What is Mumbai?

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Mumbai Maharashtra • India

Nariman Point & Cuffe Parade from Girgaum Chowpatti (beach) Nariman Point & Cuffe Parade from Girgaum Chowpatti (beach)

Mumbai

Coordinates:

Area • Elevation| | 603.45 km (0 sq mi) •  m ( ft)

District(s)| | • Mumbai City • Mumbai Suburban

Municipal commissioner| style="border-top: 2px dotted #DCDCDC;" | Jairaj Phatak

Mayor| | Shubha Raul

Website: www.mcgm.gov.in

Coordinates:

Mumbai (Marathi: मुंबई Mumbaī, IPA: /'mumbəi/ (helpinfo)), formerly known as Bombay, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. With an estimated population of about 13 million, it is the largest metropolis in India and one of the most populous cities in the world.^[1]

Located off the west coast of India, the city has a deep natural harbour. Mumbai handles over half of India's passenger traffic and a significant amount of cargo.^[2]

Mumbai is the commercial and entertainment capital of India, and houses important financial institutions, such as the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), the National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) and the corporate headquarters of many Indian companies. Mumbai attracts migrants from all over India because of the immense employment opportunities and the relatively high standard of living, but most end up living in shanties. The city is home to India's Hindi film and television industry, known as Bollywood. Mumbai is also one of the few cities that accommodates a national park, the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, within its city limits.

Names

The name Mumbai is an eponym, etymologically derived from Mumba or Maha-Amba— the name of the Hindu goddess Mumbadevi, and Aai — mother in Marathi.^[3] The former name Bombay had its origins in the 16th century when the Portuguese arrived in the area and called the place with various names, which would finally take on the written form Bombaim, still common in current Portuguese use. After the British gained possession in the 17th century, it was anglicised to Bombay, although it was known as Mumbai or Mambai to Marathi and Gujarati-speakers, and as Bambai in Hindi, Urdu, and Persian.^[4] However, even Marathi and Gujarati-speakers commonly used "Bombay" when speaking in English.^[5] The name was officially changed to Marathi pronunciation of Mumbai in 1995. A widespread explanation of the origin of the traditional English name Bombay holds that it would be derived from a Portuguese name meaning good bay.^[6] This is based on the fact that bom (masc.) is Portuguese for good whereas the English word bay is similar to the Portuguese baía (fem., bahia in old spelling). The normal Portuguese rendering of good bay would have been boa bahia rather than the grammatically incorrect bom bahia. However, it is possible to find the form baim (masc.) for little bay in sixteen century Portuguese.

Other sources have a different origin for the Portuguese toponym Bombaim. José Pedro Machado's Dicionário Onomástico Etimológico da Língua Portuguesa ("Portuguese Dictionary of Onomastics and Etymology") mentions what is probably the first Portuguese reference to the place, dated from 1516, as Benamajambu or Tena-Maiambu,^[7] pointing out that "maiambu"' seems to refer to Mumba-Devi, the Hindu goddess after which the place is named in Marathi (Mumbai). In that same century the spelling seems to have evolved to Mombayn (1525)^[8] and then Mombaim (1563).^[9] The final form Bombaim appears later in the 16th century, as recorded by Gaspar Correia in his Lendas da Índia ("Legends of India").^[10] J.P. Machado seems to reject the "Bom Bahia" hypothesis, asserting that Portuguese records mentioning the presence of a bay at the place led the English to assume that the noun (bahia, "bay") was an integral part of the Portuguese toponym, hence the English version Bombay, adapted from Portuguese.^[11]

History

Main article: History of Mumbai

Present Mumbai was originally an archipelago of seven islands. Artefacts found near Kandivali, in northern Mumbai indicate that these islands had been inhabited since the Stone Age. Documented evidence of human habitation dates back to 250 BCE, when it was known as Heptanesia (Ptolemy) (Ancient Greek: A Cluster of Seven Islands). In the 3rd century BCE, the islands formed part of the Maurya Empire, ruled by the Buddhist emperor, Aşoka. During the first few centuries of our era, control over Mumbai was disputed between the Indo-Scythian Western Satraps and the Satavahanas. The Hindu rulers of the Silhara Dynasty later governed the islands until 1343, when the kingdom of Gujarat annexed them. Some of the oldest edifices of the archipelago – the Elephanta Caves and the Walkeshwar temple complex date from this era.

