The giant metropolis of Mumbai is one of the most famous cities in India, and sometimes it shocks foreigners that arrive in the country of spices for the first time. Noisy and crowded, this city never calms down, and you can escape from the noise in a hotel only. Poverty is side by side with luxury here, and most of the locals just trying to earn some money for themselves and their families day by day.
Top facts about Mumbai
- The former name of the city is known widely: Bombay.
- It was built on seven separate islands, united into one in the 17-18 centuries.
- Mumbai was founded more than 500 years ago, in the early 16th century. However, the ancestors of modern people inhabited these areas in the stone age already.
- It is the most populous city in India. About the same number of people live here as in Beijing, the capital of China.
- Mumbai is the second-most densely populated city in the world, second only to Manila, the capital of the Philippines.
- A century and a half after its foundation, the city was given by the Portuguese to the British as a dowry for a Portuguese Princess who married the king of England.
- The local library boasts a unique copy of Dante’s “Divine Comedy”. It’s one of the first two copies of the original book that is kept here.
- There’s a subway full almost always. Despite this, there are some food peddlers in trains who sell snacks and street food to everyone who wants 🙂
- The area in Mumbai called Dhobi Ghat is one giant laundry under the sky. The work of launders in India is considered to be dirty, so the area is very poor. Tourists in Dhobi Ghat should be more careful as they aren’t welcome here.
- There are several beaches in the city, but they are so littered that you won’t even think about taking a rest there. Really.
- Almost 50% of the international flow of goods comes to India and leaves through the port of Mumbai.
- Mumbai is included in the top-15 cities with the most polluted air. Btw, the streets really stink badly here 🙁
- It ranks first in the number of road accidents among all Indian cities.
- The contrast between poverty and wealth is as great here as in the African city of Luanda. Slums coexist with luxurious possessions and sparkling skyscrapers.
- There’s a really huge park in the center of Mumbai. More than 1000 species of plants grow here, and this park is home to more than 5000 different species of insects.
- Mumbai’s railway network is one of the busiest in the world. The trains are usually overcrowded with 3-4 times more passengers than expected. Many of them stay on the roofs of railcars or hang from the doors which never close.
- At low tide, the water in Mumbai Bay recedes so much that many small boats land directly on the sand.
- This city is the capital of the Indian film industry. By the way, there are often found Bollywood agents, looking for European people for filming the crowd scenes.
- That’s really difficult to find any cream or skin gel without a whitening effect in local shops.
- Mumbai residents are fond of cricket. However, this is the most popular sport in India.
- Trains in the local subway don’t have underground railways, only ground ones. Also, there are separate railcars for women.
- About half of the Mumbai territory is occupied by slums looking really creepy, especially in the nighttime.
- Many businesses in Mumbai, especially state-owned ones, are artificially inflating staff to provide jobs for more people. That’s commendable 🙂
- 70% of the local population is Hindu. The rest follow Islam, Buddhism, or Christianity.
- The list of Mumbai’s sister cities includes St. Petersburg, Berlin, and London.
- English is spoken mostly by businessmen or the middle class here. English skill of the local lower class is very poor because these people simply don’t need them.
- Plenty of places here are guarded 24/7, but night shift security usually sleeps right at the workplace.
- Mumbai residents like to walk in the parks with their music, but they listen to it with headphones rarely, preferring to carry tape recorders. The volume level is set to the maximum usually.
- Most of the local cafes don’t have toilets. This “luxury” is available in restaurants only.
- Local drivers never give way to pedestrians at pedestrian crossings.
- There are 20% more men here than women because many young men looking for any job come here from other cities and villages.
- Taxis in Mumbai are never equipped with seat belts. Even drivers haven’t one.
- Local law prohibits tuk-tuk drivers to work in the city center, but there are many regular taxis there.