The dream city for many Indians, Mumbai is the capital city of the state of Maharashtra. Formerly known as Bombay, this Alpha World City is famous for beauty as well as rich culture and tradition. What is it that makes the city so popular and well liked? In order to get an idea of Mumbai, you need to make an in depth study and analysis of the city and its different traits and features. It is the financial capital of India and also one of the well known commercial hubs in the world. Every day thousands of travelers come to this spectacular city for various purposes.

The name of the city

The name "Mumbai" owes its origin to "Mumba or Maha-Amba", which were the names by which the city was known in the local Marathi dialect. Both these names were taken from "Mumbadevi", the goddess of the locals and "Aai", which means mother in the Marathi language.

The name "Bombay" originated during the 16th century after the arrival of the Portuguese in the region. In the Portuguese dialect, the city used to be referred to as "Bombaim". It was later changed into "Bombay" after British possession of the city in the 17th century. The English anglicized the city and named it Bombay which is mostly used. Apart from these, it is also known as Bambai in Persian, Urdu and Hindi.

The name of the city was officially changed from Bombay to its original Marathi name Mumbai in November 1995.

An alternative explanation states that the city got its traditional English name "Bombay" from a Portuguese name which symbolized "good bay". According to Portuguese dialect, the word good is pronounced as "bom" and the Portuguese version for the English word "bay" is "baia". Some other variations of the name include Mombayn, Mombaim, Bambaye, and Boon Bay and so on.

The history of Mumbai dates back to centuries. The city is mainly an archipelago which consists of seven islands which are Mahim, Colaba, Worli, Bombay Island, Parel, Mazagaon and Little Colaba, also known as Old Woman's Island. Based on the findings of the Pleistocene sediments that were discovered on the coast of Kandivali, it was inferred that the islands were present even during the Stone Age. It’s not exactly known the actual time from when the region was first inhabited by humans. Researchers estimate that it was around 2000 years ago when the Koli fishing community first came to the islands and settled there.

According to the historical records, the region was a part of the Maurya Empire in the 3rd Century B.C when Emperor Ashoka expanded his rule to the southern and western part of India as well. Some of the well known Buddhist specimens of the Maurya Empire can be found in the Kanheri Caves in the Borivali area. The region was then known as Heptanesia.

After the fall of the Mauryan Empire, the islands were conquered by local south Indian dynasties like Western Kshatrapas, Abhiras, Satavahanas, Konkan Mauryas, Chalukyas, Vakatakas and Rashtrakutas in the period between 2nd century B.C and 9th Century C.E. Later the Silhara dynasty conquered the region from 810 to 1260 C.E. Some of the important historical relics of this period can be found in the Elephanta Caves, Jogeshwari Caves, Banganga Tank and Walkeshwar Temple. In the 12th or the 13th century, a local king named Bhimdev established his empire and made the capital in Mahikawati, which is near the Mahim area.

It was king Bhimdev who brought the settlers from Saurashtra in Gujarat to Mahikawati. In the year 1348, the region was conquered and annexed by the Muslim rulers of Gujarat and gradually the whole of it came under the influence of the Muslim rule. In the year 1431, the famous Haji Ali Dargah in Mahim, to honor saint Haji Ali was constructed. In the period between 1429 and 1431, plenty of tussles took place between the Gujarat Sultanate and Bahamani Sultanate over the dominion of the islands.

After the Mughals came into power in the year 1526, they started annexing the kingdoms of the south and west of India. To prevent the dominion of the Mughal rule, Sultan Bahadur Shah of Gujarat Sultanate signed the treaty of Bassein with Portuguese settlers on 23 December in the year 1534. As per the treaty, the seven islands of the Bombay region were given to the Portuguese. Under the Portuguese rule, emphasis was put on the spread of Roman Catholicism and some of the oldest catholic churches in India like St. Michael's Church, St. Andrew's Church, and Gloria Church were built in this period.

In the year 1668, the islands of Mumbai were leased to the British East India Company in lieu of a sum of £10 per annum. During this period, there was a significant increase in the population which rose from 10,000 to 60,000. To prevent the successive attacks by the Mughals and the Dutch, the British shifted their headquarters from Surat to Bombay. This is one of the main causes which led to the development and urbanization of the city.

By the mid of the 18th century, Bombay started to grow as a major trading and commercial hub. In order to search for a better standard of living, hundreds of migrants started to go to the city. After the First Anglo-Maratha War, the British gained possession of the neighboring areas such as Salsette by signing the Treaty of Purandar and Treaty of Salbai.

