Mahim Bay

Last updated

Mahim Bay
Bandra Sea Link aerial.jpg
Mahim bay in the background, Bandra in the foreground
Mumbai area locator map.svg
Red pog.svg
Mahim Bay
Location of Mahim Bay in Mumbai, India
Coordinates 19°01′48″N72°49′30″E / 19.03°N 72.825°E / 19.03; 72.825
Ocean/sea sources Arabian Sea
Basin  countriesIndia
Settlements Mumbai

Mahim Bay is a picturesque bay situated in the Arabian Sea, along the western coast of India. It is located in the southern part of Mumbai, the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra. [1] The bay was named after the islands of Mahim and Salsette were merged in the early 19th century. The Mithi River drains into Mahim Creek which drains into the Bay, and forms the border between the Mumbai city (Churchgate to Mahim) and its Suburbs (Bandra to Dahisar).

Contents

During the colonial era, the Portuguese built a watch tower called Castella de Aguada on the northern side. Later, the British built the Worli Fort to the south and Mahim Fort near the creek to defend the Seven Islands of Bombay against attacks by the Portuguese and the Marathas. The bay is an integral part of Mumbai's coastline and holds significant historical, geographical, and ecological importance.

Geography and Location

Mahim Bay is bordered by the Arabian Sea to the west and the neighborhoods of Mahim and Bandra to the east. It extends from the Bandra-Worli Sea Link in the north to the Mahim Causeway in the south. The bay encompasses an area of approximately 15 square kilometers and serves as a natural inlet along Mumbai's coastline.

Historical Significance

Throughout history, Mahim Bay has played a crucial role in the development and growth of Mumbai. It served as a strategic anchorage point for maritime trade and commerce during the colonial era when Mumbai was known as Bombay. The bay facilitated the transportation of goods and materials, contributing to the city's emergence as a major trading hub on the western coast of India.

Ecological Importance

Mahim Bay is home to diverse marine life, including various species of fish, crustaceans, and mollusks. The bay's mangrove ecosystems provide vital habitats for numerous species of birds and other wildlife. Additionally, the mangroves serve as natural buffers, protecting the coastline from erosion and mitigating the impacts of storms and tidal surges.

Environmental Concerns

Despite its ecological significance, Mahim Bay faces various environmental challenges, including pollution and habitat degradation. Urbanization, industrial activities, and untreated sewage discharge have led to water pollution and degradation of the bay's ecosystem. Efforts are underway to address these issues through conservation initiatives, pollution control measures, and restoration projects aimed at revitalizing the bay's ecological health.

Recreational and Cultural Significance

Mahim Bay offers a scenic backdrop for recreational activities such as boating, fishing, and leisurely strolls along the coastline. The bay's promenades and waterfront areas attract locals and tourists alike, providing opportunities for relaxation and enjoyment. Additionally, Mahim Bay holds cultural significance, with landmarks such as the Mahim Fort and Bandra-Worli Sea Link adding to its historical and architectural heritage.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bandra</span> Suburb of Mumbai, India

Bandra ([bæːɳɖɾa]) is a coastal suburb located in Mumbai, the largest city of the Konkan division in Maharashtra, India. The area is located to the immediate north of the River Mithi, which separates Bandra from the Mumbai City district. It is the third-largest commercial hub in Maharashtra, after the Bombay city district and Pune, primarily aided by the Bandra Kurla Complex.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mahim</span> Neighbourhood in Mumbai City, Maharashtra, India

Mahim (Marathi: माहिम) is a neighbourhood in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. The Mahim Junction railway station on the Western Railway and Harbour Railway of the Mumbai Suburban Railway network is the last station of the city, as neighboring Bandra comes in Mumbai Suburb. Mahim is an ethnically and religiously diverse town and has a Hindu temple, church, mosque and Parsi fire-temple existing within a few meters of each other. The town has a large Rich and Upper Middle class Marathi population.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Worli</span> Neighbourhood in Mumbai City, Maharashtra, India

