India, Nov. 3 -- Malabar Hill is today counted among Mumbai's most affluent neighbourhoods. It is home to the Raj Bhavan, lush Hanging Gardens, sweeping views of Back Bay, and lies in close proximity to the ancient Walkeshwar Temple. However, the origins of its name date back to a far stormier chapter of maritime history - one defined by pirates and naval skirmishes.

It is believed that Malabar Hill got its name from pirates who once operated along India's western coastline. The pirates, who came from the Malabar coast in present-day Kerala, reportedly used the waters around the hill as a hiding place to ambush trading vessels sailing towards Bombay, according to the Maharashtra government's Mumbai Legacy Project.

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