Svenska Design Hotel

Svenska Design Hotel, Mumbai

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Mumbai City

Mumbai, formerly called Bombay, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is also the commercial and financial capital of India, as well as the hub for its television and movie industry, popularly known as “Bollywood”. Mumbai is the most populous city in India and the second most populous in the world, with a population of almost 15 million.

Mumbai is an island city, lying on the west coast of India and has a deep natural harbour. As of 2009, Mumbai was named an Alpha world city. It is also the richest city in India and has the highest GDP of any city in South or Central Asia. In fact, Mumbai accounts for 5% of India,s GDP, 25% of the country’s industrial output, 40% of maritime trade and 70% of capital transactions in India,s economy.

Mumbai is home to India’s important financial institutions, including the Reserve Bank of India, the Bombay Stock Exchange, the National Stock Exchange as well as the corporate headquarters of numerous Indian companies and multinational corporations.

Mumbai has tropical climate, with eight months of dryness and four months of monsoons between June and September, during which the city receives heavy rainfall. The average temperatures in the city range between 25-35 degrees Celsius, with the temperatures dropping during the South-West monsoon seasons as well as during the pretty mild winter months of November to February.

Mumbai has been known in India for good public transport systems, though the extensive railway and bus network have been crumbling under heavy load through the city,s increasing population, contributed largely to a vast influx of migrants to the city who flock to Mumbai for livelihood and to “make it big in the city of dreams”. Black and yellow metered taxis and auto-rickshaws are also very popular, economically priced and easily available. Apart from two major ports, Mumbai also has the busiest airport in the country.

Mumbai is also famous for its beaches, with the most popular ones being the Juhu Beach in Northern side and Girgaum Chowpatti in South Mumbai. Though the water is grey, the beaches and sea-side (Marine Drive, Worli Sea Face) are very popular with the locals as well as visitors as they provide much-needed open space in a city that has grown vertically.

Mumbai’s other tourist attractions include:

• The Asiatic Society of Bombay: One of the oldest public libraries in the city
• Jehangir Art Gallery and the Prince of Wales Museum
• The Gateway of India and opposite it, the Taj Mahal Hotel
• Marine Drive: Named Queen’s necklace due to its shape and glittering lights at night
• Nariman Point and the Bandra-Kurla Complex: Main financial districts of the city
• Elephanta Caves: Ferry ride from the Gateway of India
• Essel World: Amusement park in North Mumbai
• Haji Ali Dargah, Nehru Planetarium and the Worli Sea Face
• Borivali National Park, the Aarey Milk Colony and the Film City

Nariman Point
(Marine Drive)
Mumbai High Court
(Oval Maidan)
Mumbai Skyline
(Queen’s Necklace)
Taj Mahal Hotel
Heritage Building
Haji Ali Dargah
The Gateway of India
Clock Tower
Borivali National Park