Worli is a locality in central Mumbai in Maharashtra, India. It is one of the four peninsulas of Mumbai with the others being Colaba, Bandra and Malabar Hill. The sea connects it with Bandra via the Bandra-Worli Sea Link. Historic spellings include Warli, Worlee, Varli, and Varel. Originally Worli was a separate island, one of the Seven Islands of Bombay which were ceded by the Portuguese to England in 1661; it was linked up with the other islands in the 19th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Salsette Island</span> Island off the coast of Maharashtra, India

Salsette Island is an island in Konkan division of the state of Maharashtra, along India's west coast. Administratively known as Greater Mumbai, the Mumbai Suburban district, Mira Bhayander and a portion of Thane district lie within it, making it very populous and one of the most densely populated islands in the world. It has a population of more than 20 million inhabitants living on an area of about 619 square kilometres (239 sq mi).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Mumbai</span> Precinct of Mumbai in Maharashtra, India

South Mumbai, colloquially SoBo from South Bombay in Indian English, administratively the Mumbai City District, is the city centre and the southernmost precinct of Greater Bombay. It extends from Colaba to Mahim and Sion neighbourhoods, and comprises the city's main business localities, making it the wealthiest urban precinct in India. Property prices in South Mumbai are by far the highest in India and among the highest in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Worli Fort</span> Fort in Mumbai

The Worli Fort is a fort in Worli, Mumbai, India. Though often incorrectly assumed to have been built by the Portuguese, the fort was built by the British around 1675 on Worli Hill. Worli Fort overlooked Mahim Bay at a time when the city comprised just seven islands and was used as a lookout for enemy ships.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geography of Mumbai</span> Overview of Mumbais geography

Mumbai (Bombay) is India's most populous city with a population of 20 Million. It is located on Salsette Island off the coast of Maharashtra. The original Seven Islands of Bombay were merged by the British in the 18th century, to form one large island.

The Western Freeway was a proposed controlled-access highway in Mumbai, India that would stretch from Marine Drive in South Mumbai to Kandivli in the north, a distance of 29 km. The project envisioned the construction of four major sea links over the Arabian Sea along Mumbai's western coastline to reduce traffic-congestion between the Western Suburbs and South Mumbai.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mithi River</span> River in Mumbai, India

The Mithi River is a river on Salsette Island, the island of the city of Mumbai, India. It is a confluence of tail-water discharges of the Powai and Vihar lakes. The river is seasonal and rises during the monsoons. The overflowing lakes also contribute to the river flow, which is stopped by a dam at other times. During this season, the gutter is a favourite with anglers, who can catch large fish that have escaped from the lakes. Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport is located right next to the section of river at Andheri (E).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mahim Fort</span> Stone fort in Mumbai, India

The Mahim Fort is a fort in Mahim in Mumbai, Maharashtra state, India. Strategically located in the Mahim Bay, the fort overlooks Worli to the south, Bandra to the north, and Mahim to the east. The origins of the fort are unclear, but it occupies a strategic location that has been frequently contested. The fort is currently in disrepair, suffering from administrative neglect, encroachment of slums, and exposure to tidal erosion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Land's End, Bandra</span> Neighbourhood in Mumbai Suburban, Maharashtra, India

Lands End is the southernmost tip of Bandra in Mumbai. The area is notable for being the residence of several Bollywood actors. It is an upmarket area in Mumbai and the properties in this area is one of the most expensive properties in the world. Notable residents include Shahrukh Khan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bandstand Promenade</span> Walkway in Maharashtra, India

The Bandstand Promenade, also known as Bandra Bandstand is a 1.2 kilometer long walkway along the sea on the western coast of Mumbai, India in the neighborhood of Bandra. It is simultaneously a popular hangout spot, a jogging track and a park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Castella de Aguada</span> Historic fort in India

