An 1853 print with an engraving that shows Bombay (Mumbai) in its early days seen from Malabar Hill. This page is from The Illustrated London News of 1853. The engraved view is most likely before the reclamation of the seven islands into a single landmass was completed. The land looked to be in a total virgin state much before the rush of developments that would take place. South Bombay is a pincer-shaped landmass.
It includes Malabar Hill in the northern tip and Colaba in the southern tip. The ‘C’ shaped Back Bay’s shoreline which runs in between the two tips. King Charles II of England married Catherine of Braganza of Portugal in 1661. The Portuguese Royalty gifted the King a large dowry, one of them, was the seven Islands of Bombay. The king leased out this, not so useful islands, to the British East India Company.
However, the East India Company saw a huge potential. One was the island’s strategic location with the added advantage of a deep water harbour setting. The colonialists could not ask for more. The British undertook the first major reclamation of the seven islands in 1708. Thus within 2½ centuries, the islands were unified into a single landmass by reclamation. Various communities, skilled in their various trades, were encouraged by the East India Company, to settle down in this new land.
Read more Malabar Hill: How a jungle turned into a posh address.
Did you know- Malabar Hill got its name from the pirates from the Malabar Coast of Kerala, who took shelter in the area.
From the collection- Tiger Hunt On Elephant back India Vintage Postcard 1905., 1964 M. Suriyamoorthy Charcoal On Paper (#2)., Antique Photo Coir Retting By Travancore Women 1870.
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