Mumbai is the capital of the state of Maharashtra and is also regarded as the economic capital of India. The city is indeed zingy and has an estimated population of thirteen million. This has made it the second most populous city of both India and the world. The name of the city is derived from Mumba or Maha-Amb, which is the name of Hindu goddess Mumbadevi, and Aai — mother in Marathi language. The city was previously, for many years, known as Bombay adhering to the Portugese legacy. The name was officially changed to its Marathi pronunciation of Mumbai in 1995.
The exact position of the city is on the west coast of India and is comprised of a deep harbor. The geographical location of the city is between the seven now-merged islands. They include Isle of Bombay, Mazagaon, Colaba, Old Woman's Island, Parel, Worli, and Salsette Island. The city exists at the strategic location of the mouth of Ulhas River off the western coast of India and specifically in the coastal region known as the Konkan. The greater part of Mumbai remains slightly above the sea level and the average elevation ranges from 10 m (33 ft) to 15 m (49 ft). The northern part of the city is hilly, and the highest point in the city is 450 metres (1,450 feet). The total area of the city is of 603 sq. km. The city enjoys both of humid and dry sesons, since it is in the tropical zone. In general the temperature varies from a high of 38 °C (100 °F) to a low of 11 °C (52 °F).
The greatest essence of Mumbai in India is due to its strong, sprawling and ever-expanding economy. For decades the city is the financial capital of the country and contributes potently into several sectors in the national scenario. This include, 5% of India’s GDP, 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 40 billion Rupees (US$ 1 billion) in corporate taxes. Besides the per-capita income of the city is almost three times the national average. All major national and international corporates are head-quartered in this city. Of these textile mills, maritime, healthcare, information technology and other technical industries deserve special mention.
The city is adminsitered by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the home of Hindi film industry, Bollywood.
|