Mumbai has lived upto the reputation for which it was established. It is a city built by the residents of the city. Mumbai is more than a cosmopolitan made of concrete buildings.
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.
In the 18th century Mumbai grew rapidly and it also became one of the leading centers for the activists in the freedom struggle. Britishers played their role by shifting the presidency from Surat to Bombay, the former name of Mumbai. Also, the first railway line on which train moved was laid between Bombay and Thane.
Bombay played a formative role in shaping the freedom struggle. It hosted the first Indian National Congress and was also a venue for the declaration of 'Quit India' by Gandhiji. Today Mumbai is the capital of Maharashtra. Bombay was re-named as Mumbai in 1996.
It is a city which never sleeps, its streets are never empty. The factories and mills of operate day and night to meet the growing demands, their efforts has made Mumbai the commercial capital of India.
The marvelous natural port of Mumbai is fit for handling an ever expanding world trade. The city situated on the edge of Arabian sea has some thing or other to offer to every body but one has to struggle to achieve that and one who is left behind parishes in the race of life in Mumbai with no one to care for.
For decades the city has attracted migrants who come here to earn bread, many fail and those who survive are absorbed in the pace of Mumbai.
How to Reach Mumbai
By Air: Mumbai is an international airport. Many international airlines operate flights to Mumbai from various parts of the world. Indian Airlines and many private airlines connect Mumbai with all major tourist centres in India.
By Rail: Mumbai is the headquarters of the Cent6ral and Western Railways. Regualr trains connect it with all major cities like Aghamedabad, Aurangabad, Bangalore, Bhopal, Calcutta, Delhi, Goa, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Madras, Nagapur and Trivandrum.
By Road: Mumbai is connected by good motorable roads with all major tourist centres
Important Road Distances:
PUNE 163 KM
(Via) Panvel 5km
NASIK 184 KM
MAHABALESHWAR 239 KM
(Via) Mhad179km
SHIRDI 307KM
(Via)nasik184km
AURANGABAD 392 KM
(Via)Pune 163km, Ahmedmagar 120km
VADOORA 432KM
(Via)Bharuch 357km
AHAMEDABAD 545KM
(Via)Vadodara 432km
PANAJI (GOA 597KM
HYDERABAD 711 KM
BANGALORE 998 KM
Places to Visit in Maharashtra