Castella de Aguada, also known as the Bandra Fort, is a fort located in Bandra, Mumbai. "Castella" is a misspelling for Portuguese "Castelo" (castle), although it seems its Portuguese builders actually called it Forte de Bandorá. It is located at Land's End in Bandra. It was built by the Portuguese in 1640 as a watchtower overlooking Mahim Bay, the Arabian Sea and the southern island of Mahim. The strategic value of the fort was enhanced in 1661 after the Portuguese ceded the seven islands of Bombay that lay to the immediate south of Bandra to the English. The name indicates its origin as a place where fresh water was available in the form of a fountain ("Aguada") for Portuguese ships cruising the coasts in the initial period of Portuguese presence. The fort lies over several levels, from sea level to an altitude of 24 metres (79 ft). Castella de Aguada has been featured in several Hindi films, such as Dil Chahta Hai and Buddha Mil Gaya.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bandra–Worli Sea Link</span> Bridge connecting Bandra Basitt and Worli, Mumbai, India

The Bandra-Worli Sea Link is a 5.6 km long, 8-lane wide cable-stayed bridge that links Bandra in the Western Suburbs of Mumbai with Worli in South Mumbai. It is the longest sea bridge, as well as the 5th longest bridge in India after Mumbai Trans Harbour Link, Bhupen Hazarika Setu, Dibang River Bridge and Mahatma Gandhi Setu. It contains pre-stressed concrete-steel viaducts on either side. It was planned as a part of the proposed Western Freeway that would link the Western Suburbs to Nariman Point in Mumbai's main business district, but is now planned to become part of the Coastal Road to Kandivali.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mahim Creek</span>

Mahim Creek is a creek in Bombay (Mumbai), India. The Mithi River drains into the creek which drains into the Mahim Bay. The creek forms the boundary between the Bombay City and suburbs. The creek is swamped by mangroves and has a mini-ecosystem within it.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mahim Causeway</span>

The Mahim Causeway is a vital link road connecting Mumbai City district/South Mumbai with its Northern and Western Suburbs. The causeway links the neighbourhoods of Mahim to the south with Bandra to the north.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Bombay under Portuguese rule (1534–1661)</span>

Bombay, also called Bom Bahia or Bom Baim in Indo-Portuguese creole, Mumbai in the local language; is the financial and commercial capital of India and one of the most populous cities in the world. It's also the cosmopolitan city centre of the Greater Bombay Metropolitan Area, and the cultural base of the Bollywood film industry. At the time of arrival of the Portuguese Armadas, Bombay was an archipelago of seven islands. Between the third century BCE and 1348, the islands came under the control of successive Hindu dynasties. The Delhi Sultanate had been ruling the area along with Chaul, New Bombay (Thana) & Damaon, with the administrative centre in Bassein (Vasai) since the raids of Malik Kafur in the Konkan region and across the Indian subcontinent. This territory in North Konkan along with the Bombay islands were later taken over by the Sultan of Guzerat from 1391 to 1534, when he had declared the end of the suzerainty to Delhi, after the Timurid invasion of it. Growing apprehensive of the power of the Moghal emperor Humayun, Sultan Bahadur Shah of Gujarat was obliged to sign the Treaty of Bassein on 23 December 1534; according to which, the seven islands of Bombay, Fort San Sebastian of Bassein in strategic town of Bassein (Vasai), and its dependencies were offered to the Portuguese East Indies. The places were only later officially surrendered on 25 October 1535, by the Sultan of Guzerat.

Dharmveer Swarajya Rakshak Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj Coastal Road is a partially opened 8-lane, 29.2-km long grade separated expressway along Mumbai's western coastline connecting Marine Lines in the south to Kandivali in the north. It is projected to be used by 130,000 vehicles daily, and is expected to reduce travel time between South Mumbai and the Western Suburbs from 2 hours to only 40 minutes. The estimated cost of the project is 13,060 crore (US$1.6 billion). Its first phase, which is inaugurated on 11 March 2024, is a 10.58 km section from Princess Street flyover to the Worli end of the Bandra–Worli Sea Link.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chinna Creek</span> Lagoon in Karachi

Chinna Creek is a lagoon, within the municipal boundaries of Karachi, on the coastline of the Arabian Sea, located in the south-west region of Sindh, Pakistan.

References

  1. Mahim Bay touristlink.com. Retrieved 16 October 2021.