In 1534, the Portuguese appropriated the islands from Bahadur Shah of Gujarat. They were ceded to Charles II of England in 1661, as dowry for Catherine de Braganza. These islands, were in turn leased to the British East India Company in 1668 for a sum of £10 per annum. The company found the deep harbour on the east coast of the islands to be ideal for setting up their first port in the sub-continent. The population quickly rose from 10,000 in 1661, to 60,000 in 1675; In 1687, the British East India Company transferred its headquarters from Surat to Bombay. The city eventually became the headquarters of the Bombay Presidency. From 1817 onwards, the city was reshaped with large civil engineering projects aimed at merging all the islands in the archipelago into a single amalgamated mass. This project, known as the Hornby Vellard, was completed by 1845, and resulted in the total area swelling to 438 km². In 1853, India's first passenger railway line was established, connecting Bombay to the town of Thane. During the American Civil War (1861–1865), the city became the world's chief cotton trading market, resulting in a boom in the economy and subsequently enhancing the city's stature.

The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 transformed Bombay into one of the largest seaports on the Arabian Sea.^[12] Over the next thirty years, the city grew into a major urban centre, spurred by an improvement in infrastructure and the construction of many of the city's institutions. The population of the city swelled to one million by 1906, making it the second largest in India after Calcutta. As capital of the Bombay Presidency, it was a major base for the Indian independence movement, with the Quit India Movement called by Mahatma Gandhi in 1942 being its most rubric event. After India's independence in 1947, it became the capital of Bombay State. In the 1950 the city expanded to its present limits by incorporating parts of Salsette island which lay to the north.

After 1955, when the State of Bombay was being reorganised along linguistic lines into the states of Maharashtra and Gujarat, there was a demand that the city be constituted as an autonomous city-state. However, the Samyukta Maharashtra movement opposed this, and insisted that Mumbai be declared the capital of Maharashtra. Following a successful protests in which 105 people were killed by police firing, Maharashtra state was formed with Mumbai as its capital on May 1, 1960. The late 1970s witnessed a construction boom and a significant influx of migrants, which saw Mumbai overtake Kolkata as India's most populous city. This led to the creation of the Shiv Sena by Balasaheb Thackeray, a political outfit safeguarding the rights of bhumiputra (sons of soil) in 1966. The city's secular fabric was torn apart in the riots of 1992–93, after large scale sectarian violence caused extensive loss of life and property. A few months later, on March 12, a series of co-ordinated bombings at several city landmarks by the Mumbai underworld killed around three hundred people. In 1995, the city was renamed Mumbai by the Shiv Sena government of Maharashtra, in keeping with their policy of renaming colonial institutions after historic local appellations. There have also been bomb explosions on public transport buses in the past couple of years. In 2006, Mumbai was also the site of a major terrorist attack in which over two hundred people were killed when several bombs exploded almost simultaneously on the Mumbai Suburban Railway.^[13]

See also:

Geography

Main article: Geography of Mumbai

Mumbai is located on seven islands (see seven islands of Bombay) which are Isle of Bombay, Mazagaon, Colaba,Old Woman's Island, Parel, Worli, and Salsette Island. Bombay lies at the mouth of Ulhas River off the western coast of India, in the coastal region known as the Konkan. Much of Mumbai is just above sea level, and the average elevation ranges from 10 m (33 ft) to 15 m (49 ft). Northern Mumbai is hilly, and the highest point in the city is 450 metres (1,450 feet).^[14] Mumbai spans a total area of 603 km² (233 sq mi).

Five lakes supply water to Mumbai: Lakes Vihar, Vaitarna, Powai, Tulsi and Tansa. Tulsi Lake, Vihar Lake and Powai Lake are located within the metropolitan limits, the first two being located within the Borivali National Park, and supply part of the city's drinking water. Mumbai also has three small rivers within the city limits originating in the National Park. The coastline of the city is indented with numerous creeks and bays. The eastern coast of Salsette Island is covered with large mangrove swamps, rich in biodiversity. On the western coast there are two famous beaches, named Juhu beach and Girgaum Chowpatti.

Soil cover in the city region is predominantly sandy due to its proximity to the sea. In the suburbs, the soil cover is largely alluvial and loamy. The underlying rock of the region is composed of black Deccan basalt flows, and their acid and basic variants dating back to the late Cretaceous and early Eocene eras. Mumbai sits on a seismically active zone^[15] owing to the presence of three fault lines in the vicinity. The area is classified as a Zone III region, which means an earthquake of up to magnitude 6.5 on the Richter-scale may be expected.

