Mumbai is one of the oldest cities in India. Being the capital of Indian state Maharashtra, it is the fifth most populous city in the world. You could easily say that is because of the enormous amount of opportunities this city has got to offer the people coming through from various small towns and villages across the length and breadth of the country. Named after Koli goddess Mumbadevi, Mumbai has the natural harbour providing a grand deal of business of fishermen. Very well connected by road, rail and air transport, Mumbai is one of the finest metropolitan cities in India.

In this post of ours, We wanted to touch the old glory of this place through some unbelievable old treasure photographs. This will let you know how significant this city has been over the period of years and would show us the ambience and busy schedule of the people here.

Interesting Facts about Mumbai

  • This city was built on what once use to be a group of seven islands.
  • It was the work of British engineers during 19th century to landfill these islands to form the present Mumbai.
  • Mumbai was earlier known as Bombay, meaning Good Bay in Portuguese.
  • The Mumbai Suburban trains carry close to 8 Million commuters daily, this is more than the population of Israel.
  • Not to forget the incredible Dabbawalas, they carry more than 200,000 Lunch boxes daily.
  • Dharavi is the biggest slum in the world, but wait they are reported to export goods worth more than USD 700 million to countries across.

All photos are linked and lead to the sources from which they were taken. Please feel free to explore further works.

Bombay (Mumbai) Harbour Scene – c1880’s

Bombay (Mumbai) Harbour Scene - c1880's
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

Beautiful Architechture in Bombay (Mumbai) – c1890’s

Beautiful Architechture in Bombay (Mumbai) - c1890's
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

An Young Woman in Sari, Rides Bicycle – Bombay (Mumbai) Undated Photograph

An Young Woman in Sari, Rides Bicycle - Bombay (Mumbai) Undated Photograph
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

A Bombay (Mumbai) Drygoods Store – c1920’s

A Bombay (Mumbai) Drygoods Store - c1920's
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

A Parsee Lady with a Child – Studio Photograph Bombay (Mumbai) 1867

A Parsee Lady with a Child - Studio Photograph Bombay (Mumbai) 1867
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

An Indian soldier leads away a Hindu rioter in a debris strewn street of Bombay (Mumbai) – 1946

An Indian soldier leads away a Hindu rioter in a debris strewn street of Bombay (Mumbai) - 1946
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

Chor Bazar – Bombay (Mumbai)

Chor Bazar - Bombay (Mumbai)
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

Busy Street Scene in Bombay (Mumbai) b- c1880’s

Busy Street Scene in Bombay (Mumbai) b- c1880's
Source: Old Indian Photos



 

Busy Street Scene in Bombay (Mumbai) – c1880’s

Busy Street Scene in Bombay (Mumbai) - c1880's
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

Mahommedan Boatman of Bombay (Mumbai), 1855 – 1862

Mahommedan Boatman of Bombay (Mumbai), 1855 - 1862
Source: SMU Central University Librabry / Flickr

 

Bombay Harbour, from the Apollo Pier, 1855-1862

Bombay Harbour, from the Apollo Pier, 1855-1862
Source: SMU Central University Librabry / Flickr

 

Jain Temple, Byculla Railway Station, Bombay (Mumbai), 1855-1862

Jain Temple, Byculla Railway Station, Bombay (Mumbai), 1855-1862
Source: SMU Central University Librabry / Flickr

 

Cornwallis Monument and Secretariat, Bombay (Mumbai), 1855-1862

Cornwallis Monument and Secretariat, Bombay (Mumbai), 1855-1862
Source: SMU Central University Librabry / Flickr

 

The Cathedral, Bombay (Mumbai), 1855-1862

The Cathedral, Bombay (Mumbai), 1855-1862
Source: SMU Central University Librabry / Flickr

 

Bombay Police, 1855-1862

Bombay Police, 1855-1862
Source: SMU Central University Librabry / Flickr



 

The Cotton Market, Bombay (Mumbai), 1855-1862

The Cotton Market, Bombay (Mumbai), 1855-1862
Source: SMU Central University Librabry / Flickr

 

Elphinstone College and Sassoon Library – Late 19th Century

Elphinstone College and Sassoon Library - Late 19th Century
Source: Museum of Photographic Art s / Flickr

 

Panorma of Bombay (Mumbai) – 1870

Panorma of Bombay (Mumbai) - 1870
Source: Museum of Photographic Art s / Flickr

 

Fisherwomen of Bombay (Mumbai) – 1855 – 1862

Fisherwomen of Bombay (Mumbai) - 1855 - 1862
Source: SMU Central University Librabry / Flickr

 

Group of Brahmins, Bombay (Mumbai) – 1870

Group of Brahmins, Bombay (Mumbai) - 1870
Source: Museum of Photographic Art s / Flickr

 

