Bandra

Tradition has it that the suburb was originally known as ‘Vandra’ as it was home of several hundred monkeys who inhabited both Pali Hill and Mt. Mary Hill. Then it was “Bandor” as the Portuguese called Bandra in 1505. It was also called Bandera, Bandura, Bandore, Pandara, Bandorah, Bandara and Vandre. But finally it was officially designated as “Bandra” when the railway station signboard was painted at the end of the last century and the Bandra station and platforms were built. On 12 April 1867 the first railway service was inaugurated with one train per day between Virar and Colaba in south Bombay. Bandra consisted of villages called Sherly, Malla, Rajan, Kantwadi, Waroda, Ranwar, Boran and Pali. It also included Chuim, which is now part of Khar.

Tradition has it that the suburb was originally known as ‘Vandra’ as it was home of several hundred monkeys who inhabited both Pali Hill and Mt. Mary Hill. Then it was “Bandor” or "Bandora" as the Portuguese called Bandra in 1505. It was also called Bandera, Bandura, Bandore, Pandara, Bandorah, Bandara and Vandre. But finally it was officially designated as “Bandra” when the railway station signboard was painted at the end of the last century and the Bandra station and platforms were built. On 12 April 1867 the first railway service was inaugurated with one train per day between Virar and Colaba in south Bombay.

In 1600,s the Portuguese built a church in Bandra on a hillock, which came to be

known as the Mount Mary Church. The Portuguese also built a road from Mahim fort to the church to facilitate the devotees to attend the ceremonies at the church. As a result of the church, this area once isolated was converted into settlement for the catholic faithful. Soon small and large, cozy and traditional villas dotted the landscape. Bandra consisted of villages called Sherly, Malla, Rajan, Kantwadi, Waroda, Ranwar, Boran and Pali. It also included Chuim, which is now part of Khar. Bandra had 2 hills, Mount Mary Hill and Pali Hill. Residents of Bandra were people mainly by East Indians (original residents of Bombay Salsette, Bassein and Thana), a few Goans and Manglorian immigrants, Parsis, Muslims, Mahars, Europeans and Hindu Kolis. Bandra developed in late 1800 and early 1900’s. Many Co-Operative Housing Societies based on community were created by obtaining land from Bombay Improvement Trust on leases of 999 years. There is two such societies in bandra namely the St. Sebastian Co-Operative Housing Society and Salsette Catholic Co-Operative Housing Society. Majority of the population in these area are Christians. These societies are well planned and have gridiron road network, regular plots and open spaces.

In 1661 when King Charles married Catherina of Portugal, Bombay was given to England as part of the dowry. Salsette was not part of this treaty and remained with the Portuguese. In 1739 with the threat of a Maratha invasion, the Portuguese appealed to the British for help and they suggested to the Portuguese to destroy all fortifications around the chapel and the fortress Aguada. However the Marathas took over and ruled for 2 decades. But after the battle of Panipat in 1761, Maratha power declined and the British took over and Salsette including Bandra came under British rule. The Portuguese were left with just Goa, Daman and Diu.

Salsette Catholic Co-operative Housing Society was setup in the year 1918 by FAC Rebello who at that time was the Accountant General of Bombay. The Society finally got the land in the year 1930 and undertook that is known as Kantwadi Scheme spread across 59 acres containing 220 plots.