Mumbai is classified as a metropolis of India, under the jurisdiction of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. It consists of two distinct regions — the city and the suburbs, which also form two separate districts of Maharashtra. The city region is also commonly referred to as the Island City.^[16]

See also:

Climate

Main article: Weather of Mumbai

The climate of the city, being in the tropical zone, and near the Arabian Sea, may be broadly classified into two main seasons — the humid season, and the dry season. The humid season, between March and October, is characterized by high humidity and temperatures of over 30 °C (86 °F). The monsoon rains lash the city between June and September, and supply most of the city's annual rainfall of 2,200 mm (85 inches). The maximum annual rainfall ever recorded was 3,452 mm (135.89 inches) in 1954.^[17] The highest rainfall recorded in a single day was 944 mm (37.16 inches) on 2005-07-26.^[18]

The dry season, between November and February, is characterized by moderate levels of humidity and warm to cool weather. Cold northerly winds are responsible for a mild chill during January and February. Annual temperatures range from a high of 38 °C (100 °F) to a low of 11 °C (52 °F). The record high is 43.3 °C (110 °F) and record low is 7.4 °C (45 °F) on 1962-01-22.^[19]

Economy

Main article: Economy of Mumbai

Mumbai serves as an important economic hub of the country, contributing 10% of all factory employment, 40% of all income tax collections, 60% of all customs duty collections, 20% of all central excise tax collections, 40% of India's foreign trade and Rupees 40 billion (US$ 9 billion) in corporate taxes.^[20] Mumbai's per-capita income is Rs.48,954 which is almost three times the national average.^[21]

Many of India's numerous conglomerates (including State Bank Of India, Tata Group, Godrej and Reliance), and four of the Fortune Global 500 companies are based in Mumbai. Many foreign banks and financial institutions also have branches in this area. Up until the 1980s, Mumbai owed its prosperity largely to textile mills and the seaport, but the local economy has since been diversified to include engineering, diamond-polishing, healthcare and information technology.

Mumbai’s status as the state capital means that state and central government employees make up a large percentage of the city's workforce. Mumbai also has a large unskilled and semi-skilled labour population, who primarily earn their livelihood as hawkers, taxi drivers, mechanics and other such blue collar professions. The port and shipping industry, too, employs many residents, directly or indirectly. The media industry is another major employer in Mumbai. Most of India's major television and satellite networks, as well as its major publishing houses, are headquartered here. The centre of the Hindi movie industry, Bollywood, is located in Mumbai, and the name Bollywood is a portmanteau of Bombay and Hollywood, the center of the American film industry. Marathi television and Marathi film industry are also based in Mumbai.

Along with the rest of India, Mumbai, its commercial capital, has witnessed an economic boom since the liberalisation of 1991, the finance boom in the mid nineties and the IT, export, services and BPO boom in this decade. The middle class in Mumbai is the segment most impacted by this boom and is the driver behind the consequent consumer boom. Upward mobility among Mumbaikars has led to a direct increase in consumer spending.

Mumbai has been ranked 10th among the world's biggest centres of commerce in terms of the financial flow volumes in a survey compiled by Mastercard Worldwide, which takes into consideration size of financial services network besides equity, bond, derivatives and commodity contract transactions.

Civic administration

Main article: Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation

City officials
Mayor	Shubha Raul	March 10, 2007
Municipal Commis.	Jairaj Phatak	May 04, 2007
Sheriff	Post vacant

The city is administered by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) (formerly the Bombay Municipal Corporation), with executive power vested in the Municipal Commissioner, who is an IAS officer appointed by the state government. The Corporation comprises 227 directly elected Councillors representing the twenty four municipal wards,^[22] five nominated Councillors, and a titular Mayor. The BMC is in charge of the civic and infrastructure needs of the metropolis. An Assistant Municipal Commissioner oversees each ward for administrative purposes. Almost all the field candidates in the elections for Councillors.

The Greater Mumbai forms two districts of Maharashtra, with each district under the jurisdiction of a District Collector. The Collectors are in charge of property records and revenue collection for the Central Government, and oversee the national elections held in the city.

