What is Mumbai the capital of?
Mumbai is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It became the state capital in 1960, when Bombay State was reorganised into separate states of Maharashtra and Gujarat on the 1st of May 1960.
Questions about Mumbai
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Why was Bombay renamed Mumbai?
The Government of India officially changed the English name from Bombay to Mumbai in November 1995. The change came at the insistence of the Shiv Sena party, which had just won the Maharashtra state elections and argued that Bombay echoed British colonial rule.
Where does the name Mumbai come from?
The name Mumbai comes from Mumbadevi, the patron Hindu goddess of the native Koli community, combined with ai, the Marathi word for mother. The goddess had a temple on the island, and earlier names for the place included Kakamuchee and Galajunkja.
Why is Mumbai the financial capital of India?
Mumbai generates 6.16 percent of India's GDP and accounts for 25 percent of the nation's industrial output and 70 percent of its maritime trade. It hosts the Bombay Stock Exchange, established in 1875 and the oldest in Asia, the Reserve Bank of India, and the National Stock Exchange of India.
How did Mumbai form from seven islands?
Mumbai was built on an archipelago of seven islands once home to Koli fishermen. From 1782 the English merged them through a causeway called the Hornby Vellard, and reclamation of the land between the islands was completed in 1845, transforming the area into a major seaport.
What is Dharavi in Mumbai?
Dharavi, located in central Mumbai, is the largest slum and houses about a million people in an area of 2.39 square kilometres, making it one of the most densely populated areas on Earth. It also holds a large recycling industry and roughly 15,000 single-room factories.
What is Bollywood and where is it based?
Bollywood is the Hindi film industry based in Mumbai, with a name that blends Bombay and Hollywood. It produces around 150 to 200 films every year and is considered the second-largest film industry after Hollywood, with most sets located at studios in Goregaon, including Film City.