|  Mumbai,
the capital of Maharashtra, is the fastest moving, most
affluent and industrialised city in India. Mumbai is
part of India's beautiful west coast, that runs down
from Gujarat, through Mumbai to Goa, Karnataka and Kerala.
The city has a natural harbour, which was developed
by the British. It is one of the most busy ports of
India, handling approximately 40 percent of India's
maritime trade.
Mumbai (till recently known as 'Bombay'), derives its
name from the local deity Mumba Devi, whose temple is
still there. The Portuguese predecessors of the British
preferred to think of the name as Bom Baim, the Good
Bay. Mumbai is a group of seven islands which are today
known as Colaba, Mahim, Mazgaon, Parel, Worli, Girgaun
and Dongri. Large expanses of open sea have been filled
in, and tidal swamps have been reclaimed for furthering
the land area. These reclaimed areas include Churchgate
and Nariman Point.
Mumbai is home to people of all Indian creeds and cultures.
It is a fascinating city, throbbing with life, and,
for many people, the gateway to India. Mumbai (formerly
Bombay), situated on the western coast of India, is
the largest metropolis of the country. It is the capital
of one of India’s most advanced states, Maharashtra.
Mumbai is pleasant during the winter (November–March)
and hot during summer. The temperature is on the rise
from the month of March until the monsoons break out
in mid-June, which goes on until September. October
offers a relief from humidity and heat.
MUMBAI PAST
Once a cluster of seven islands—Colaba,
Mumbai, Mazagaon, Old Woman's island, Wadala, Mahim,
Parel, and Matunga Sion—the home of the Koli fishing
community is today the financial capital of India. The
islands were ruled by a succession of Hindu dynasties,
invaded by Muslims in the 14th century, and then ceded
to Portugal by the sultan of Gujarat in 1534. In 1662,
these islands were given to the English King Charles
the Second, as a part of the wedding dowry for the Portuguese
princess, Catherine of Braganza. In 1668, Bombay was
given to the East India Company. This was the time when
foundation for a modern city was laid and Bombay eclipsed
other port cities of western India in trading activities.
In the 18th century, the city grew into a major port
as the shipbuilding industry was shifted to Bombay from
Surat. The American civil war led to the opening of
the Suez Canal and cotton began to be exported from
Bombay. Bombay played a formative role in the struggle
for Independence, hosting the first Indian National
Congress in 1885 and the launch of the Quit India Movement
in 1942. Bombay later became the capital of the Bombay
Presidency that had to be divided into Gujarat and Maharashtra
in 1966. "Bombay" was the name given to the
islands by the Portuguese. The word means "good
bay" in Portuguese. In 1996, Bombay officially
came to be known as Mumbai. The present name derives
from Mumbadevi, the goddess of the Kolis.
The Gateway of India was built in 1919 and opened to
public in 1924. The ceremonial arch was built in 1927
to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen
Mary for the Delhi Durbar in 1911. Historically, the
gateway holds greater significance as the last of the
British troops left Independent India by sea, marched
through its portals. It is situated on the Apollo Bunder.
Nine kilometers by sea from Gateway of India, a ferry
ride across the harbor takes one to the Elephanta Island.
A Shiva temple on the island is a fine example of excellence
in artisanship in rock-cut structures.
Built in 1914, the Prince of Wales Museum is surrounded
by a beautiful landscape forming an ideal getaway from
the bustle and hurry of the city. One of the bestmuseums
in the country, it is a treasure house of art, sculpture,
china, rare coins, and old firearms. It also had priceless
collection of miniature paintings.
Standing on a busy five-point intersection in the heart
of the commercial fort area, the Flora Fountain was
erected in the memory of Governor, Henry Bartle Edward
Frere.
Haji Ali’s Tomb is a mausoleum built in the memory
of Haji Ali, a Muslim saint who was drowned while on
pilgrimage to Mecca. It is accessible by a narrow causeway.
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