The Mumbai Police is headed by a Police Commissioner, who is an IPS officer. The Mumbai Police comes under the state Home Ministry. The city is divided into seven police zones and seventeen traffic police zones, each headed by a Deputy Commissioner of Police. The Traffic Police is a semi-autonomous body under the Mumbai Police.

Mumbai is the seat of the Bombay High Court, which exercises jurisdiction over the states of Maharashtra and Goa, and the Union Territories of Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli. Mumbai also has two lower courts, the Small Causes Court for civil matters, and the Sessions Court for criminal cases.

The city elects six members to the Lok Sabha and thirty-four members to the Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha (State assembly).

Transport

Main article: Public transport in Mumbai

Most of Mumbai's inhabitants rely on public transport to travel to and from their workplace. Transport systems in Mumbai include the suburban railway, BEST busses, taxis, auto rickshaws, ferries, hovercrafts,^[23] and airplanes.

The city is the headquarters of two railway zones – the Central Railway (CR) headquartered at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly known as Victoria Terminus), and the Western Railway (WR) headquartered near Churchgate. The backbone of the city's transport, the Mumbai Suburban Railway, is composed of three separate networks running the length of the city, in a north-south direction. The Western Railway runs along the western region of the city, while the Central Railway covers most of the central and northeast parts of the metropolis. Both lines extend into the exurbs, each covering a total one-way length of around 125 km. The Harbour Line is a sub-division of the Central Railway, covering a distance of 54 km (34 mi) along the south-eastern section of the city, near the docks, and extending into Navi Mumbai (New Mumbai). The Mumbai Metro is an underground and elevated railway system that is currently under construction. It will run from Versova to Andheri to Ghatkopar when the first phase is completed in 2009. Mumbai is well connected by the Indian Railways to most parts of India through trains that originate from Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus), Dadar, Lokmanya Tilak Terminus, Mumbai Central and Bandra terminus. Mumbai's suburban rail systems carry a total of 2.2 billion passengers every year, one third of the world's population. Public buses run by BEST (an autonomous body under the BMC) cover almost all parts of the metropolis, as well as parts of Navi Mumbai 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 3,400 buses,^[24] ferrying 4.5 million passengers over 340 routes. Its fleet consists of single-decker, double-decker, vestibule, low-floor and air-conditioned buses. BEST launched 'disabled friendly' buses on exclusive routes that have low ramps and space for wheelchairs.^[25]

Black and yellow-metered taxis traverse most of the metropolis. They can accommodate up to four passengers with luggage. Cool Cabs are blue, air-conditioned taxis that provide a comfortable ride but cost a little more. Gold Cabs, a new luxury service launched recently, are air conditioned and GPS enabled and provide audio and video entertainment.^[26]

Auto rickshaws operate in the suburban areas of Mumbai. Rickshaws run on Compressed Natural Gas, are the main form of hired transport. These three-wheeled vehicles are a quick way to get around. They are the cheapest form of hired transport and can accommodate up to three passengers

Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (formerly, Sahar International Airport) is the busiest airport in India, and caters to cargo and passenger flights. It has two distinct terminals - the domestic terminal commonly called Santacruz Airport situated between the suburbs of Vile Parle and Santacruz, and the international terminal (still popularly called Sahar Airport) situated in the eastern Andheri suburbs. The Juhu aerodrome was India's first airport, and now hosts a flying club and a heliport. The proposed Navi Mumbai International Airport which is to be built in the Kopra-Panvel area, has been sanctioned by the Government and would help relieve the increasing traffic burden on the existing airport. Mumbai single handedly handles about 25% of the domestic and 38% of the international air passenger traffic in the country.<ref name="mtdc" />

With its unique topography, Mumbai has one of the best natural harbours in the world, handling 50% of the country's passenger traffic, and much of India's cargo.^[27] It is also an important base for the Indian Navy, being the headquarters of the Western Naval Command.^[28] Ferries from Ferry Wharf allow cheap access to islands and beaches in the area.

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Utility services

The BMC supplies potable water to the city, most of which comes from the Tulsi and Vihar lakes, as well as a few lakes further north. The water is filtered at Bhandup, which is Asia's largest water filtration plant. The BMC is also responsible for the road maintenance and garbage collection in the city. Almost all of Mumbai's daily refuse of 7,800 metric tonnes^[29] is transported to dumping grounds in Gorai in the northwest, Mulund in the northeast, and Deonar in the east. Sewage treatment is carried out at Worli and Bandra, and disposed off by two independent marine outfalls of 3.4 km (0 mi) and 3.7 km (0 mi) at Bandra and Worli respectively. A third outfall at Malad is in the planning stages.

