What is special about Mumbai?
A city of dreams, a city that never sleeps, the financial capital of India. It is a city which has something to offer to every individual that calls its home. За да прочетете статията на български, можете да инсталирате плъгин Google Преводач от тук.
The Gateway of India
Mumbai is a sprawling metropolis with an area of about 603.4 sq.km, compare that to Sofia which is 492 sq.km. or New York city which is 1223.59 sq.km But I guess the similarity ends here. Mumbai is home to around 20 million (2020) people as opposed to just over 7 million for the entire Bulgaria ! Or New York city which inhabits 18.8 million people in about 2.5 times the area. So, if you ever happen to travel to Mumbai, don’t be surprised if you are not able to walk a couple of feet without bumping into another person. You will find people from all religions and faith, top executives to minimum wage workers traveling together in a local transport. It is a city which humbles you, no matter who you are. In a state of crisis you can expect everyone around you to extend a helping hand. May it be the 1993 serial bombings or the 2008 terror attack or even a natural disaster (extreme rainfall) in 2005 the city stood solid and people helped each other to overcome the calamity. Within days the city was back to normal.
The Taj Hotel at night
Previously it was known as Bombay, which comes from “Bom Bhaia” a Portuguese term for good bay. It was renamed as Mumbai, Mumba Devi is a local deity in Mumbai and ‘ai’ means mother.
Enough of the serious talk ,here are a few fun facts about my birth place which probably you do not know..
Did you know this about Mumbai?
- India’s first railway ran from Mumbai to a suburb called thane in April 1853.
- In reality Mumbai comprises seven islands, which are now joined over a period of time.
- The world’s most expensive house (named Antilia) owned by the industrialists Ambani’s is in Mumbai. It is a 27 story skyscraper with a stupendous area of 400,000 sq.ft.
- India’s first car owner was from Mumbai.
- Have you heard of the dabbawalla’s? If not, research on them, even Oxford has a case study on them. They are the link which serves food to thousands of people in Mumbai.
- Mumbai has a coastline of 150 km. ( but do not expect beautiful beaches at all :)).
- The first airport in India was founded in Mumbai.
- The local trains (local transport) in Mumbai run over a network of 400+ Km’s. On any given day over 7.5 million passengers travel on it and annually 2.2 billion people use its service. The frequency between the trains is close to 4 mins so for casual travelers even if you miss one you do not have to fret.
- The Mumbai sea link which is 5.6 km long has used steel and cement which is close to the girth of earth.
The Bandra Worli sea link
9. The world’s largest slum Dharavi is in Mumbai. But mind you, it is a sprawling economy in itself.
10. Even though there is no place for people, flamingos migrate here every year in the swamps.
A Parsi prayer hall and the corporation building
11. It boasts of some amazing Victorian style architecture. The Chhatrapati Shivaji terminus ( a railway station) is a UNESCO world heritage site.
12. Mumbai has a National park within its boundaries with some amazing wildlife and incidents of leopards entering the surrounding neighborhoods is not unheard of.
13. The local transport “locals” carry over 7.5 million people everyday and is the lifeline of Mumbai. ( I could do a separate post on just the trains.)
The Global Vipassana Pagoda
It is on the coast and is a boiler pot. If you can’t stand humidity, better be prepared and avoid traveling during the summer. Lets move pan India from Mumbai – Why is India known as a cultural mosaic. If you want to know more or have any specific questions.. drop a message. 🙂
