Mumbai, named after the local goddess Mumba (ai means mother in Marathi), is built on a long, thin island just off the west coast of Maharashtra and linked to the mainland by causeways. It's India's big-money business centre, and where the beautiful people hang out. Built on elegant colonial foundations are flashy skyscrapers and designer boutiques, which give it cool, glitz and glamour. As one of the key ports on the Indian Ocean trade routes, foreigners have been visiting here since Ptolemy arrived in 150 AD. The Portuguese took the area over from the Sultan of Gujarat in 1534, and then gave it away as a wedding present to Charles II of England in 1661 when he married Catherine of Braganza. In 1668, it was handed over to the fledgling East India Company under which it flourished.
Mumbai was given by Portuguese as dowry to Charles II of England when he married Catherine. The group of seven island was leased to the East India Company who offered freedom of business and religion to persons who came and settled here. Initially a few Parsis and Gujarati came but soon a sizeable population began to thrive here. This was way back in the 17th century. Today also Mumbai is a city of migrants. People from all over the country have come and settled here. This gives the society of Mumbai a multi-lingual and multi-cultural colour.
Palaces to Visit
The Gateway of India : The ceremonial arch was built to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary. Complete with four turrets and intricate latticework carved into the yellow basalt stone, Gateway of India is the most famous monument and starting point for most tourists who want to explore the city. It is situated on the Apollo Bunder.
Elephanta Island : Elephanta Cave Island - 10 Kms across Bombay harbour is a small island called Elephanta or Gharpure. It contains a fine cluster of 6th-8th century rock cut caves. The sculptures are beatifully executed and the most outstanding of these is the Mahesmurthy or Trimurthi, a five metre (18 ft) high three headed bust hewn from a single rock. Representing the three aspects of Shiva, viz. The creator. The preserver and the destroyer.
Prince of Wales Museum : Built in 1914, the Prince of Wales Museum is surrounded by a beautiful landscape making an ideal getaway from the busy lifestyle of the city. One of the best museums in the country, it is a treasure house of art, sculpture, china, rare coins, and old firearms. It also houses priceless collection of miniature paintings.
Marine Drive : Overlooking the Marine Drive are the beautiful Kamala Nehru Park and the Hanging Gardens. This is one most ideal place to hangout in the evening.
Chattrapati Shivaji Terminus : Chattrapati Shivaji Terminus is an imposing structure formerly known as Victoria Terminus. Built in 1888, designed by Frederick William Stevenson, the entire façade is covered by sculpture of animals and birds.
A visit to the film studios in Mumbai is easy to arrange — just tell the tourist office you'd like to see a film being made and they'll fix it all up for you. It's a real education, as we found when we turned up at Famous Film Studios. For a start the film production company and the studios are totally separate. Mumbai has about 12 studios and far more film makers. When they want to make a film they simply hire the studio by the day. Nor are Indian films made one-at-a-time as in the west. A big star could be involved in a number of films simultaneously — shooting a day on one, a week on another, a morning on a third. This involves phenomenal scheduling and also means that Indian films generally take a long time to make.
A glance at Indian film posters or film magazines gives you the impression that Indian movie actors are a band of escapees from weight watchers. Well there's no glamour in being thin in India. Every beggar on the street is skinny; it's the well padded look which appeals. It's amsuing to see how this works on western films shown in India — familiar European and American film stars become remarkably rotund when they're repainted for the Indian posters.
The entertainment industry is the other major employer in Mumbai. Most of India's major television and satellite networks are headquartered in Mumbai, as well as its major publishing houses. The centre of the Hindi movie industry, Bollywood, is also located in Mumbai, along with its largest studios and movie production houses.