Electricity is provided by BEST in the city, and by Reliance Energy, Tata Power, and Mahavitaran (Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Co. Ltd) in the suburbs. Most of the city's electricity is hydroelectric and nuclear based. Consumption of electricity is growing faster than production capacity. The largest telephone service provider is the state-owned MTNL, which held a monopoly over fixed line and cellular services up until 2000, and provides fixed line as well as mobile WLL services. Cell phone coverage is extensive, and the main service providers are Vodafone Essar, Airtel, BPL group, Reliance Communications and Tata Indicom. Both GSM and CDMA services are available in the city. Broadband internet penetration is increasing in the city, with MTNL and Tata being the leading service providers.

Since 1995, many parts of the city also have access to piped gas, provided by Mahanagar Gas Limited, which also provides compressed natural gas to 127 gas stations.

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Demographics

According to the 2001 census, the population of Mumbai is about 13 million,^[30] with the population of the urban agglomerate exceeding 16 million.^[31] The World Gazetteer estimates the 2007 population of the metropolis and the surrounding agglomeration to be 13 and 20 million respectively.^[31][31] The population density is estimated to be about 22,000 persons per square kilometre. There are 875 females to every 1,000 males – which is lower than the national average, a situation common in Indian cities as many men migrate to cities from rural areas leaving women and children behind.

The religions represented in Mumbai include Hindus (68% of the population), Muslims (17% of the population), and Christians and Jains (4% each). The remainder are Parsis, Buddhists, Sikhs, Jews and atheists.^[32]

According to the 1991 census, the ethnic groups demographics are - Maharashtrians (42%), Gujaratis (18%), North Indian (21%), Tamil people (3%), Sindhis (3%), Kannadigas (5%) and others.

Mumbai has a large polyglot population like any other metropolitan city of India. Marathi, the official language of Maharashtra state is widely spoken. Other languages spoken are Hindi and English. A colloquial form of Hindi, known as Bambaiya – a blend of Marathi, Hindi, Indian English and some invented colloquial words are spoken on the streets. English is extensively spoken, and is the principal language of the city's white collar workforce. The overall literacy rate of the city is above 86%, higher than the national average.^[33] Like other metropolises in the developing world, Mumbai suffers from the same major urbanisation problems seen in many fast growing cities in developing countries — widespread poverty and unemployment, poor public health, civic and educational standards for a large section of the population. With available space at a premium, Mumbai residents often reside in cramped, relatively expensive housing, usually far from workplaces, and therefore requiring long commutes on crowded mass transit, or clogged roadways. According to 2001 census of India, about 54% of the city's population lives in slums[1]. Even though prostitution is illegal in India, Mumbai has a large population of sex workers, estimated to number more than 100,000.^[34] High HIV prevalence among female sex-workers (consistently above 50% since 1993^[35][36]), contributes to the spread of AIDS in the region and the country.^[36] Mumbai recorded 27,577 incidents of crime in 2004, which is down 11% from 30,991 in 2001. The city's main jail is the Arthur Road Jail.^[37]

People and Culture

Main article: Mumbai culture

A resident of Mumbai is called a Mumbaikar, or Bombayite. Many residents live close to major railway stations for easy access to their workplaces, as a significant amount of time is spent on daily commuting. Thus, many live a fast-paced life. Mumbai residents celebrate Indian and Western festivals with great fanfare. Among the popular festivals celebrated in the city with pomp and revelry are Ganesh Chaturthi, Navratri, Diwali and Holi.

Local roadside fast food include vada pav, panipuri, paav bhaji, and bhelpuri. Mumbai has two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus and the Elephanta Caves.^[38]

Mumbai is the birthplace of Indian cinema (Dadasaheb Phalke laid the foundations with his silent movies followed by his Marathi talkies), with the oldest film broadcast here in the early 20th century. Mumbai also boasts of large number of cinemas, including world's largest IMAX dome theatre,^[39] which feature mainstream Bollywood, Marathi and Hollywood movies. Many film festivals are avidly attended throughout the year. Besides catering to cinephiles, the city has a thriving theatrical tradition in Marathi, Hindi, English and other regional languages. Contemporary art is well represented in both government funded art spaces and private commercial galleries. The government funded art galleries include The Jehangir Art Gallery and The National Gallery of Modern Art. Built in 1833, the Asiatic Society of Bombay is the oldest public library in the city.

