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Mumbai, which was previously known as Bombay is
a major metropolitan city of India. It is the state capital of Maharashtra
. Bombay is known as the business capital of India, it being the
country's principal financial and communications centre
Mumbai formerly Bombay, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra.
As of 2009, Mumbai is the largest city in the world in terms of
population, with the city proper having a population of approximately
14 million inhabitants,[1] and along with the neighbouring cities
of Navi Mumbai and Thane, it forms an urban agglomeration with around
19 million people.[3] Mumbai lies on the west coast of India and
has a deep natural harbour.
The city of Bombay originally consisted of seven islands, namely
Colaba, Mazagaon, Old Woman's Island, Wadala, Mahim, Parel, and
Matunga-Sion. This group of islands, which have since been joined
together by a series of reclamations, formed part of the kingdom
of Ashoka, the famous Emperor of India.
.
Besides being the financial & commercial capital, it has one
of the largest cotton textile industries in the country. The biggest
& busiest port in India. It has the largest source of oil and
natural Gas. The largest stock exchange in India, and third largest
exchange in the world! Mumbai is also the capital of India's Pharmaceutical
Trade and Industry The city is a transit point- manufactured medicines
come into the city from all over India and are stored in what are
called central depots from where they are redistributed all over
the country. Many multinationals & mega corporate head offices
are located here, and the largest motion picture Industry in the
world is here
Bombay came under the direct rule of the British in 1861.
The first railway line in India was started between Bombay (VT)
and Thane in 1861.
In 1864, modern water supply was started in Bombay (Mumbai) and
in 1885, Bombay was lit with gas.
Most of the year, Mumbai's climate is warm and humid. Between November
and February, the skies are clear,and the temperature is cooler.
From March the temperature becomes warm and humid till mid June,
the beginning of monsoon. During monsoon there are torrential rains,
sometimes causing the flooding of major roads and streets of Mumbai.
The average rainfall which is brought by the south-west monsoon
winds in Mumbai is 180 cms. Monsoon ends by the end of September.
October is comparatively hot and humid.
Population: 14.8 Million and growing
Area :600 Sq. Kms.
Language Spoken : Marathi is the main language.
Also spoken Hindi, Gujarati and
English.
Rain Fall: Average 216 cm (June to Sept.
Altitude: Sea Level
Time Zone :Single Time Zone IST (Indian Standard Time)
The city of Bombay originally consisted of seven
islands, namely Colaba, Mazagaon, Old Woman's Island, Wadala, Mahim,
Parel, and Matunga-Sion. This group of islands, which have since
been joined together by a series of reclamations, formed part of
the kingdom of Ashoka, the famous Emperor of India.
Mumbai, which was previously known as Bombay
is a major metropolitan city of India. It is the state capital of
Maharashtra . Mumbai city is known as the business capital of India,
it being the country's principal financial and communications centre.
Besides being the financial & commercial capital,
it has one of the largest cotton textile industries in the country.
The biggest & busiest port in India. It has the largest source
of oil and natural Gas. The largest stock exchange in India, and
third largest exchange in the world! Mumbai is also the capital
of India's Pharmaceutical Trade and Industry The city is a transit
point- manufactured medicines come into the city from all over India
and are stored in what are called central depots from where they
are redistributed all over the country. Many multinationals &
mega corporate head offices are located here, and the largest motion
picture Industry in the world is here.
The polis has a historic tradition of strong civic
activism dedicated to the cause of a better life for all its citizens.
And it's the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM), the
primary agency responsible for urban governance in Greater Mumbai.
From the time of its establishment in 1882 as India's
first municipal corporation, numerous non-political groups, NGO's
and organizations of citizens have worked closely with the civic
body in the fields of education, public health, creation of urban
amenities, art and culture, heritage conservation, etc.
MCGM is one of the largest local governments in
the Asian continent.
Public transport systems in Mumbai include the
Bombay Suburban Railway, Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport
(BEST) buses, taxis, auto rickshaws, ferries and play a dominant
role. Rail and bus services combined carry about 88% of the passenger
traffic.Black and yellow metered taxis traverse most of the metropolis.
Auto rickshaws operate only in the suburban areas of Mumbai,while
taxis mostly operate in South Mumbai.Taxis and rickshaws run on
Compressed Natural Gas and are the most convenient,economical,and
easily available means of transport.
