Mumbai, earlier known as Bombay, is the largest city in India and the capital of Maharashtra state. Mumbai was originally a conglomeration of 7 islands on the Konkan coastline which over time were joined to form the island city of Bombay.
Mumbai is one of the world's top 10 centers of commerce in terms of global financial flow. Mumbai is also the commercial and entertainment capital of India, and houses important financial institutions, such as the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), the National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) and the corporate headquarters of many Indian companies and numerous multinational corporations. The city is home to Bollywood, the largest film industry in the world. Mumbai attracts migrants from all over India because of the immense employment opportunities and the relatively high standard of living.
Present Mumbai was originally an archipelago of seven islands. Artefacts found near
Kandivali in northern Mumbai indicate that these islands had been inhabited since
the Stone Age. Documented evidence of human habitation dates back to 250 BCE,
when it was known as Heptanesia (Ptolemy) (Ancient Greek: A Cluster of Seven
Islands). In the 3rd century BCE, the islands formed part of the Maurya Empire, ruled
by the Buddhist emperor, Asoka. During the first few centuries of our era, control over
Mumbai was disputed between the Indo-Scythian Western Satraps and the
Satavahanas. The Hindu rulers of the Silhara Dynasty later governed the islands
until 1343, when the kingdom of Gujarat annexed them. Some of the oldest edifices
of the archipelago – the Elephanta Caves and the Walkeshwar temple complex date
from this era.
In 1534, the Portuguese appropriated the islands from Bahadur Shah of Gujarat.
They were ceded to Charles II of England in 1661, as dowry for Catherine de
Braganza. These islands, were in turn leased to the British East India Company in
1668 for a sum of £10 per annum. The company found the deep harbour on the east
coast of the islands to be ideal for setting up their first port in the sub-continent. The
population quickly rose from 10,000 in 1661, to 60,000 in 1675; In 1687, the British
East India Company transferred its headquarters from Surat to Bombay. The city
eventually became the headquarters of the Bombay Presidency. From 1817
onwards, the city was reshaped with large civil engineering projects aimed at
merging all the islands in the archipelago into a single amalgamated mass. This
project, known as the Hornby Vellard, was completed by 1845, and resulted in the
total area swelling to 438 km². In 1853, India's first passenger railway line was
established, connecting Bombay to the town of Thane. During the American Civil War
(1861–1865), the city became the world's chief cotton trading market, resulting in a
boom in the economy and subsequently enhancing the city's stature.
Flora Fountain was renamed Hutatma Chowk, or "Martyr's Crossroads," in memory
of the Samyukta Maharashtra Movement
Flora Fountain was renamed Hutatma Chowk, or "Martyr's Crossroads," in memory
of the Samyukta Maharashtra Movement
PLACE TO VISIT
Asiatic Society of Mumbai - can trace its origin to the Literary Society of Bombay which first met in Mumbai on November 26, 1804 and was founded by Sir James Mackintosh. It was formed with the intention of "promoting useful knowledge, particularly such as is now immediately connected with India". After the Royal Asiatic Society was established in London in 1823, the Literary Society of Bombay became affiliated with it and was known as the Bombay Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society since 1830
Banganga - is a place in the Malabar Hill area of Mumbai City. It is believed that in mythical times the great Lord Rama, an incarnation of God Vishnu, shot an arrow in the ground to provide for fresh water for drinking. The place where the arrow hit the ground there issued out a stream of fresh and sweet water from a tributary of the Ganga, over a thousand miles away.
Chor Bazaar - is an area in South Mumbai famous for its second-hand goods. Although the name Chor means "thief" in Hindi, the name is actually a corruption of the word Shore which means noise. The area is one of the tourist attractions of the city
Crawford Market - (officially Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Market) is one of South Mumbai's most famous markets. It is named after Arthur Crawford, the first Municipal Commissioner of the city. The market is situated opposite the Mumbai Police headquarters, just north of Victoria Terminus railway station at a busy intersection. The market houses a wholesale fruit, vegetable and poultry market. One end of the market is a pet store. Most of the sellers inside the market nowadays sell imported food items.
