Mumbai, now known as the City of Dreams, came into existence in the prehistoric period. The Kolis (fisher folk) from Gujarat are believed to be the first inhabitants of the city. Over the years, the city has undergone a sea change and today has a cosmopolitan character.

PREHISTORY - KOLI FISHERFOLK SETTLED ON THE ISLANDS OF BOMBAY

The Kolis (fisherfolk) were the earliest known inhabitants of Mumbai. They migrated from Gujarat and lived in traditional fishing hamlets along the island's western shores, where they remain even today. These fisherfolk built their base in areas around Sassoon Dock and Cuffe Parade, Worli, Mahim, Bandra, Versova, Madh Island and Gorai.

200 B.C. - BUDDHISTS CONSTRUCTED KANHERI CAVES COMPLEX

The serene Kanheri Caves Complex was the creation of Buddhist monks of the Hinayana faith, who had occupied the nearby island of Salsette in the second century B.C. The complex expanded over the next 700 years to become one of the larger monastic settlements in India. The caves were mainly chaityas (temples), viharas (monasteries) and simple rock-cut cells. Even today, the area surrounding the caves is believed to contain medicinal plants cultivated by the monks.

c. 550 A.D. - CHALUKYAS ESTABLISHED THEIR CAPITAL AT GHARPURI (ELEPHANTA ISLAND)
The Chalukya dynasty established their capital at Gharpuri (now known as Elephanta Island) around the sixth century A.D. They built the magnificent Shiva cave temple on the island, which has been declared as one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites in India.

1050 A.D. - SILHARAS CONSTRUCTED THE WALKESHWAR TEMPLE ON MALABAR HILL

The Silharas came from the Konkan coast in the 9th century. They were the first to construct the Walkeshwar Temple on the western flank of the Banganga Tank. The temple is believed to have contained both the lingam ferried from Benares by Lakshman, and the one crafted by Lord Ram. Lord Ram is also said to have sought guidance from local sages here, while on his way to rescue Sita in Lanka, where she was held captive by the demon God Ravana. The temple was later destroyed by the Portuguese. According to popular tales, the sand lingam is said to have jumped into the sea to avoid defilement. The temple was rebuilt in 1715, but the current structure dates to the 1950s.

c. 1100 A.D.- RAJA BHIMDEV FOUNDED A HINDU KINGDOM ON MAHIM ISLAND

During the 12th century, Raja Bhimdev established a Hindu kingdom in Mahim, which became the first of the seven islands to support a sizeable population.

c. 1400 A.D.- MUSLIM SULTANS RULED THE ISLAND OF BOMBAY

In the 14th century Muslims invaded Bombay. During the same period, the Sultans of Gujarat, Delhi and Deccan also exercised their influence on the region.

1508 A.D. - BOMBAY WAS FIRST RAIDED BY THE PORTUGUESE

The Portuguese first raided Bombay in 1508, when Dom Francisco Almeida, the inaugural viceroy of Goa, seized a Gujarati ship in Mahim Creek. Their invasions increased over the next three decades until Bassein and other inconsequential islands of Bombay were ceded to Portugal in 1534 by the Sultan of Gujarat, Bahadur Shah. The Sultan hoped to form an alliance with the Portuguese to prevent Mughal invasions in Gujarat.

1554 A.D. - GARCIA DA ORTA LEASED BOMBAY ISLAND

The H-shaped island of Bombay - known as 'a ilha da boa vida '(the island of good life) because of its abundance of rice and game - was leased to botanist and physician Garcia da Orta in 1554, for a princely sum of 85 pounds a year. He built a modest manor house and planted a garden in the area, behind what is now known as Town Hall.