From around 1782 onwards, the city underwent a sea change with growth in business. It gradually started becoming a major port and operated bulk of exports to the western countries. During this period, a major civil engineering project was undertaken to amalgamate all the seven islands together to give the city its present form. This prestigious project, completed in 1784 was known as Hornby Vellard.

In the month of April in the year 1853, the first passenger train in India was established which connected the adjacent town of Thane with Bombay. It also became a chief cotton trading market in the world during the American Civil War. This created a boom in the business scenario and the city prospered. By the year 1869, after the Suez Canal was opened, Bombay became one of the largest ports in the Arabian Sea.

The influence of the freedom movement was also felt in Bombay when thousands of people took part in the Quit India Movement and the Royal Indian Navy Mutiny. After India gained independence, the city region as well as the neighboring princely states were annexed into one city. The Greater Bombay District was created in the year 1950 after the suburbs of Salsette and other parts were merged into the municipal administration. Subsequently, the city was made the capital of the state of Maharashtra.

Mumbai is located on the banks of the Arabian Sea at the mouth of the Ulhas River in the coastal region of Konkan. Spread over an area of around 603.4 square kilometers, the city comprises two major regions namely Mumbai City and Mumbai Suburban District. It is also popularly referred to as Island City. The Greater Mumbai administration spans an area of around 437.71 square kilometers and is controlled by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The suburban district is spread over an area of 370 square kilometers.

The Mumbai metropolitan region comprises the city area, the suburban areas and the region of Navi Mumbai. The districts of Raigad and Thane also form a part of the metropolitan area. The total combined area of the region is around 4,355 square kilometers. The average elevation of the city is around 14 meters with the Powai-Kanheri hilly range in the north. The Sanjay Gandhi National Park, popularly known as the Borivili National Park, is located in the region.

The main water supply of Mumbai comes from Bhatsa Dam. Apart from this, there are six more lakes which are sources of water supply. They are Upper Vaitarna, Tulsi, Vihar, Lower Vaitarna, Tansa and Powai. The water supply from the lakes is mainly used for the purposes of irrigation and industrial purposes.

Due to its closeness to the sea, the nature of soil in Mumbai is mainly sandy. The coastline which stretches from Thane creek to Madh Marve is made up of lots of bays and creeks. However, the eastern coast of the Salsette area has a rich vegetation of mangrove forests while the western coastline is rocky and sandy.

Mumbai is mainly situated on a seismically active zone with 23 fault lines in close proximity. The city is classified as a Seismic Zone III region which can experience an earthquake of a magnitude of around 6.5 on Richter-scale.

Like most coastal areas, the climate of Mumbai is mainly marine tropical. The region experiences around seven months of warm and humid weather and rainy season in the month of July.

The summer season in Mumbai usually lasts from March to June. The weather in this part of the year is warm and humid. Occasionally, pleasant wind blows from the sea in the evening. The summer season is followed by the rainy season from June to September with the pre monsoon rain setting as early as May. The city experiences the peak of rains in the month of July. In rare cases, north-east monsoon showers also take place in the period between October and November. The maximum yearly rainfall ever recorded in the city was 3,452 millimeters in the year 1954 while the highest single day rainfall of 944 millimeters took place on July 26 in the year 2005.

The city experiences winter months between November and February. The weather in this period is dry and pleasant. The average minimum temperature is around 23 degree Celsius in this period. The lowest minimum temperature ever recorded in the city was 7.4 degree Celsius in January 1962.

According to the survey made by the World Gazetteer in the year 2008, there are around 13,662,885 million people living in Mumbai. The population of the Mumbai Metropolitan Area is around 21,347,412. The population density is around 22,000 people per square kilometers. The sex ratio is approximately 774 females per 1000 males in the city, 826 females to 1000 males in the suburbs and 811 females to 1000 males in Greater Mumbai. Migrants who come here to work account for the larger male population ratio.

The average literary rate of Mumbai is around 77.45 %. This is much higher than the national average which is around 64.8 %. Hindus constitute around 67.39 % of the total population while the share of Muslims and Christians is around 18.56 % and 3.72 % respectively. Apart from these religions, the population also includes Buddhist, Parsi, Sikh, Jain and Jew communities. As per the ethnic division, Maharashtrians comprise most of the population with 42 % while Gujaratis make up 19 %. The share of North Indians is around 24 % while South Indians constitute rest of the population.