Mumbai is served by National Highway 3, National
Highway 4 and National Highway 8 of the Indian National Highways
system.The Mumbai-Pune Expressway was the first expressway ever
built in India,[178] while the Mumbai-Vadodara Expressway is under
construction.Recently, the Bandra-Worli Sea Link bridge was opened,
which along with Mahim Causeway, links the island city to the western
suburbs.The two main road stretches within the city are the Eastern
Express Highway from Sion to Thane, and the Western Express Highway
from Bandra to Borivali.The bus services carry over 5.5 million
passengers per day.Public buses run by BEST cover almost all parts
of the metropolis, as well as parts of Navi Mumbai, Mira-Bhayandar
and Thane.Buses are used for commuting short to medium distances,
while train fares are more economical for long distance commutes.The
BEST runs a total of 4,013 buses,ferrying 4.5 million passengers
dailyover 390 routes. Its fleet consists of single-decker, double-decker,
vestibule, low-floor, disabled-friendly, air-conditioned and the
Euro III compliant Compressed Natural Gas powered buses.Maharashtra
State Road Transport Corporation buses provide intercity transport
and connect Mumbai with other major cities of Maharashtra and India.The
Mumbai Darshan is a tourist bus service which explores numerous
tourist attractions in Mumbai.
Mumbai business Directory,Information
about Mumbai,Air Port,Banks,Best Services,Blood Bank,Doctors,Mumbai
metro rail projects,Real Estate,Education,Colleges, Colaba Area,Fort,Marine
Drive,Chowpatty Beach,Malabar Hill ,Hanging Gardens,Crawford Market,bazaars,mumbai
mirror
SIGHTSEEING IN MUMBAI
Mumbai is the city of Gold where one willing can
achieve his dreams. People from all parts of the country come and
try their luck here. This is the reason behind the cosmopolitan
and mixed population of the city. You will people of all caste,
culture and religion. The dressing, eating habits are a cross section
of the traditional beliefs and the new western influence. The urban
and educated people are greatly influenced by western culture.
Mumbai has much to see. Once a tiny island covered by palm trees
was used to belong to the native koli fisher-folk, who still live
here in their little villages surrounded by huge skyscrapers. In
the seventeenth century the Portuguese came and dotted the island
with several forts, which stand even today. In 1661, Mumbai was
finally ceded to Charles II of England and eventually became one
the largest ports in the British Empire.
The local language is Marathi, but Hindi is widely
used and known to all. Also as English is the medium of instruction
is offices, even the locals understand and can speak the basic words
to help a foreign tourist get around without much trouble.
Related links
Places in city
Colaba Area
Situated in South-Bombay, this is a tourist preferred location. It
has plenty of budget and mid-range hotels. The majestic Taj Mahal
Hotel has great views of the Gateway of India from its top floor Apollo
Bar. The streets behind the Taj Mahal Hotel are the travellers' centre
of Mumbai. The main drag of Colaba is plenty of street vendors, shops,
stalls and cafes.
Fort
The extravagant blend of Victorian gothic buildings in the Fort
district of Mumbai, supports the European roots of the city. This
lively area occupies the site of the old British built fort and
is the established commercial centre of Mumbai. It's jampacked with
commuters, street stalls and the 19th century British institutions
and trading houses. The Bombay Stock Exchange on the famous Dalal
Street is one of the many establishments.
Marine Drive
Built in 1920, Marine Drive runs along the shoreline of the Arabian
Sea from Nariman Point to the foot of Malabar Hill. It passes Chowpatty
Beach along the way. It's one of Mumbai's most popular romantic
spot and sunset view is amazing. Tourist brochures are fond of stating
it as the Queen's Necklace, because of the dramatic curve of its
streetlights at night.
If you're feeling energetic, a stroll down Marine Drive is possibly
the best way to discover Mumbai. This is a windswept promenade,
flanked by the sea and a row of art deco buildings. Looped between
the concrete jungle of Nariman Point, Mumbai's Manhattan, and the
leafy green slopes of Malabar hill, Marine Drive is sometimes called
the Queen's Necklace, strung with glittering street lights like
an enormous strand of imperious jewels. It is also one of Mumbai's
busiest roads, an important artery for the heavy suburban traffic
heading downtown. Cars whiz continually past the two mile stretch,
past huddled lovers, children and babies in perambulators. This
is where most of south Mumbai comes to breathe in some fresh air.
Chowpatty Beach
Mumbai's famous beach is no place for a sunbathe or taking a dip.
In fact, there's not much going on at Chowpatty at all during the
day, but in the evening it develops a magical atmosphere as locals
come to stroll among the balloon sellers, fortune tellers, magicians,
nut vendors, ferris wheels and shooting galleries. You might even
catch a film shoot or a street play. At one end is a row of bhelpuri
shops hawking Mumbai's most popular snack: crisp puffed rice and
semolina doused in pungent chutneys, all scooped up with a flat,
fried puri. Eating at the collection of stalls is an essential part
of the Mumbai experience. Chowpatty is a great place to witness
the annual Ganesh Chaturthi Festival in August/September when large
images of the Lord Ganesha are immersed in the sea. If you go to
Mumbai and have not gone to Chowpatty and enjoyed the beach-side
snacks then you have lost lots of fun.
