millions of people and lots of places to visit. Visiting Mumbai will be one of the greatest trips you've ever had.
You will see many people on the crowded streets of Mumbai (Source)
Time in Mumbai: Old Bombay
History of Mumbai
It is not clearly known when the first inhabitant of Mumbai arrived in this area but it is clear that human history here goes back to the Stone Age. Around 3rd century, BC islands of the Mumbai were the part of the Maurya Empire and it was ruled by the Buddhist emperor Ashoka of Magadha. Between the 2nd century BC and 9th century AD area rules by various indigenous dynasties like Satavahanas, Western Satraps, Abhira, Vakataka, Kalachuris, Konkan Mauryas, Chalukyas and Rashtrakutas. Some of the great building which is called "edifices" were built during this reigns. After the 9th century AD, other dynasties ruled the Mumbai. The city also met with Islam of course. Between the 1347 and 1407 Muslim Governors of Gujarat ruled the city. These governors were appointed by The Delhi Sultanate.
The maximum extent of the Maurya Empire (Source) Colonial Days Like most cities in the world, Mumbai also met with the colonialist empires. Mumbai met with the Portuguese's first at the year of1534. The Mughal Empire was the dominant power in India during the 16th century AD. But they had to sign a treaty with the Portuguese Empire on 23 December 1534, Treaty of Bassein. Based on this treaty seven islands of the Mumbai and strategic town Bassein left to the empire. On 25 October 1535 Portuguese Empire fully controlled these areas. With the arrival of Portuguese also Roman Catholic religious orders came. They called the areas different names but finally, they chose Bombaim/Bom Bahai which means "beautiful gulf". During the 17th century, AD Dutch Empire forced the British to acquire a station in western India. On 11 May 1661, the marriage treaty of Catherine of Braganza and Charles II of England, daughter of King John IV of Portugal, placed the islands in possession of the English Empire, as part of Catherine's dowry to Charles. On 27 March 1668 England lend these places to the English East India Company for 10 sterling/annum. The population of these places increase from 10.000 to 60.000 in 15 years. Places under the rule of English East India Company were under regular attack of the Mughal Empire and the Muslims. Power of England always grew in Mumbai. The city became the headquarter of the Bombay Presidency. From 1782 and after, the city started to reshaped with large projects and aimed to merge seven islands of Bombay into one which completed 1784. With the opening of Suez canal in 1869 Bombay started to one of the largest seaports on the Arabian Sea. The Indian Independence Movement and Quit India Movement started in 1942. With the effect of these movements and of course WWII India became independent. After independence, the Bombay Presidency became the Bombay State. From those dates city grew, grew and grew like the most of Indian cities. Today, Mumbai is the commercial capital of India and also a global finance city. Read the full article