The name Mumbai comes from 'Mumbadevi', the patron goddess of the Koli shermen, original inhabitants of the seven islands that make up the city. The old name, Mumbai was adopted in 1996, not without resistance and its share of controversy, but its use has gradually spread though the city remains 'Bombay' to lots of people.
Mumbai, or Bombay to call it by the name its better known by, was a swampy, mosquito infested, marshy island off the west coast of India with little or no potential, or so thought the Portuguese when they gave it to Charles II of England as part of the dowry of Catherine of Braganza. How very stupid of them! The British East India Company leased it from the Crown, and developed the small fishing villages and natural harbours into Bombay, the subcontinent's busiest port and the region's centre for trade, finance and industry.
Mumbai is not just India's largest city, it is also its commercial capital, industrial powerhouse, busiest port, fashion capital, home to 'Bollywood' (India's Hollywood), world's biggest textile market - the list goes on and on. Mumbai thrives on contrasts- the city is home to the richest and the poorest of Indians, sleek limousines jostle rusty cycles, red double-decker buses rumble past three-wheeler auto-rickshaws; impressive high rises soar above crowded ugly slums and shanty towns; glitzy shop fronts amid pavement stalls; glamorous film stars and homeless beggars demand attention at traffic lights and amidst all this are people, people, people everywhere, for Mumbai is home to some 13 million Indians.
Mumbai draws people from all walks of life - traders and artisans, musicians and movie stars, peasants and industrialists, entrepreneurs and executives, students and dropouts. In fact, any Indian with a dream heads for Mumbai and this pulsating, cosmopolitan, multicultural city of opportunity folds them all to its bosom. Mumbai is like little bits of India all rolled into one sprawling city. So, don't just pass through as you head for Rajasthan or Goa, but stay awhile in Mumbai. Explore its sights and soul - the promise of a heady experience awaits you. I hope this article will give you all info about” MUMBAI” . For detail about Mumbai tour Packages in India, Please Click on..
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Jovita Diane is an eminent analyst and writer in India Travel & Tourism related topics. She has authored many books on tour guide for Rajasthan and Kerala. Now she is rendering her services http://www.indian-tour-operators.com Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/mumbai-a-famous-city-to-visit-in-india-1382128.html