20 Things You Should Know About Mumbai

Mumbai, like most major cities in the world, has a fascinating history and stories. Here are 20 things you probably are not aware of in Mumbai.

1. A city of seven islands that took 60 years to unite

An archipelago, Mumbai was made up of seven islands such as Isle of Bombay, Colaba, Old Woman’s Island, or Little Colaba, Mahim, Parel, Mazagaon, and Worli. It took 60 years to unite Bombay’s seven islands into one mainland, which started in 1784 and was completed in 1845.

British engineers joined the seven islands surrounding Bombay into one landmass through several reclamation projects in the 19th century. The city grew to become a major port and one major cotton market in the world.

2. How Did Bombay Become the Name of the City?

Bombay is thought to be derived from the Portuguese word “Bom Bahia”, which translates as “Good Bay”. The present name “Mumbai” is derived from the name of the goddess Mumbadevi, worshipped by the Koli community, who were the early inhabitants of the city. The temple of Mumbadevi is located in Bhuleshwar.

3. Mumbai saw the beginning of the first-ever Indian Train

The first passenger train travelled between Bori Bunder and Thane, a 34-kilometre journey, on April 16, 1853. It had thirteen carriages and was powered by three locomotives named Sahib, Sultan, and Sindh. The train, which is widely believed to be the first train service, was drawn by a single locomotive.

4. Mumbai is a city of the Alpha World

Mumbai is not only a well-connected metropolis within India, but it is also globally connected within the world. It is recognized as an Alpha World city, with a large population, a globalized financial sector, a well-developed transportation infrastructure, the presence of major multinational corporations, and high-quality research and educational institutions.

5. The richest city in the nation in Mumbai

Mumbai is the wealthiest city in India, and it ranks 25th in the world with 30 billionaires, 423 centi-millionaires, and over 60,000 resident millionaires. Mumbai tops the list of richest cities in India, with an approximate GDP of $310 billion.

6. There are several UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Mumbai

This splendid megalopolis is home to some UNESCO World Heritage sites like 5th-century-old Elephanta Caves, 130-year-old Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), and Victorian and Art deco buildings.

7. City of Firsts 

Unlike other cities, Mumbai is a trendsetter. The Taj Mahal Hotel, which is the city’s first five-star hotel, was opened in 1903; the Juhu Aerodrome, India’s first airport, was established here in 1928; and the first railway terminal, Bori Bunder, was built in South Mumbai, which belongs to Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus now. The first public bus service began in Mumbai in 1926, with the foundation of BEST.

8. Birthplace of several influential individuals

Mumbai gave birth to authors Rudyard Kipling (The Jungle Book) and Salman Rushdie (Satanic Verses), as well as Gregory David Roberts, and Rohinton Mistry (modern writers). Likewise, Homi Bhabha (who founded science research centers), and Persis Khambatta (who takes the credit for being the first Indian woman to win international beauty contests and become a Hollywood actor).

9. Colaba Railway Station

Despite being long forgotten, Colaba originally had its railway terminus. The station opened in 1893 and was built in a magnificent stone edifice with lofty towers near Wodehouse Road and Sassoon Docks. When the reclamation works progressed, the train line between Colaba and Churchgate had to be cut off.

10. Mahim Causeway Building

Despite initial reclamation and settlement efforts, huge portions of the city and the northern districts beyond Mahim remained completely isolated and inaccessible. Thanks to the Jeejeebhoy family’s philanthropic efforts in constructing a causeway.

11. The Place of International Legends 

Many international musicians and writers have lived in Mumbai, which many people are unaware of. Both Zubin Mehta, the world’s most renowned orchestra director, and Freddie Mercury, the splashy frontman of one of the greatest rock bands of all time, ‘Queen,’ were born in Mumbai.

12. A Geographical Wonder in the City Centre 

Gilbert Hill, a structure in Andheri West, represents something that many people are ignorant of. The structure is one of the oldest basalt rock structures in the world, having weathered the test of time.

13. Escape routes and covert tunnels

Because of Napoleon’s ascension, the late 1700s and early 1800s were fraught with uncertainty. The British were so concerned about a possible French invasion that they dug a secret underground passage to reach Bombay Fort in the event of an attack. The tunnel’s existence and entrance were only recently uncovered beneath the General Post Office (GPO).

14. The 1944 explosion

Mumbai was hit by a calamity of historic proportions on April 14, 1944. A freighter carrying ammunition, gold, and cotton bales caught fire and burst in two enormous blasts, despite efforts to suppress the blaze.

15. Renting a Bombay for GBP 10

There was a period when the city could be rented for GBP 10 per month for a year. The East India Company was granted the island of Bombay in September 1668 for an annual fee of around GBP 1,500 today.

16. When Bombay was a state

When India gained independence from the British in 1947, it included the Bombay Presidency. It was reorganized as Bombay State, which included the states of Kolhapur, Baroda, Saurashtra, and Kutch. Bombay was proposed as an autonomous city-state by Congress in 1955, wherein a bilingual state for Maharashtra-Gujarat was proposed by the States Reorganization Committee in 1956. Unfortunately, Maharashtra and Gujarat were divided on May 1, 1960.

17. A City Filled to the Rim

Mumbai is the world’s most cramped city, as well as one of the busiest and most densely populated cities, with frequent gridlock.

18. Contains a rare copy of the Divine Comedy

Interestingly, the city preserves one of the two original manuscripts of Dante’s Divine Comedy. The Asiatic Library houses a 14th-century manuscript connected to European literature.

19. There is More to Mumbai Than Temples, Mosques, and Churches

Mumbai residents take pride in their cosmopolitan culture and tolerance for religious diversity. It is one of Mumbai’s proud traditions, with temples, gurudwaras, mosques, and churches in nearly every part of the city.

20. The biggest national park within a city’s boundaries

People who live in the city are aware of the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, but many are unaware that it is the largest national park or unbroken forest within the city’s borders. It is a biodiversity forest rich in flora and fauna.

If you are looking forward to experiencing these things in Mumbai, it’s time that you book your flight tickets in advance. Several airlines are offering direct or one-stop Dubai to Mumbai flights daily and weekly. You can find cheap Dubai to Mumbai tickets with Air Arabia, Air India Express, Gulf Air, Vistara, IndiGo Air, and Air India.