Mumbai

Bollywood is based in Mumbai.

Mumbai ( /mʊmˈbaɪ/; Marathi: मुंबई, Mumbaī, IPA: [mumbə.i]), formerly known as Bombay (/bɒmˈbeɪ/) in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the sixth most populous city in the world, with a population of approximately 20.5 million. Along with the neighbouring urban areas, including the cities of Navi Mumbai and Thane, it is one of the most populous urban regions in the world. Mumbai lies on the west coast of India and has a deep natural harbour. As of 2009, Mumbai was named an Alpha world city. Mumbai is also the richest city in India, and has the highest GDP of any city in South, West or Central Asia.

Rajabai Clock Tower at the University of Mumbai

The seven islands that came to constitute Mumbai were home to communities of fishing colonies. For centuries, the islands came under the control of successive indigenous empires before being ceded to the Portuguese and subsequently to the British East India Company. During the mid-18th century, Mumbai was reshaped by the British with large-scale civil engineering projects, and emerged as a significant trading town. Economic and educational development characterised the city during the 19th century. It became a strong base for the Indian independence movement during the early 20th century. When India became independent in 1947, the city was incorporated into Bombay State. In 1960, following the Samyukta Maharashtra movement, a new state of Maharashtra was created with Bombay as capital. The city was renamed Mumbai in 1995.

 BMC headquarters

 Dharavi is a large slum in Mumbai

 Asiatic Society of Bombay is one of the oldest public libraries in the city

 Ganesh Chaturthi, a popular festival in Mumbai, involves worship of Ganesha

 The Bandra-Worli Sea Link is a cable-stayed bridge that connects central Mumbai with its western suburbs

 The Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, formerly known as Victoria Terminus, is the headquarters of the Central Railway and a UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport is currently India's busiest airport in terms of passenger traffic

 Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust is the busiest port in India

 The Hutatma Chowk memorial, built to honour the martyrs of the Samyukta Maharashtra movement. (Flora Fountain is on its left in the background.)

 The Bombay High Court exercises jurisdiction over Maharashtra, Goa, Daman and Diu, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli

 A BEST Starbus. BEST buses carry a total of 4.5 million passengers daily.

 The temple of local Hindu goddess Mumbadevi, after whom the city of Mumbai derives its name

The Haji Ali Dargah was built in 1431, when Mumbai was under the rule of the Gujarat Sultanate

 India's 400 million strong middle-class population is growing at an annual rate of 5%.Shown here is an upmarket residential area of Mumbai

 Clockwise from top: Skyline at Cuffe Parade, the Rajabai Clock Tower, the Taj Mahal Hotel, Nariman Point and Gateway of India

 Brabourne Stadium, one of the oldest cricket stadiums in the country

Posted in: INDIA