Malabar Hill
The colonial bungalows that peppered the hillside in the 18th century
have now been replaced by the apartment blocks of Mumbai. The formal
Hanging Gardens (or Pherozeshah Mehta Gardens) on top of the hill,
offer the visitor a panoramic view of Bombay - the bay, the colorful
Chowpatty Beach immediately below,and the imposing buildings of
Nariman Point (Manhattan of India) reaching for the sky. And at
night, the Queen's Necklace is something to watch from the height.
Beside the Hanging Gardens, are the Parsi Towers of Silence. Parsis
hold fire, earth and water as sacred so do not cremate or bury their
dead. At the Parsi Towers of Silence, (not open to visitors) the
dead are exposed to elements.
Hanging Gardens
Perched at the top of Malabar Hill, on its western side, just opposite
the Kamala Nehru Park, these terraced gardens, also known as Ferozeshah
Mehta Gardens, provide lovely sunset views over the Arabian Sea.
The park was laid out in the early 1880s over Bombay's main reservoir,
some say to cover the water from the potentially contaminating activity
of the nearby Towers of Silence.
Crawford Market
The colourful indoor Crawford Market, north of CST (previously VT),
is the last outpost of British Bombay before the fever of the central
bazaars begins. It's a blend of Flemish and Norman architecture
with a bas relief depicting Indian peasants in wheat fields just
above the main entrance. The freize, incidentally, was designed
by Lockyard Kipling, father of the famous Rudyard Kipling, and the
Kiplings' cottage still stands next to the JJ School of Art across
the road. Now named after a local patriot called Jyotiba Phule,
Crawford Market looks like something out of Victorian London, with
its sweet smell of hay and 50 ft high skylit awning that bathes
the entire place in natural sunlight. It used to be the city's wholesale
produce market before this was strategically moved to New Bombay.
Today it's where central Mumbai goes shopping for its fruit, vegetables
and meat.
Kalbadevi
No visit to Mumbai is complete without a round into the bazaars
of Kalbadevi, north of Crawford Market. The narrow lanes of this
area are flooded in by laundry-draped chawls, and a huge mass of
people bring Mumbai's traffic to a standstill. It's in complete
contrast to the relative space, orderliness and modernity of South
Mumbai. The main areas are Zaveri Bazaar (jewellery), Mangaldas
Market (cloth), Dhabu St (leather goods) Mumbai's
Gateway Of India
The Gateway of India - a 26 mt. Triumphal Archway designed
Century to commemorate the visit of King Geoge and Queen Mary to
India in 1911 - is Mumbai's most famous landmark. Ironically, when
the Raj ended in 1947, this colonial symbol also became a sort of
epitaph: the last of the British ships that set sail for England
left from the Gateway.
Behind the arch, there are steps leading down to the water. Here,
you can get onto one of the bobbing little motor launches, for a
short cruise through Mumbai's splendid natural harbour.
Prince Charles Museum
Built in the Indo-Saracenic style of architecture to honour king
George V's visit to India. It has 3 main sections: Art , Archealogy
, & Natural History. It has a fine collection of Chinese Jade
pieces, oil paintings & miniature paintings.
Rajabai Clock Tower ( Mumbai University
)
Situated at the gardens of Mumbai university building, the Rajabai
Clock tower rises above the portion of the library section. Consisting
of 5 elaborately decorated storeys, the tower is 280 ft. In height
and commands a fine view of the city. From the ground are about
eight other statues depicting various Indian castes.
Haji Ali's Mosque
Situated in between the Arabian Sea, is a whitewashed fairytale
mosque containing the tomb of the Muslim saint Haji Ali.
Essel World
This is Mumbai's only international-style amusement centre situated
close to Gorai Beach. Special ferries get you across to the park
and the entrance fee normally takes care of a fixed number of rides.
These include the standard roller coaster and adventure themes,
plus a water world section where kids can literally run amok. Summer
is usually crowded, but the place also offers low budget monsoon
packages and special deals on weekends. Check these out before you
go.
Film City
Mockingly called Bollywood by locals, Film City clings to the outskirts
of the National Park, and is practically overrun by assorted stars
and starlets -- the demi gods and goddesses of modern India. Bollywood
churns out over 900 films every year, all packed with those mandatory
elements of song, dance, melodrama, violence and erotica that audiences
love. Which is probably why Film City sets are heavily booked around
the year. They are closed to visitors, but special permissions can
always be obtained to check out the action.
