The seven islands of Bombay were an archipelago

Archipelago

An archipelago , sometimes called an island group, is a chain or cluster of islands. The word archipelago is derived from the Greek ἄρχι- – arkhi- and πέλαγος – pélagos through the Italian arcipelago...

 of islands that were, over a span of five centuries, connected to form the area of the modern city of Mumbai

Mumbai

Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...

 (formerly Bombay) in India

India

India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

. The seven islands were gradually physically united through land reclamation

Land reclamation

Land reclamation, usually known as reclamation, is the process to create new land from sea or riverbeds. The land reclaimed is known as reclamation ground or landfill.- Habitation :...

 projects. The original archipelago was composed of the following islands:

• Isle of Bombay
  Isle of Bombay
  thumb|right|The original islandsIsle of Bombay was one of Seven islands of Bombay that were merged to create the city of Bombay. The island has a natural harbour to the east and Malabar hills to west.- References:*...
  
  
• Colaba
  Colaba
  Colaba is a part of the city of Mumbai, India, and also a Lok Sabha constituency. During Portuguese rule in the 16th century, the island was known as Candil...
  
  
• Old Woman's Island
  Old Woman's Island
  The Old Woman's Island, also known as Little Colaba is one of the seven islands composing the city of Mumbai, India, and part of the historic Old Bombay....
  
   (Little Colaba)
• Mahim
  Mahim
  Mahim is a neighbourhood in Mumbai. It is also the name of a railway station in Mahim area, on the Mumbai suburban railway on the Western Railway railway line. In ancient times, the area was known as Maijim, Mejambu, Mahikawati....
  
  

• Mazagaon
  Mazagaon
  Mazagaon, also spelled Mazgaon and Mazagon , and pronounced by the Catholics as 'Mazgon' or 'Maz-a-gon' and the Marathi-speakers as Mazhgav. It is one of the seven islands of Mumbai. It is part of South Mumbai and can be reached by Byculla Station on the Central railway line and Dockyard Road...
  
  
• Parel
  Parel
  Lower Parel or Parel is central part of Mumbai. It is also lends its name to two railway stations on the Mumbai suburban railway. Most of the mills in Mumbai used to be in this area till some years ago...
  
  
• Worli
  Worli
  -History:Worli was one of the original seven islands that constituted the city of Mumbai. Although primarily a fishing village, the Worli Fort, a British fort that is now in ruins, is located there. Its original resident was the legendary Dishankeshwar Kalsi who has also been recognized in several...
  
  

The nearby islands of Trombay

Trombay

Trombay is a northeastern suburb in Mumbai, India, with Mankhurd as the closest railway station on the Harbour Line of the Mumbai Suburban Railway.-History:...

 and Salsette were merged to form Greater Bombay.

The remaining islands are:

• Gharapuri Island/Elephanta Island
  Elephanta Island
  Elephanta Island is one of a number of islands in Mumbai Harbour, east of Mumbai, India...
  
  
• Butcher Island
  Butcher Island
  Butcher Island is an island off the coast of Mumbai, India. It has an oil terminal used by the port authorities to offload it from oil tankers. The crude oil is stored in oil containers on the island. From there they are piped to Wadala, in Mumbai where they are refined...
  
  
• Middle Ground Coastal Battery
  Middle Ground Coastal Battery
  The Middle Ground Coastal Battery is an islet off the coast of Mumbai , India. The isle, situated a few hundred metres away from the Gateway of India, lies in the Thane Creek...
  
  
• Oyster Rock
  Oyster Rock
  Oyster Rock is an island in the Mumbai harbour, Mumbai, India. It is fortified, and owned by the Indian Navy. For a short while, the islet was used as a naval museum. The Maharashtra government had thought of anchoring the decommissioned INS Vikrant on this island....
  
  
• East Ground

In the 1970s, the Supreme Court

Supreme Court of India

The Supreme Court of India is the highest judicial forum and final court of appeal as established by Part V, Chapter IV of the Constitution of India...

instituted a series of injunctions protecting the shoreline and access to it for fishermen.