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The capital city of Maharashtra is Mumbai. Mumbai is also known as the financial, entertainment and commercial capital of India. Mumbai was also known as Bombay, until 1995. The name Mumbai originated from a Portuguese author who referred to the location as “Bom Baim,” which translates to “good little bay.” The term “Mumbai” is believed to have been derived from the area’s local goddess, ‘Mumba Devi’. The city is located near India’s West coast of Konkon and serves as the platform of natural ports. Mumbai is also famous for being the hub for the creation of Bollywood films and Television series. In this blog, we will get to know more about what is the capital city of Maharashtra and an overview of Mumbai, the capital city of Maharashtra.
Table of Contents
Mumbai: An Overview
In 2008, Mumbai received the prestigious title of being the world’s alpha city. It is famous for its wealthy nature and fast-paced lifestyle, along with having India’s highest population of billionaires and millionaires residing in Mumbai.
- The seven islands of Mumbai have been the dwelling places for the fishing communities of the Koli people for centuries.
- Historically, these islands were ruled by various local kingdoms before falling under Portuguese control and later the East India Company.
- By the mid-18th century, Bombay underwent a major transformation with the Hornby Vellard plan, which reclaimed land from the sea to expand its area.
- This development was further seen by the construction of major railways and roads and a major renovation project in 1845, which turned Bombay into India’s premier seaport along the Arabian Sea coast.
Economy of Mumbai: The Finance Capital
Mumbai is a major megacity in India. Here is what makes it stand out:
- According to the 2011 Indian Census, the city of Mumbai has the highest population in the country.
- On a global scale, Mumbai ranks 8th in the world for the number of millionaires and billionaires.
- The city has three UNESCO World Heritage sites: Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, or CST and Elephanta Caves.
- Mumbai contributes 6% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
- It is also responsible for 70% of India’s maritime commerce.
- Mumbai also contributes to India’s industrial production, representing 25% of the nation’s industrial output.
- The city is a hub for premier research and educational institutions.
- Mumbai generates Rs 4,000 crore in corporate tax revenue.
- It is the leading city in India for foreign trade, accounting for 40%.
- Mumbai is the source of 33% of the country’s income tax revenue.
- In the manufacturing sector, it provides 10% of factory jobs.
- Mumbai is the base for many of India’s major corporations and Fortune 500 companies.
- The key sectors driving Mumbai’s economy include entertainment, automobile manufacturing, petrochemicals, electronics, Information Technology (IT), textiles, leather processing, finance and gems and jewellery.
- The city’s major financial districts include Bandra Kurla Complex and Nariman Point.
- The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) is situated in Mumbai and is known as the oldest stock exchange in Asia.
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Interesting Facts About Mumbai
Some of the interesting facts about Mumbai are –
- As previously stated, the city of Mumbai is named after its native god, ‘Mumba Devi’. In this context, the name is derived from the two components ‘Mumba’, referring to the goddess, and ‘aai’, which translates to ‘mother’.
- Even though the city is filled with riches, Mumbai houses one of the world’s largest slums. Dharavi, in particular, is where between 700,000 to 1,000,000 individuals reside. It holds the title of the largest slum in Asia and ranks as the fourth-largest slum globally.
- In 1661, Bombay was given as part of a dowry present to Charles II of England by King John IV of Portugal – Charles was set to wed his daughter, Catherine of Braganza. The Portuguese governed the seven islands of Bombay from 1534 to 1665.
- Mumbai is known as the first city to introduce bus service in India.
Dharavi Slum
World’s Largest Slums situated in Mumbai.
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Maharashtra: An Overview
Here is an overview of the state of Maharashtra are –
- In India, Maharashtra ranks third in terms of land size.
- It holds the position of having the second-highest number of inhabitants in the country.
- Marathi serves as the designated language for official use in Maharashtra.
- The state is divided into 36 districts.
- The two rivers, Godavari and Krishna, pass through Maharashtra.
- The Arabian Sea is located to the west of Maharashtra.
- The neighbouring states of Maharashtra are – Karnataka, Goa, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana.
- The union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu is situated to the northwest of Maharashtra.
FAQs
Rajgad Fort – Rajgad, which translates to “Ruling Fort,” is a hilltop fortress located in the Pune district of Maharashtra, India. Previously called Murumbdev, this fort served as the initial capital of the Maratha Empire during the reign of Chhatrapati Shivaji for nearly two decades, following which it became the new capital at Raigad Fort.
Maharashtra is home to two main cities — Mumbai and Nagpur — with Pune serving as the state’s winter capital. This distinction arises from the States Reorganisation Act of 1956, which resulted in India being partitioned according to linguistic lines.
What is the old name of Mumbai?
In 1995, Mumbai reclaimed its original name from being referred to as Bombay throughout the British colonial era. The term Bombay was likely derived from an Anglicized version of Mumbai or possibly from Bom Baim (“Good Harbour”), which was believed to be a Portuguese term for the area.
What is the old name of Nagpur?
The name “Nagpur” was once known as “Fanindrapura”. This name comes from the Marathi term fana (फण; which refers to the hood of a cobra). The city’s initial newspaper was called Fanindramani, translating to a precious gem thought to hang above a cobra’s hood. Pune is also called the “Orange City”.
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