Some of the oldest Muslim communities in the city include Khojas, Konkani Muslims and Dawoodi Bohras. Most of the Christians have a Portuguese origin while the Jews migrated to Mumbai from Yemen around 1600 years ago. The residents of Mumbai are mainly known as Mumbaiites, Bombayites and Mumbaikars. They lovingly call the city as "Amchi Mumbai", which is a Marathi term for saying "my Mumbai".

The official language of Mumbai is Marathi. It is used in government organizations, judiciary and other state sponsored agencies. However, languages like English and Hindi are widely spoken by the people. The city is very popular for a local dialect of Hindi, known as Bambaiya Hindi.

Due to rapid urbanization, the city has experienced a boom in the housing and real estate industry. More and more housing projects are coming up to cater to the growing needs of accommodation. Recent surveys have shown that the real estate industry in the city has experienced a growth of around 30%. More investments are also being made in the real estate sector which is resulting in new projects and development.

The charm of Mumbai is also enhanced by its tourist attractions and points of interests. Be it the beautiful Arabian Sea at the backdrop or the grand buildings reminiscent of the colonial architecture, the city has lots to offer for the avid tourist. Every year, thousands of domestic and foreign tourists make a trip to Mumbai to spend a charming vacation. Some of the popular tourist spots in Mumbai are:

• Gateway of India: The Gateway of India is perhaps the iconic landmark of Mumbai. A visit to the city remains incomplete without seeing this grand monument. With the Arabian Sea at the background, it perhaps symbolizes the glorious "never say die" character of Mumbai. The monument was made to commemorate King George V and Queen Mary’s visit to the city. Started in the year 1911, it was ultimately finished in 1920. It is very close to Colaba and lies just opposite to the Taj Palace and Tower Hotel.
• Hanging Gardens: One of the major tourist places in Mumbai, the Hanging Gardens is an example of the idyllic ambience of the city. Located in the Malabar Hills area, it offers panoramic view of the Arabian Sea. Travelers can also make a short stroll to the Ferozeshah Mehta Garden just few minutes away.
• Mumbai beaches: The beaches in Mumbai are some of the best places to enjoy. The cool breeze blowing from the sea really offers a calming experience. Most of the beaches are like virtual fairs with numerous snacks counters, stalls selling colorful items, children playing on the sand, hawkers selling different wares and so on. Some of the popular beaches that tourists can visit are Chowpatty, Juhu Beach, Aksa Beach and Versova Beach.
• Elephanta Caves: Located few kilometers from Mumbai across the sea on the Elephanta Island, the Elephanta Caves offer a deep insight into the ancient tradition of the region. Listed as a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO, there are 7 caves which are dedicated to the greatness of Lord Shiva in the form of rock carvings and sculptures. The caves were built in the period between 7th and 12th century AD and portray Shiva as Andhakasuravadha, Kalyanasundara, Ardhanarishwara, Nataraja and Ravana anugraha. The famous Trimurti-Sadasiva statue is located in the main chamber.
• Prince of Wales Museum: Just few minutes away from the Gateway of India is located the Prince of Wales Museum. It displays plenty of relics which are important specimens of the rich history of Mumbai. Some of the artifacts even date back to around 2000 B.C. The art section has around 2000 paintings by famous artists.
• Essel World: Ranking among the well known amusement parks in South East Asia, Essel World is an ideal place to have a fun filled time with friends or family. Located in the outskirts of Mumbai, this place consists of numerous fun rides and recreational activities.

• Mahalaxmi Race Course
• Hazi Ali's Tomb
• Shri Siddhivinayak Temple
• Taraporwala Aquarium
• Jahangir Art Gallery
• Marine Drive
• National Gallery of Modern Art

The popularity of Mumbai as a popular tourist destination and a booming business center has directly led to the huge inflow of travelers. To cater to their lodging needs, more and more hotels are coming up in Mumbai. There are varied types of hotels in the city which range from five star and luxury hotels to low priced ones. The city is home to hotels of prestigious hotel chains such as Radisson, Four Seasons, Hilton, Taj, Sheraton, Hyatt, Oberoi and lots more.

Travelers can choose from a wide range of hotels as per their tastes, preferences and budget. Most of the hotels provide customers with facilities of high standards complemented by warm hospitality.

Luxury hotels: There are plenty of 5 star and luxury hotels in the city. These are rightly suited for leisure travelers, celebrities, business executives and high end guests. Apart from the luxurious lodging facilities, guests can enjoy high quality dining facilities, well developed conference facilities and an array of recreational services. Some of the well known luxury hotels in the city include, Taj Palace and Tower Hotel, Taj Lands End, Grand Maratha Sheraton, JW Marriott Mumbai, Le Royal Meridien Mumbai and others.

