Explanations:Mumbai, the largest city in India, was formed by the merger of seven islands: Colaba, Old Woman's Island (since merged with Colaba), Bombay Island (the largest, also known as Salsette), Mazagaon, Parel, Worli, and Mahim. The process of merging these islands into a single urban entity took place over a significant period of time, primarily under British colonial rule.
The initial consolidation of the islands began in the 17th century when the Portuguese and later the British started to develop the area. The British East India Company acquired the islands from the Portuguese in 1661 as part of the dowry of Catherine of Braganza when she married Charles II of England. The British then began the process of developing the islands into a major port city.
The consolidation of the islands into a single urban entity was a gradual process that involved extensive land reclamation and the construction of causeways to connect the islands. The first major step in this process was the construction of the Hornby Vellard in 1784, which connected the islands of Bombay and Salsette. This was followed by the construction of other causeways and the reclamation of land to create a contiguous landmass.
The process of merging the islands continued throughout the 19th century, with significant developments occurring in the mid-1800s. By the late 19th century, the islands had been fully merged into a single urban entity, forming the city of Bombay, which is now known as Mumbai.
Thus, the process of merging the islands to form Mumbai took approximately 150 years, from the 17th century to the 19th century. This timeline reflects the gradual development and consolidation of the islands into a major urban center under British colonial rule.