The Chowpattee of Former Days, Bombay (Mumbai) – 1855-1862

The Chowpattee of Former Days, Bombay (Mumbai) - 1855-1862
Source: SMU Central University Librabry / Flickr

 

The Cocoanut Festival, Bombay (Mumbai) – 1870

The Cocoanut Festival, Bombay (Mumbai) - 1870
Source: Museum of Photographic Art s / Flickr

 

Victoria Station, Bombay (Mumbai) – 1870

Victoria Station, Bombay (Mumbai) - 1870
Source: Museum of Photographic Art s / Flickr

 

Borah Bazaar Street, Bombay (Mumbai) – 1875

Borah Bazaar Street, Bombay (Mumbai) - 1875
Source: Museum of Photographic Art s / Flickr

 

Coolie Woman, Monsoon, Bombay (Mumbai) – 1948

Coolie Woman, Monsoon, Bombay (Mumbai) - 1948
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

European Mistress Seated in the Centre of a Group of Ten Female Pupils, Government Normal School, Bombay (Mumbai) – 1873

European Mistress Seated in the Centre of a Group of Ten Female Pupils, Government Normal School, Bombay (Mumbai) - 1873
Source: Old Indian Photos



 

Portrait of Four Hindu Women – Bombay (Mumbai) – 1922

Portrait of Four Hindu Women - Bombay (Mumbai) - 1922
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

General Elections Campaingning Press Photograh – Bombay (Mumbai) 1967

General Elections Campaingning Press Photograh - Bombay (Mumbai) 1967
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

Grain Sellers Shop at Bombay (Mumbai) – 1873

Grain Sellers Shop at Bombay (Mumbai) - 1873
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

Group of Goldsmiths (Sonars) Seated Round a Low Work Table at Bombay (Mumbai) – 1873

Group of Goldsmiths (Sonars) Seated Round a Low Work Table at Bombay (Mumbai) - 1873
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

Group of Maratha pupils and masters in class of the Elphinstone High School, Bombay – 1873


Source: Old Indian Photos

 

Group of Parsi and Brahmin Girls – Bombay (Mumbai) ca.1880’s

Group of Parsi and Brahmin Girls - Bombay (Mumbai) ca.1880's
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

Group of pupils of the Alexandra Native Girls’ Institution, Bombay – 1873

Group of pupils of the Alexandra Native Girls' Institution, Bombay - 1873
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

Indian women & children sitting in the alley between shacks in the Chawls

Indian women & children sitting in the alley between shacks in the Chawls
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

Indian Young Nationalist Affixing a Boycott Sign, to a Foreign Cart in the Streets of Bombay (Mumbai) – 1930

Indian Young Nationalist Affixing a Boycott Sign, to a Foreign Cart in the Streets of Bombay (Mumbai) - 1930
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

Man Washing his Foot – Bombay (Mumbai) India 1920’s

Man Washing his Foot - Bombay (Mumbai) India 1920's
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

Mrs. Kasturba Gandhi wife of Mahatma Gandhi (Extreme right), visits with American women during a political meeting in Bombay, India – 1931


Source: Old Indian Photos

 

Photograph of a Girls’ School at Bombay (Mumbai) in Maharashtra – 1873

Photograph of a Girls' School at Bombay (Mumbai) in Maharashtra - 1873
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

Poor Indian Families living in Chawls – Bombay (Mumbai) – 1946

Poor Indian Families living in Chawls - Bombay (Mumbai) 1946 b
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

Post Card of a Beautiful Woman – Bombay (Mumbai)

Post Card of a Beautiful Woman - Bombay (Mumbai)
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

Snake charmer at Gateway of India, Bombay (Mumbai) – India, 1939

Snake charmer at Gateway of India, Bombay (Mumbai) - India, 1939
Source: Old Indian Photos



 

Street Barber of Bombay (Mumbai)

Street Barber of Bombay (Mumbai)
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

Street Scene of Bombay (Mumbai) – 1880

Street Scene of Bombay (Mumbai) - 1880
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

Studio Portrait of a Marathi Theatrical troupe – Bombay (Mumbai) 1870’s

Studio Portrait of a Marathi Theatrical troupe - Bombay (Mumbai) 1870's
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel – Bomaby (Mumbai) – 1900

The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel - Bomaby (Mumbai) c1900
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

Two Maratha Boys from Akalkot – Bombay (Mumbai) 1867

Two Maratha Boys from Akalkot - Bombay (Mumbai) 1867
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

Watson’s Hotel, Bombay (Mumbai) – 1880

Watson's Hotel, Bombay (Mumbai) - c1880's
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

Work-Box Makers at Bombay (Mumbai) – 1873

Work-Box Makers at Bombay (Mumbai) - 1873
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

Young boys pose in front of Bombay’s Victoria Terminus railway station, circa 1910

Young boys pose in front of Bombay's Victoria Terminus railway station, circa 1910
Source: Old Indian Photos

 

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