4 star and 3 star hotels: The 4 star and middle range hotels in Mumbai provide contemporary facilities and services but are not as expensive as the luxury ones. Guests can enjoy great lodging facilities and services in them. Apart from well appointed guest rooms, these hotels have well developed business and conference rooms, high quality restaurants and bars, necessary recreational facilities and other up-to-date services. Some of the popular 4 star and 3 star hotels in the city are Continental Hotel, Hotel Kohinoor, The Ambassador, Fariyas Hotel, Hotel Godwin, Hotel Heritage, Hotel King's International and lots more.

Economy and budget hotels: Travelers who are wishing to have a pleasant stay in the city without shedding huge of money can book any of the budget hotels. Most of the budget hotels are equipped with almost all the basic amenities and services that are needed for a pleasant stay. The guest rooms are equipped with the basic amenities so that the guests feel at home. Some of the budget hotels also have dining and business facilities along with some up-to-date services. Some of the budget hotels which are well preferred by the tourists are Sea Green Hotel, Hotel Diplomat, Hotel Royal Castle, and Hotel Sahil and so on.

Eating is one of the popular things to do in Mumbai. The diverse culture of the city has led to the growth of different cuisines. No visit to the city is complete without having a taste of the lip-smacking cuisines.

The restaurants and dining hubs serve various types of mouth watering delicacies. Starting from the local delicacies to the cuisines from other parts of the world, travelers can get almost all types of food in the city. If you wish to have a taste of mouth watering sea food, make sure to visit restaurants such as Mahesh Lunch Home, Trishna, and Bharat Excellensea, while for delicious Parsi cuisine, come to Brittania and Jimmy Boy.

Apart from these, there are plenty of other dining hubs where one can have a taste of a wide range of delicacies. Some of them are:

• Shatranj Nepoli (Italian)
• Little Italy (Italian)
• Mezzo Mezzo (Italian)
• Peshawari (Mughlai)
• Kandahar (Mughlai)
• Copper Chimney (Mughlai)
• Woodlands (South Indian)
• Urban Tadka (Punjabi)
• Rajdhani (Gujarati)
• India Jones (Chinese)
• Mainland China (Chinese)
• Ming's Pavilion (Chinese)
• Pan Asian (Japanese)
• Japengo Cafe (Japanese)
• Origami (Japanese)

The rich tradition and diverse cultural heritage of Mumbai has made it one of the lively cities in the world. The culture and lifestyle of the city is a combination of festivals, music, recreation, entertainment, nightlife and lots more. In fact, this cultural diversity speaks about the vibrant way of living of the people. Mumbai culture offers a feel of a blend of cosmopolitan and local tradition.

If one walks through the various streets and lanes of Mumbai, he or she will get an idea of the unique architecture of the city. It is home to a number of heritage buildings which provide an idea of the Indo-Saracenic, Gothic, Art Deco and other modern architectural influences. The heritage buildings, almost all of which were built during the Portuguese and British periods, show distinct European influences in the form of Tudor casements, Dutch roofs, German gables, Swiss timbering and so on. Buildings pertaining to the Art Deco architectural pattern can be seen in and around the Marine Drive area. In fact, Mumbai has the second largest number of Art Deco houses after Miami. Contrary to the main city, the greater part of Mumbai and the suburbs offer a more cosmopolitan look with post modern architecture and skyscrapers. The city is home to the largest number of skyscrapers in India.

There are two UNESCO World Heritage sites namely Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus or Victoria Terminus and Elephanta Caves.

Festivals are perhaps the best way to portray the rich culture, tradition and religious fervor of Mumbai. The city is home to diverse races and creeds whose customs have paved path for various festivals and events. Plenty of fun and fanfare take place during these festivals. As a traveler, you can take part in the festivals and experience the rich culture. Some of the popular religious festivals are:

• Ganesh Chaturthi- It is the greatest festival in Mumbai and the city goes into a complete vibrant mood in this period. The celebration usually takes place during the month of August or September and goes on for 10 days. It is mainly related to the worship of Lord Ganesha. The whole city is lit up with colorful lamps and people dress in new clothes and celebrate to the fullest.
• Janmashtami- Janmashtami is celebrated to mark the birth of Lord Krishna. One of the popular rituals on this festival is to break earthen pots of curd which are strung high up on lanes and streets. The process of breaking the pots is unique. Young men form a human pyramid by standing on top of each other and the highest person hits the pot and breaks it.
• Mt. Mary's Feast- Held in the month of September, this festival marks the feast in the honor of Our Lady of the Mount at the St. Mary's Church in Bandra. To celebrate this event, a seven day long Bandra Fair is held with much gaiety.

