MUMBAI
Formerly Known As: Bombay
Famous As: Financial And Commercial Capital Of India
Best Time To Visit Mumbai: October To March
A MULTI FACED CITY - MUMBAI (BOMBAY)
Its
young, its lively and a confluence of varied cultural currents and cross
currents have given Mumbai a unique position of the most multi-ethnic city
of India. The capital city of
Maharashtra
State , formerly known as Bombay lies in the southwestern part of
India and occupies a peninsular site originally composed of seven islets
lying off the
Konkan
coast of western India. Oozing with the cocksure self-confidence of a
maverick moneymaker and "Bindass" (carefree) attitude, Mumbai is
also country's financial and commercial hub and has a principal port on
the Arabian Sea.
Yet, there's another face of Mumbai too that is of the most densely
populated cities in the world. Mumbai is located on a site of ancient
settlement and took its name from the local Goddess "Mumba" - a
form of Parvati, the consort of Shiva, one of the principal Gods of
Hinduism - whose temple once stood in what is now the southeastern section
of the Mumbai city.
Amchi Mumbai (Our Mumbai)
Whether one is being swept along broad boulevards by endless streams of
commuters, or jostled by coolies and handcart pullers in the teeming
bazaars, Mumbai always feels like it is about to burst at the seams.
Symbols of prosperity can be witnessed anywhere in the city of Bombay :
from the phalanx of the office blocks clustered on the Nariman Point,
Maharashtra's Manhattan, to the yuppie couples nipping around the town in
their shiny new cars.
A traditional centre of India, Mumbai offers an enticing range of
handwoven and handprinted silks and cottons as well as trendiest new
materials made from polyester fibres. The Imposing tower of Mumbai's Stock
Exchange building at Dalal Street is a well-known city landmark and plays
a vital role in the city's business scene. Nariman Point is a specimen of
the wonders modern building science can perform. Visitors usually
impressed by its sleek skyscrapers, which resemble Manhattan's skyline
have called this place "a piece of Manhattan transported to Mumbai".
On The Waterfront
The natural beauty of Mumbai is unsurpassed by that of any city in the
region. The entrance into the harbor from the sea discloses a magnificent
panorama framed by the Western Ghats (mountains) on the mainland. The wide
harbor, studded with islands and dotted with the white sails of
innumerable small craft, affords secure shelter to ships, particularly
when storms lash the coast. The largest of the harbor's islands is
Elephanta, which is famous for its 6th century cave temples.
Architectural Attractions of Mumbai
Mumbai's architecture is a mixture of florid Gothic styles, characteristic
of the 18th and 19th centuries, and contemporary designs. The older
administrative and commercial buildings intermingle with skyscrapers and
multi-storey concrete-block buildings. Within the eye of a roaring storm
of traffic, lie other vestiges of the British Raj, the 'maidans'. The
central Bazaar districts of Mumbai afford glimpses of the sprawling Muslim
neighbourhoods, as well as exotic shopping possibilities.
People And Cultural Life in Mumbai
Mumbai's cultural life reflects its ethnically diverse population. City
of Bombay is truly multicultural, and representatives of almost every
religion and region of the world can be found in Mumbai. Almost half of
the population is Hindu; but the city also encompasses important
communities of Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, Jains, Sikhs, Zoroastrians,
and Jews. The Jews form one the oldest group of occupants of Mumbai.
Almost every Indian language and many foreign languages are spoken over
here. Marathi, the State language, is the dominant Indian language in
Mumbai, followed by Gujarati and Hindi.
The city of Mumbai (Bombay) has a number of museums, libraries, literary
and other cultural institutions, art galleries, and theatres and perhaps
no other city in India can boast of such a high degree of variety and
quality in its cultural and entertainment facilities.
Mumbai is the stronghold of the Indian film industry. Throughout the year
Western and Indian music concerts and festivals and Indian dance shows are
performed in Bombay. The Prince of Wales Museum of Western India, housed
in a building of Indo-Saracenic architecture, contains three main sections
of art, archaeology, and natural history. Situated nearby are the
Jehangir
Art Gallery , Mumbai's first permanent art gallery, and center of
cultural and educational activities.
INFORMATION ON MUMBAI
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