Mumbai has six sister cities (the maximum permitted by the Indian government). They are: ^[40]

• Berlin, Germany
• London, United Kingdom
• Los Angeles, California, United States
• Saint Petersburg, Russia
• Stuttgart, Germany
• Yokohama, Japan

Media

Mumbai has numerous newspaper publications and television and radio stations – Popular English language newspapers published and sold in Mumbai include the Times of India, Mid-day, DNA, Hindustan Times, Mumbai Mirror and Indian Express. Marathi newspapers include Loksatta, Sakal, Lokmat and Maharashtra Times. Newspapers are also printed in other Indian languages. Mumbai is home to India's oldest newspaper, Bombay Samachar, which has been published in Gujarati and English since 1822. Bombay Durpan - the first Marathi newspaper - was started by Balshastri Jambhekar in Mumbai on 1832.^[41] Popular magazines are Saaptahik Sakaal, Lokprabha in Marathi and India Today, Outlook in English.

The national television broadcaster, Doordarshan, provides two free terrestrial channels, while three main cable networks serve most households. Zee Marathi, ETV Marathi, DD Sahyadri, Zee TV, Star plus and news channels are popular. Satellite television (DTH) has yet to gain mass acceptance, due to high installation costs. Mumbai households receive over a hundred television channels via cable, and a majority of them are produced to cater to the city's polyglot populace. The metropolis is also the hub of many international media corporations, with many news channels and print publications having a major presence.

There are twelve radio stations in Mumbai, with nine broadcasting on the FM band, and three All India Radio stations broadcasting on the AM band.

See also:

Education

Schools in Mumbai are either "municipal schools" (run by the BMC) or private schools (run by trusts or individuals), which in some cases receive financial aid from the government. The schools are affiliated either with the Maharashtra State Board (MSBSHSE), the all-India Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE), or the Central Board for Secondary Education (CBSE) boards. Marathi or English is the usual language of instruction. The government run public schools lack many facilities, but are the only option for poorer residents who cannot afford the more expensive private schools. A majority of residents prefer private schools because of better infrastructure and the use of English as a medium of instruction.

Under the 10+2+3/4 plan, students complete ten years of schooling, and then enroll for two years in Junior College, where they select one of three streams: arts, commerce or science. This is followed by either a general degree course in a chosen field of study, or a professional degree course, such as law, engineering, medicine etc. Most colleges in the city are affiliated with the University of Mumbai, one of the largest universities in the world in terms of the number of graduates. The Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, one of India's premier engineering schools, VJTI (Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute), SNDT Women's University and Tata Institute of Social Sciences are the other universities in Mumbai.

Mumbai is home to two of India's important research institutions – The Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), and the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC).

Sports

Cricket is the most popular sport in the city, and is usually played in the maidans (grounds) around the city. Gully cricket, a modified form of cricket, is played in the narrow by-lanes of the city, especially on Sundays. Mumbai has produced several famous international cricketers, and is home to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). International cricket is widely watched, and the city comes to a virtual standstill on days when the Indian cricket team plays important matches. The local Mumbai cricket team is among the strongest competitors and the most successful team in the Ranji Trophy, the nation's top domestic cricketing circuit. The city has two international cricket stadiums, the Wankhede Stadium and the Brabourne Stadium. The Wankhede stadium is set to host the final of 2011 Cricket World Cup.

Football is the second most popular sport with the city clubs playing during the monsoons, when other outdoor sports cannot be played. The Football World Cup is one of the most widely watched television events in Mumbai. India's national sport, field hockey, has gone into decline in the recent years, losing out in terms of popularity to cricket.

Other sports are mostly played in the numerous clubs and gymkhanas, and include tennis, squash, billiards, badminton, table tennis and golf. Mumbai also plays Rugby, one of the few Indian cities to do so. Every February, Mumbai holds the Derby races in the Mahalaxmi Racecourse. In recent times Formula 1 racing has also caught on. In March 2004, Mumbai Grand Prix was held as part of the F1 powerboat world championship. Other sports such as volleyball and basketball are mostly popular in schools and colleges.