• Kala Ghoda Arts Festival: It is one of the well known arts festivals in Asia and showcases a wide range of cultural events like music, films, theater, painting, sculpture and so on. This festival acts as a platform for both well known and budding artists.
• Banganga Festival: This two day cultural festival is organized by the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation in the month of January. It takes place at the Banganga Tank.
• Elephanta Festival: This festival takes place every year in the month of February on the Elephanta Island and showcases classical music and dance from various regions of India.
• Bandra Fair: This week long festival also showcases the rich culture of Mumbai by music, dance and other forms of arts.

• Atria Mall
• In-orbit Mall
• Phoenix Malls
• Nirmal Lifestyle
• Infinity Mall
• Oberoi Shopping arcade
• Burlingtons

• Fashion Street: Located in the Churchgate station area, shopping buffs can get foreign brands at 1/4th of the price here. It is mainly a garment and apparel market where one can bag the best deals by bargaining.
• Colaba Causeway: Colaba Causeway is also a popular place for tourists and shopping enthusiasts. One can buy a wide range of wares like carpets, chandeliers, antique items, handicrafts and local artifacts and lots more from the shops here. Of course, bargaining will provide the best deals.
• Crawford Market: Also referred to as Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Market, it is few minutes away from the Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus. It is mainly a fruits and vegetables market. However, some shops also sell cosmetics, food and household items.

• Zenzi
• Enigma
• Polyester
• Athena
• Onyx
• Bombay Blue
• Fashion Bistro
• The Dome

Being the financial capital of India, Mumbai is the main center of industrial and commercial boom in the country. Around 40% of the export trade of the country and around US$ 820 million of corporate taxes take place from here. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the city is around US$ 41.3 billion while the average per capita income is around US$ 1,350. This is around three times more than the national per capita income.

Mumbai is also home to some of the most prestigious financial organizations such as Reserve Bank of India, State Bank of India, Tata Group, Reliance, Larsen and Toubro and lots more. In the local trade market, the main industries are textile, heavy engineering, information technology, healthcare and diamond polishing. Unskilled labor work forces also make up a significant portion of the workforce. It comprises mechanics, taxi drivers, and hawkers and so on. According to the survey made by the Forbes magazine in the year 2008, Mumbai ranked as the seventh in the list of "Top Ten Cities for Billionaires".

Being a chief metropolitan city in India, Mumbai is easily accessible from almost all parts of the country. In order to have a hassle free and easy travel to and from the city, one should have an idea of the well developed transport network.

Air travel is one of the major transport systems in the city and links it with other major parts of the country and abroad. The main airport in the city is the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport. It is the busiest airport in the country and operates numerous domestic and international flights. Located in the Santacruj area, it can be easily reached. After landing at the airport, travelers can get cars, buses and taxis to reach their respective destinations and major landmarks. To cater to the increased traffic flow, the government has decided to construct the Navi Mumbai International Airport in the Kopra-Panvel area.

Rail services are also popular forms of the city’s transportation. Mumbai serves as the headquarters of two major railway networks namely Central Railway (CR) located at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus and Western Railway (WR) located at Churchgate. To cater to the growing needs of the public, a rapid transit system in the form of an underground Mumbai Metro is being constructed. The staple form of transport is the extensive local train network which carries around 4,500 passengers daily on average.

Another popular mode of transportation in the city is the bus services. The expressways and highways link the city with other parts of Maharashtra and the country. The bus services serve more than 5.5 million passengers daily. The main bus services are run by BEST which operates services to Mumbai metropolitan area, greater Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane and other areas. Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) buses also operate in various parts of the city and the suburbs. The two major ports in the city are Jawaharlal Nehru Port and Mumbai Port. The former is one of the most modern ports in the country and operates more than 60% of the total containerized cargo. The headquarters of the Western Naval Command is also located in the city.

Media and communication in Mumbai

Mumbai has a booming media industry. Bollywood, the main film industry in the country is located in the city. It is one of the integral parts of the Indian entertainment industry and contributes a significant part to the revenue. Around 150 to 200 films are released every year. Due to globalization, Bollywood has also become a known name in the overseas market with films making huge profits.

The popularity of Bollywood has led to the growth of allied media and entertainment industries such as television, music, advertising and so on. The city has innumerable satellite channels and around FM radio stations.

Mumbai truly is a city of dreams! A city that will never disappoint its travelers and citizens!