Juhu beach
Like Chowpatty, its downtown counterpart, uptown Juhu Beach is also
a bourgeois paradise, filled to the gills with screaming children,
courting couples and rowdy adolescents. If you want a more fancy
excursion, however, retreat behind Juhu's many five star hotels,
for a steaming cup of coffee and a splendid view of the coast. The
most popular of these beachfront hotels are the Sun and Sand and
Holiday Inn. The government run Juhu Centaur also has a 24 hour
coffee shop with a view of the sea.
The Mumbai Suburban Railway system, part of the
public transport system of Mumbai, is provided for by the state-run
Indian Railways' two zonal Western Railways and Central Railways.
The system carries more than 6.9 million commuters on a daily basis.
It has one of the highest passenger densities of any urban railway
system in the world. The trains plying on its routes are commonly
referred to as local trains or simply as locals by the general populace.
The Mumbai Suburban Railway, as well as Indian
Railways, are an offshoot of the first railway to be built by the
British in India in April 1853, and was also the oldest railway
system in Asia. The first train ran between Mumbai and Thane, a
distance of 34 km. The Bombay Railway History Group[1] has been
striving to document railway heritage along this line.
Due to the geographical spread of the population
and location of business areas, the rail network is the principal
mode of mass transport in Mumbai. As Mumbai's population swelled
from a heavy inflow of migrants in recent decades, frequent overcrowding
has become a serious issue, and numerous safety concerns have been
raised over the years. A metro system and a monorail system are
under construction in Mumbai to ease the travelling conditions in
the Suburban network.
Western lineTwo corridors (one local and the other through) on Western
Railway run northwards from Churchgate terminus parallel to the
west coast up to Dahanu Road (120 km). These corridors are popularly
referred to as 'Western Line' by the locals mainly because it is
operated and owned by the Western Railways. Electric Multiple Units
(EMUs) ply between Churchgate and Virar (64 km), while Mainline
Electrical Multiple Units (MEMUs) service the section beyond Virar
till Dahanu Road (60 km). MEMUs also operate between Dahanu Road
and Panvel via a branch line from Vasai Road. There are EMU carsheds
at Mumbai Central and Kandivali. An EMU carshed is under construction
between Nala Sopara and Virar which will be the largest carshed
in Asia. A repair shop for EMUs is situated at Mahalaxmi. Western
railway's EMU fleet consists of EMUs running on AC (25 kV) power.
EMUs are 9 car, 12 car or 15 car formations and are differentiated
as slow and fast locals. Slow trains halt at all stations, while
fast ones halt at important stations only and are preferable over
longer distances
Stations on Western line(Names in bold
indicate that the station is a fast train stop.)
Churchgate, Marine Lines, Charni Road, Grant Road,
Mumbai Central, Mahalaxmi, Lower Parel, Elphinstone Road, Dadar,
Matunga Road, Mahim Junction, Bandra, Khar Road, Santacruz, Vile
Parle, Andheri, Jogeshwari, Goregaon, Malad, Kandivali, Borivali,
Dahisar, Mira Road, Bhayandar, Naigaon, Vasai Road, Nala Sopara,
Virar, Vaitarna, Saphale, Kelve Road, Palghar, Umroli, Boisar, Vangaon,
Dahanu Road
Churchgate station is the Terminus station at the
South End of Mumbai City. In Mumbai, Western Railway (WR) Suburban
trains use this station as terminus. Long distance trains and goods
trains do not use this station.
Above list of stations is mentioned from South
end going towards North suburban areas falling on WR corridor.
Newly built Andheri Station East SideDue to South - North corridor
of Mumbai suburban railway, the suburban areas are generally classified
into East side and West side. E.g. Bandra (East) & Bandra (West),
Andheri (East) & Andheri (West) etc.
A new station between Goregaon and Jogeshwari,
namely Oshiwara, will be functional soon.
Central line
Automatic Ticket Vending MachineThe Central Line
in Mumbai consists of 3 major corridors, which bifurcate as they
run into suburban satellite towns. Two corridors (one local and
other through) on Central Railway run from Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus
(CST) to Kalyan (54 km), from where it bifurcates into two lines
— one running up to Kasara (67 km) in the north-east and the
other running up to Khopoli (61 km) in the south-east. These two
corridors constitute the 'Main' Line. The Central main line shares
two stations with the Western line at Parel and Dadar. They consist
of a fleet of DC as well as dual-powered EMUs. The major car sheds
on this line are at Kurla and Kalwa. There are fast and slow locals
here for suburban service. Slow locals halt at every station, while
fast locals halts vary between Byculla, Dadar, Kurla, Ghatkopar,
Vikhroli, Bhandup, Mulund, Thane, Dombivali and Kalyan. All services
plying beyond Kalyan run slow. Trains usually start from and terminate
at important stations.
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