"Keeweechic's Mumbai (Bombay)" Top 5 Page for this destination Mumbai by keeweechic

Mumbai Travel Guide: 1,971 reviews and 3,890 photos

Until recent years Mumbai was known as Bombay. The name change resulted in the reorganization of states following independence in 1947, however it took until 1996 Bombay to be renamed. Mumbai is the city’s Marathi name and seems to have been the original name of a settlement in the area. It was the British which gave the city the name of Bombay. The city is actually made up of a cluster of seven islands which were once separated by creeks and channels then reclaimed and bridged over the years by the residents. In 1661 Bombay as it was known then, was given to King Charles II as part of a dowry in his marriage to Princess Catherine de Braganza of Portugal. In 1668 it was handed over to the East India Company. Some two hundred years later, India was taken over from the East India Company by Queen Victoria, the then Queen of England and the land was ruled by a viceroy. Evidence of the British rule is apparent in the wonderful British neo-gothic architecture preserved around the city.

For centuries Mumbai has been a strategic port and a natural one. The Dutch, Portuguese, Chinese and British all went there to buy and sell goods and have contributed to creating a very cosmopolitan city. There are large ship building yards with cargo such as textiles, machinery, electronics, sugar, cotton fibre and food grains. Known as a city that never sleeps, I certainly found it to be buzzing when I arrived during the wee hours of the morning. During the early hours the different areas are active with early morning markets and street sellers cranking up for busy passing workers grabbing a coconut or sugar cane juice or choices of the cities own pau bhaji, bhel puri and kababs. No one can think of Mumbai these days without being aware of Bollywood, the biggest Indian film industry which creates hundreds of Hindi block-busters every year, making it the largest producer of films in the world.

The city is one of contrasts. From sky scrapers to mud huts and lean to’s, and from ancient handed down traditions to high fashion and nightlife, Mumbai is undoubtedly the richest city of India, paying half the nations income tax, but the other side of the city is sadly so poor that it breaks your heart. Children live in the streets and in slums, begging for whatever they can get, with little hope of a future that so many of us take for granted.

Photos which are taken by myself and all headings are copyright and digitally marked. Please do not use them without permission. Thanks.(c) keeweechic 2001-2007 (copyright)

Intro Updated Jan 26, 2008
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Reviews (102)

Mumbai's Climate Local Customs (4)

The climate in Mumbai is mostly made up of two seasons. Humid (between March to October) and dry (between November to... more travel advice

A Variety of Shopping Shopping (2)

Shopping can be anything from the street vendor, bazaar and market stalls to modern shopping malls. The World Trade... more travel advice

Mumbai Dining Restaurants (3)

You won’t starve in Mumbai, there is a great selection of restaurants and inexpensive cafes and food stalls. The biggest... more travel advice

Population Favorites (10)

Mumbai has an estimated population of around 13 million people and while there is a large variety of languages spoke in... more travel advice

Hotels (4)
See All The Interior of the Taj Mahal Hotel
Nightlife (2)
See All Home of Bollywood
Transportation (12)
See All By Air

Things to Do (45)
See All Old Majestic Hotel
Warnings and Dangers (3)
See All Elephanta Cave Bites
Off The Beaten Path (17)
See All Early Damage

Travelogues (1)

Written Mar 8, 2008

8 photos

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Comments (18)

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goutammitra Jun 8, 2010 at 7:28 AM

Surely one of the best page on Mumbai. I love the way of description of Bombay life.
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tranceperent Dec 20, 2006 at 3:20 AM

awesome bombay tips, man i have myself never been to some of these places
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Escadora7 Sep 15, 2006 at 1:48 PM

Hi there! Nice Mumbai pages! We just came back from Mumbai a couple of weeks ago - didn't try the McDonalds there though! hehe Best wishes, Ash & Eve
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Justin_goa Aug 12, 2006 at 11:30 PM

Hi Great pages and tips.. a small correction on the tip about the literacy. Kerala state records the highest literacy in the Country, which is 96%.
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traveldave May 24, 2006 at 3:58 PM

I've always been fascinated with Bombay (I can't get used to Mumbai) and hope to visit someday. It looks like the most interesting and vibrant city in India. And Happy Birthday!
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aadil May 22, 2006 at 11:47 AM

WOW!!! What a lovely page!!! Great pictures and tips too. Hope you enjoyed staying in my city. And thanks for bumping me off the #1 spot!!! You deserve it!!!
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vinod_bglore May 13, 2006 at 3:16 AM

Hey, fantastic pages, and your pics r realr treat to see.... Best wishes to you -- vin
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Sweetberry1 May 11, 2006 at 8:03 AM

Hey Keewee.. What an incredible city.. Very impressive architecture, and your photos are just super. You show the heart and soul of this city, it's such a shame that there is so much poverty here. Awesome page girl.. I'll be back.. ;-)
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budapest8 May 10, 2006 at 4:53 PM

Just started reading your Mumbai pages. GR8 job. The GPO is intresting inside but big Q's.I spent 2 weeks on Valkeshar rd in '86, living with a Parsi family. A very interesting city.Did u watch the trains arriving at Churchgate? What a scramble! Tim
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pepples46 May 7, 2006 at 9:41 PM

so thats where you where,^..^ and you made an outstanding Mumbai page. made me sad and also very curious about this City.