Ever thought that Mumbai is just another metropolitan city? Did you know that this city is the best alalgamation of all cultures?

Mumbai has been ruled over by a plethora of rulers hailing from a variety of cultures. The islands were home to the Kolis (Fishing Community), the Mughals, Gujarat Sultanate, Marathas, Portuguese and lastly the British to name a few! It is true that Mumbai never had the same ruling power for long but each of them have left an impact on the city today.

The Buddhist built the Kanheri caves.

The Muslim places of worship like the Haji Ali Dargah were built by the Mughals.

When the Portuguese won the 7 islands in a treaty, they built churches that exist even today. The St. Michael’s Church at Mahim (1534), St. John the Baptist Church at Andheri (1579), St. Andrew’s Church at Bandra (1580),^[83] and Gloria Church at Byculla (1632) along with the Bandra Fort.

And when the British King Charles II married Catherine Of Braganza (Portuguese), the British were gifted the 7 islands as dowry. In a project called Hornby Vellard, the 7 islands of Worli, Mahim, Parel, Bombay Island, Mazagaon, Colaba and Old Woman’s Island were united as Bombay in 1838. The British further built the railway and left their mark, especially on the CST Station formerly called Victoria Terminus.

In 1995, Bombay was renamed Mumbai.