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
Source: Old Indian Photos
Beautiful Architechture in Bombay (Mumbai) – c1890’s
Source: Old Indian Photos
An Young Woman in Sari, Rides Bicycle – Bombay (Mumbai) Undated Photograph
Source: Old Indian Photos
A Bombay (Mumbai) Drygoods Store – c1920’s
Source: Old Indian Photos
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
Source: Old Indian Photos
Chor Bazar – Bombay (Mumbai)
Source: Old Indian Photos
Busy Street Scene in Bombay (Mumbai) b- c1880’s
Source: Old Indian Photos
Busy Street Scene in Bombay (Mumbai) – c1880’s
Source: Old Indian Photos
Mahommedan Boatman of Bombay (Mumbai), 1855 – 1862
Source: SMU Central University Librabry / Flickr
Bombay Harbour, from the Apollo Pier, 1855-1862
Source: SMU Central University Librabry / Flickr
Jain Temple, Byculla Railway Station, Bombay (Mumbai), 1855-1862
Source: SMU Central University Librabry / Flickr
Cornwallis Monument and Secretariat, Bombay (Mumbai), 1855-1862
Source: SMU Central University Librabry / Flickr
The Cathedral, Bombay (Mumbai), 1855-1862
Source: SMU Central University Librabry / Flickr
Bombay Police, 1855-1862
Source: SMU Central University Librabry / Flickr
The Cotton Market, Bombay (Mumbai), 1855-1862
Source: SMU Central University Librabry / Flickr
Elphinstone College and Sassoon Library – Late 19th Century
Source: Museum of Photographic Art s / Flickr
Panorma of Bombay (Mumbai) – 1870
Source: Museum of Photographic Art s / Flickr
Fisherwomen of Bombay (Mumbai) – 1855 – 1862
Source: SMU Central University Librabry / Flickr
Group of Brahmins, Bombay (Mumbai) – 1870
Source: Museum of Photographic Art s / Flickr
The Chowpattee of Former Days, Bombay (Mumbai) – 1855-1862
Source: SMU Central University Librabry / Flickr
The Cocoanut Festival, Bombay (Mumbai) – 1870
Source: Museum of Photographic Art s / Flickr
Victoria Station, Bombay (Mumbai) – 1870
Source: Museum of Photographic Art s / Flickr
Borah Bazaar Street, Bombay (Mumbai) – 1875
Source: Museum of Photographic Art s / Flickr
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
Source: Old Indian Photos
Portrait of Four Hindu Women – Bombay (Mumbai) – 1922
Source: Old Indian Photos
General Elections Campaingning Press Photograh – Bombay (Mumbai) 1967
Source: Old Indian Photos
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
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
Source: Old Indian Photos
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
Source: Old Indian Photos
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
 India 1920's.jpg)
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
Source: Old Indian Photos
Poor Indian Families living in Chawls – Bombay (Mumbai) – 1946
Source: Old Indian Photos
Post Card of a Beautiful Woman – Bombay (Mumbai)
Source: Old Indian Photos
Snake charmer at Gateway of India, Bombay (Mumbai) – India, 1939
Source: Old Indian Photos
Street Barber of Bombay (Mumbai)
Source: Old Indian Photos
Street Scene of Bombay (Mumbai) – 1880
Source: Old Indian Photos
Studio Portrait of a Marathi Theatrical troupe – Bombay (Mumbai) 1870’s
Source: Old Indian Photos
The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel – Bomaby (Mumbai) – 1900
Source: Old Indian Photos
Two Maratha Boys from Akalkot – Bombay (Mumbai) 1867
Source: Old Indian Photos
Watson’s Hotel, Bombay (Mumbai) – 1880
Source: Old Indian Photos
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
Source: Old Indian Photos
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19 comments
Please forward the contact details of the dealers of such old/new photos of Bombay/Mumbai
beautiful
THIS IS JUST AN AMAZING TREASURE OF MUMBAI IN A DIGITAL FORM…PRESERVE IT…
Kya zamana tha yaar.
I really like that Mumbai . Actually I love ❤ that Mumbai.
. Nowadays The Mumbai is very dirty and over crowded,
. The Mumbai is treated like a slave and no one is serving to The Mumbai.Even marathi manus also ignoring the beauty of the city.
. At the time of The British Regime The Mumbai was very good n clean, cool to live in the city. But we the people of independent India , we are playing cruelly with the city.
. We are ignoring the Importance of not only the Mumbai but also all our historically important cities and the “Architecture n Archaeological ” best places.
The photos of the city are very good , I really thankful to you for sharing this Precious Treasure.
T h a n k s f r o m t h e b o t t o m o f t h e h e a r t !
Ye Hai Bambai Meri Jaan……
Mesmerizing old Bombay….. Just lost in imagination & dream
very nice photos
उस जमाने को याद करके मेरा मन बहुत अंदर से प्रफुल्लित हो जाता है
VERY AMAZING AND WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE ! THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL TREASURE.
Amazing. Actually very few would know that such a treasure exists. Priceless
How would Mumbai look a 100 years from 2018 ? Excellent photo’s and thanks for sharing the same.
Really Beautiful pics. Such photos should be preserved.
amazing unbelievable
Some very precious photos of the Gateway of India corner aty Apollo Pier before the Gateway was built; Victoria Terminus before the area was crowded, with passengers alighting from tramcars; Watson’s Hotel before the prince of wales Museum was built. Watson’s Hotel is now Esplanade Mansions.
VERY EXCELLENT TO SEE OLD MUMBAI
It is very excellent to see old phtographs of Bombay.
Thats life very heavanfull
Love this very much how can I find old images of juju chawpaty santacruz