Quick answerMumbai is the largest city of India, with 12,442,373 people inside the city limits in 2011. The wider metropolitan area had about 20.7 million people in 2011. It is best known for the Bollywood, the Gateway of India and the Financial capital of India. Its official language is Hindi and English, and its currency is the Indian rupee.
Mumbai is the most populous city proper in India, with 12,442,373 residents in 2011, and the financial capital of the country. It stands on the Arabian Sea coast in Maharashtra, and its metropolitan region had 20,748,395 people in 2011.
Key facts
| Country | India |
|---|---|
| Population (city) | 12,442,373 (2011) |
| Population (metro) | 20,748,395 (2011) · Mumbai Metropolitan Region (extended urban agglomeration), Census of India 2011 |
| Elevation | 14 m above sea level |
| Time zone | Asia/Kolkata |
| Language | Hindi, English |
| Currency | Indian rupee (INR, ₹) |
| Coordinates | 19.0761° N, 72.8775° E |
Overview
Mumbai is the capital of Maharashtra and the financial capital of India. As of the 2011 census it was the most populous city proper in India, with 12,442,373 people, while the Mumbai Metropolitan Region had 20,748,395. The city stands on the Konkan coast of the Arabian Sea, on a deep natural harbour, at an elevation of about 14 metres.
Mumbai began as seven islands inhabited by Koli fishing people, whose goddess Mumbā gave the city its name. The islands passed through Portuguese and British hands, were joined by land reclamation, and grew into Bombay, the great port of British India. The city was renamed Mumbai in 1995. Its cotton mills, docks and railways made it India's industrial engine, and its film industry — Bollywood — became one of the largest in the world by the number of films made.
Today Mumbai is India's financial capital and its centre of trade and entertainment. Its landmarks include the Gateway of India, built for a royal visit in 1911, the Gothic railway station of Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, the seafront of Marine Drive and the Bandra–Worli Sea Link. It is also a city of sharp contrasts, where glass towers stand beside some of Asia's largest informal settlements.
What Mumbai is known for
- Bollywood
- Gateway of India
- Financial capital of India
- Marine Drive
- Street food
Landmarks
- Gateway of India
- Marine Drive
- Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus
- Bandra–Worli Sea Link
- Haji Ali Dargah
- Elephanta Caves (nearby)
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Mumbai?
Mumbai had 12,442,373 residents in the 2011 census, making it the most populous city proper in India. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region had 20,748,395 people that year, one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world. No newer census has been held since 2011, so these are still the latest official city figures.
What is Mumbai famous for?
Mumbai is famous as India's financial capital and the home of Bollywood, the Hindi film industry. It is known for the Gateway of India, Marine Drive, the Bandra–Worli Sea Link and its street food, and for being one of the world's most crowded big cities, built on a deep natural harbour.
Where is Mumbai located?
Mumbai is on the Konkan coast of western India, in Maharashtra, on the Arabian Sea. It stands on a peninsula and islands at about 14 metres above sea level, roughly 1,400 kilometres by road south-west of New Delhi. Its coordinates are 19.08° N, 72.88° E, in the Indian Standard Time zone.
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Keep exploring
- India — the country Mumbai is in
- Bengaluru — another city in India
- Chennai — another city in India
- New Delhi — another city in India
- Mahatma Gandhi — Indian politics figure
- All cities in India
- All countries — the full list
Sources & last updated
Last updated: . Figures are shown with their year; where sources disagree, the value is left out rather than estimated.