The city of Mumbai is filled with a number of prominent monuments that commemorate the history of this great city. The monuments of Mumbai are strewn all over the city and preserve its culture in a number of historical landmarks as well as various mosques, monuments and temples. All these various monuments depict a mixture of colonial architecture with modern finishings, in sync with the modern-cum-traditional life of the city.

A variety of distinct and distinguished architectural styles can be found exhibited among the various monuments of Mumbai. There are instances of Indo-European architecture which have strong Islamic influences, pure Indian architectural style full of intricate carvings, Indo-Saracenic style of architecture with influences from Gujarati architecture, early English Gothic style as well as a mixture of Venetian and English Gothic style.

The name Mumbai is supposed to have originated from `Mumba`, the Goddess worshipped by the original Koli inhabitants. Mumbai is located on the West Coast of India and is the capital of the state of Maharashtra. Often referred to as the city that never sleeps, Mumbai is a comfortable mix of tradition and modernity. Where on the one hand people flock to such historical and religious sites like the Gateway of India, Haji Ali Dargah, Prince of Wales museum etc to better appreciate the culture and beauty of the place; on the other, there is the fast-paced, always on the move city which is forever on the go.

The city of Mumbai originally consisted of seven islands, all of which together form Mumbai today. These were gradually joined through a series of reclamations and united to form part of one land under Ashoka, the Great Indian Emperor. They came under the control of a number of Empires and Kingdoms till they finally fell top Portuguese hands. It was ceded to the British in 1661 as part of the dowry of Catherine of Braganza, and transferred to the British East India Company in 1668. The settlement was consolidated by Gerald Aungier, and displaced Surat as the headquarters of the Company in 1708.The town was centred on Bombay Castle and since early days it was a haven for oppressed minorities looking for respite.

The town was refortified in the middle of the 18th century, but, isolated from the east coast, it remained a backwater until the early 19th century, when the defeat of the Marathas and the abolition of the Company`s trade monopoly fostered sustained growth. With the sudden loss of cotton supplies from the United States during the American Civil War, Mumbai boomed as an alternative source of supply. The impetus was maintained by an energetic local government, so that by 1890 the city had become `Urbs pritna in Indis`, with an unrivalled heritage of Victorian Gothic buildings made from local stone.