Elephanta Caves - are the focal point of the Elephanta Island, located in the Mumbai harbour off the coast of Mumbai (Bombay), India. In 1987, the caves were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.It is visited by many domestic and foreign tourists. In recent years, complaints have been made that visitors mistreat this important cultural and historic site
Essel World - is the first and largest amusement park in Mumbai, India. It is situated on a green, landscaped island with an area of 64 acres, located just a few kilometers outside city limits at Gorai.
Fashion Street - refers to a cluster of about 130 to 140 clothing shops on MG Road in South Mumbai, India. Readymade garments are one of Mumbai's chief exports, so the same clothes sold at leading US and European retail stores can be purchased on Fashion Street for a fraction of their price abroad. Furthermore, many proprietors haggle. Besides clothing, there are also several shoe and jewelry shops.
Gateway of India - is a monument in Mumbai. Located on the waterfront in South Mumbai, the Gateway is a basalt arch 26 metres high. The Gateway is traditionally the first thing visitors arriving by boat would see of Mumbai. Behind the Gateway steps lead down to the waterfront, where boat trips can be had to locations such as Elephanta Island.
Haji Ali Dargah - is a mosque and dargah (tomb) located on an islet off the coast of Worli in Mumbai. Lying as it does in the heart of the city, the dargah is one of the most recognizable landmarks of Mumbai.
Hanging Gardens - in Mumbai, also known as Ferozeshah Mehta Gardens, are terraced gardens perched at the top of Malabar Hill, on its western side, just opposite the Kamala Nehru Park. They provide lovely sunset views over the Arabian Sea and feature numerous hedges carved into the shapes of animals.
Juhu - is a suburb of Mumbai. It is famous for its sprawling beach, the Juhu Beach. It is surrounded by Arabian Sea in the west, Santacruz and Vile Parle in the east. Juhu is one of the more affluent areas of Mumbai. Many Bollywood stars own bungalows in Juhu, famously including Amitabh Bachchan, Amrish Puri, as well as the Deols and numerous other stars and starlets. It is comparable to the Bel-Air, Malibu and Beverly Hills suburbs of Los Angeles.
Marine Drive - is a 3 km long boulevard in South Mumbai in the city of Mumbai. It is an inverted 'C'-shaped six lane concrete road along the coast which is a natural bay. The road links Nariman Point to Babulnath and Malabar Hill.
Nehru Planetarium - Mumbai of Nehru Centre was inaugurated on 3rd March 1977 by the then Prime Minister of India Smt. Indira Gandhi. Over the years, this has grown into a Centre for scientific study of astronomy and space science. During the last 30 years of its inception Planetarium generated thirty-one astronomical presentations, which were viewed by 10 million astronomy lovers.
Borivali National Park - officially known as the Sanjay Gandhi
National Park, is a rare National Park that lies within city limits. The park lies on
the northern fringes of suburban Mumbai, India. It encompasses an area of 104
square kilometres and is surrounded on three sides by one of the world's most
populous cities. It is possibly one of Asia's most visited National Parks with 2 million
annual visitors. The park is also the largest park in the world located within city limits.
HOW TO REACH
By plane - Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (IATA: BOM), India's
busiest airport and one of the main international gateways to the country.
The airport consists of two terminals : International Terminal (Terminal 2, Sahar) and
a Domestic Terminal (Terminal 1, Santacruz). Both terminals use the same airspace
but are 4 km apart. There is a free shuttle bus connecting them.
By boat - Numerous travel organizations now offer cruises to Singapore, Malayasia, Dubai, etc. Though the cruise industry is still developing, Mumbai can be reached by such cruises.
Mumbai has one of the best natural harbours in the world, handling 50% of the country's passenger traffic, and much of India's cargo. It is also an important base for the Indian Navy. Ferries from Ferry Wharf allow cheap access to islands and beaches in the area.