In 2004, the Mumbai Marathon, an annual marathon event, was established in a bid to bring the sport to the Indian public. Since 2006, Mumbai has also played host to the Kingfisher Airlines Tennis Open, an International Series tournament of the ATP Tour.

See also

•  • [ e] Mumbai-related topics
History'''	Silhara dynasty Bombay Presidency Seven islands of Bombay Elephanta Caves Kanheri Caves Banganga Tank Old Bombay Worli Fort Samyukta Maharashtra movement 1992-93 Mumbai Riots 1993 Mumbai Bombings 2006 Mumbai train bombings Tanks Growth of Mumbai Timeline
Geography	Flora and fauna of Mumbai Powai Lake Vihar Lake Tulsi Lake Thane Creek River Ulhas Gilbert Hill Malabar Hill Salsette Island Mumbai Harbour Middle Ground Weather Beaches South Mumbai Navi Mumbai CIDCO
Buildings	Gateway of India Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus Naval Dockyard Reserve Bank of India Bombay Stock Exchange Hutatma Chowk General Post Office Shreepati Arcade Regal Cinema Mount Mary's Church Haji Ali Dargah Flora Fountain David Sassoon Library Mahatma Phule Market Mumba Devi Mandir Mahalaxmi Temple Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Museum National Gallery of Modern Art Asiatic Society of Bombay Jehangir Art Gallery Gowalia Tank
Transport	BEST Mumbai Suburban Railway Central Railway Western Railway Harbour Line Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport Juhu Aerodrome Auto rickshaw
Economy	Bombay Stock Exchange Reserve Bank of India Mint Dalal Street Nariman Point Telecom companies
Education	Mumbai University SNDT Women's University Indian Institute of Technology St. Xavier's College St. Francis D'Assisi High School Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute Colleges
Civic	Mayor Police Commissioner Municipal Commissioner Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation Mumbai Police Wards Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport Demographics Water sources Bombay High Court
Culture	Marathi Mumbaiya/Bombaiya lingo Dabbawalas Vada pav Bhelpuri Cultural centres Theatres Tourist attractions
Parks and grounds	Horniman Circle Gardens Cross Maidan Kamala Nehru Park Hanging Gardens Sanjay Gandhi National Park Jijamata Udyaan Brabourne Stadium Wankhede Stadium Mahalaxmi Racecourse Shivaji Park
Institutes for Science and Learning	TIFR BARC Nehru Planetarium Nehru Science Centre TISS
Other	Bombay High Marine Drive Kamathipura Dharavi Notable Residents

References

Further reading

External links

• Official site of the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai
• Official city report

•  • [ e] State of Maharashtra
	History - Geography - Economy - Tourism - Marathi people Marathi language - Marathi literature - Marathi cinema - Maharashtrian cuisine
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Major cities	Amravati • Aurangabad • Jalgaon • Kolhapur • Mumbai • Nagpur • Nashik • Pune • Solapur

•  • [ e] State and Union Territory capitals of India
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•  • [ e] Metropolitan cities of India
Ahmedabad • Bangalore • Chennai • Delhi • Hyderabad • Kolkata • Mumbai

•  • [ e] Million plus cities in India
Agra Ahmedabad Allahabad Amritsar Asansol Bangalore Bhopal Chennai Coimbatore DelhiDhanbad Guntur hubli Hyderabad Indore Jabalpur Jaipur Jamshedpur Kanpur Kochi Kolkata Lucknow Ludhianamadurai Meerut Mysore Mumbai Nagpur Nashik Patna Pune Rajkot Surat Vadodara Varanasi Vijayawada Visakhapatnam warangal

