Sunlight Hotel — Restaurant in Mumbai

The seven islands that constitute Mumbai were originally home to communities of Koli people, who originated in Gujarat in prehistoric times.2729] For centuries, the islands were under the control of successive indigenous empires before being ceded to the Portuguese Empire and subsequently to the East India Company when in 1661 Charles II of Englandmarried Catherine of Braganza and as part of her dowry Charles received the ports of Tangier and Seven Islands of Bombay.[30] During the mid-18th century, Bombay was reshaped by the Hornby Vellardproject,[31] which undertook reclamation of the area between the seven islands from the sea.[32] Along with construction of major roads and railways, the reclamation project, completed in 1845, transformed Bombay into a major seaport on the Arabian Sea. Bombay in the 19th century was characterised by economic and educational development. During the early 20th century it became a strong base for the Indian independence movement. Upon India's independence in 1947 the city was incorporated into Bombay State. In 1960, following the Samyukta Maharashtra Movement, a new state of Maharashtra was created with Bombay as the capital.[33]

Mumbai is the financial, commercial[34] and entertainment capital of India. It is also one of the world's top ten centres of commerce in terms of global financial flow,[35] generating 6.16% of India's GDP[36]and accounting for 25% of industrial output, 70% of maritime trade in India (Mumbai Port Trust and JNPT),[37] and 70% of capital transactions to India's economy.[38 The city houses important financial institutions such as the Reserve Bank of India, the Bombay Stock Exchange, the National Stock Exchange of India, the SEBI and the corporate headquarters of numerous Indian companies and multinational corporations. It is also home to some of India's premier scientific and nuclear institutes like Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Nuclear Power Corporation of India, Indian Rare Earths, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, Atomic Energy Commission of India, and the Department of Atomic Energy. The city also houses India's Hindi (Bollywood) and Marathi cinema industries. Mumbai's business opportunities, as well as its potential to offer a higher standard of living,40] attract migrants from all over India, making the city a melting pot of many communities and cultures.

Etymology

History

Main articles: History of Mumbai and Timeline of Mumbai

Early history



Kanheri Caves served as a centre of Buddhism in Western India during ancient times

Mumbai is built on what was once an archipelago of seven islands: Isle of Bombay, Parel, Mazagaon, Mahim, Colaba, Worli, and Old Woman's Island (also known as Little Colaba).[67] It is not exactly known when these islands were first inhabited. Pleistocenesediments found along the coastal areas around Kandivali in northern Mumbai suggest that the islands were inhabited since the South Asian Stone Age.[68]Perhaps at the beginning of the Common Era, or possibly earlier, they came to be occupied by the Koli fishing community.[69

In the third century BCE, the islands formed part of the Maurya Empire, during its expansion in the south, ruled by the Buddhist emperor Ashoka of Magadha.71] The Kanheri Caves in Borivali were excavated in the mid-third century BCE,[72] and served as an important centre of Buddhism in Western India during ancient Times.[73] The city then was known as Heptanesia(Ancient Greek: A Cluster of Seven Islands) to the Greek geographer Ptolemy in 150 CE.[74] The Mahakali Caves in Andheri were built between the 1st century BCE and the 6th century .[75

Between the second century BCE and ninth century CE, the islands came under the control of successive indigenous dynasties: Satavahanas, Western Satraps, Abhira, Vakataka, Kalachuris, Konkan Mauryas, Chalukyas and Rashtrakutas,[77] before being ruled by the Shilaharas from 810 to 1260.[78] Some of the oldest edifices in the city built during this period are the Jogeshwari Caves (between 520 and...

The place appeared to be good from outside but it's not what it appears to be. The ambiance is below average and the walls aren't even cleaned. The place is not at all maintained.

The food's taste ranges between bad to average. The quantity of the food is fine but the quality is poor and needs attention.

The service is very poor and the waiters don't pay any attention to the customers. The food wasn't even served hot as it should've been.

The price is affordable but at the cost of quality and service. I wouldn't recommend this place as it needs serious improvements by the management of...

Was zipping through the other wise busy LBS road when I noticed hordes of people crowding a Shwarma grille. I knew my sons were missing their favourite snack and I stopped by to pick some for them. What stood out was the Khuboos which was grilled in the flame.

The usual suspects read fries, beetroot were missing. And worse a green chutney was added to the garlic sauce.

It worst fears were laid to rest as my sons took their first bite and gave the Shwarma a 5 star verdict.

I felt we could have done without the green chutney though. The garlic sauce had the right amount of zing and...