•  • [ e] Portuguese Empire

North Africa  15th century 1415–1640  Ceuta 1458–1550  Alccer Ceguer (El Qsar es Seghir) 1471–1550  Arzila (Asilah) 1471–1662  Tangier 1485–1550  Mazagan (El Jadida) 1488–1541  Safim (Safi) 16th century 1505–1769  Santa Cruz do Cabo de Gu (Agadir) 1506–1525  Mogador (Essaouira) 1506–1525  Aguz (Souira Guedima) 1506–1769  Mazagan (El Jadida) 1513–1541  Azamor (Azemmour) 1577–1589  Arzila (Asilah) Sub-Saharan Africa  15th century 1455–1633  Arguin 1470–1975  So Tom1 1474–1778  Annobn 1478–1778  Fernando Poo (Bioko) 1482–1637  Elmina (So Jorge da Mina) 1482–1642  Portuguese Gold Coast 1496–1550  Madagascar (part) 1498–1540  Mascarene Islands 16th century 1500–1630  Malindi 1500–1975  Prncipe1 1501–1975  Portuguese E. Africa (Mozambique) 1502–1659  St. Helena 1503–1698  Zanzibar 1505–1512  Quloa (Kilwa) 1506–1511  Socotra 1557–1578  Accra 1575–1975  Portuguese W. Africa (Angola) 1588–1974  Cacheu2 1593–1698  Mombassa (Mombasa) 17th century 1642–1975  Cape Verde 1645–1888  Ziguinchor 1680–1961  So Joo Baptista de Ajud 1687–1974  Bissau2 18th century 1728–1729  Mombassa (Mombasa) 1753–1975  So Tom and Prncipe 19th century 1879–1974  Portuguese Guinea 1885–1975  Portuguese Congo (Cabinda) 1 Part of So Tom and Prncipe from 1753.   2 Part of Portuguese Guinea from 1879. Southwest Asia  16th century 1506–1615  Gamru (Bandar Abbas) 1507-1643  Sohar 1515–1622  Hormuz (Ormus) 1515-1648  Quriyat 1515-?   Qalhat 1515–1650  Muscat 1515?-?   Barka 1515-1633? Julfar (Ras al-Khaimah) 1521–1602  Bahrain (Al Muharraq and Manama) 1521-1529?  Qatif 1521?-1551? Tarut Island 1550-1551  Qatif 1588-1648  Matrah 17th century 1620-?   Khor Fakkan 1621?-?   As Sib 1621-1622  Qeshm 1623-?   Khasab 1623-?   Libedia 1624-?   Kalba 1624-?   Madha 1624-1648  Diba al-Hisn 1624?-?   Bandar-e Kong Indian subcontinent  15th century 1498–1545  Laccadive Islands (Lakshadweep) 16th century Portuguese India    1500–1663  Cochim (Kochi)    1502–1661  Quilon (Coulo/Kollam)    1502–1663  Cannanore (Kannur)    1507–1657  Negapatam (Nagapattinam)    1510–1962  Goa    1512–1525  Calicut (Kozhikode)    1518–1619  Paliacate (Pulicat)    1521–1740  Chaul    1523–1662  So Tom de Meliapore    1528–1666  Chittagong    1534–1601  Salsette Island    1534–1661  Bombay (Mumbai)    1535–1739  Baam (Vasai-Virar)    1536–1662  Cranganore (Kodungallur)    1540–1612  Surat    1548–1658  Tuticorin (Thoothukudi)    1559–1962  Daman and Diu    1568–1659  Mangalore    1579–1632  Hughli    1598–1610  Masulipatnam (Machilipatnam) 1518–1521  Maldives 1518–1658  Ceilo (Ceylon/Sri Lanka) 1558–1573  Maldives 17th century Portuguese India    1687–1749  So Tom de Meliapore 18th century Portuguese India    1779–1954  Dadra and Nagar Haveli East Asia and Oceania  16th century 1511–1641  Malacca 1512–1621  Banda Islands 1512–1621  Moluccas (Maluku Islands)    1522–1575  Ternate    1576–1605  Ambon    1578–1650  Tidore 1512–1665  Makassar 1553–1999  Macau 1571–1639  Decima (Dejima, Nagasaki) 17th century 1642–1975  Portuguese Timor (East Timor)1 19th century Macau    1864–1999  Coloane    1851–1999  Taipa    1890–1999  Ilha Verde 20th century Macau    1938–1941  Lapa and Montanha (Hengqin) 1 1975 is the date of East Timor's Declaration of Independence and subsequent invasion by Indonesia. In 2002, the independence of East Timor was recognized by Portugal and the rest of the world. North America and the North Atlantic Ocean  15th century 1420           Madeira 1432           Azores 16th century 1501–1570?  Terra Nova (Newfoundland) 1501-1570?  Labrador 1519–1570?  Nova Scotia Central and South America  16th century 1500–1822  Brazil 1536–1620  Barbados 17th century 1680–1777  Nova Colnia do Sacramento 19th century 1808–1822  Cisplatina (Uruguay) Portuguese colonization of the Americas