Areas in Mumbai have seen an interesting range of names crop up over the years - from Bandra to Goregaon and Andheri.
Mumbai is a bustling metropolis with the most eclectic bunch of names – from Churchgate to Goregaon to Charni Road. Ever scratched your head, trying to decipher the history behind some of these names? Here’s a helpful guide:
1. Goregaon
Source: FrogStarB / Flickr
There are two versions of this tale. While one group holds on fiercely to the idea that Goregaon was named after the politically active Gore family, others feel that it is quite literally called the ‘white village’ because it was a major producer of milk long ago.
2. Bandra
Source: Tawheed Manzoor / Flickr
It is believed that Bandra got its name from the Persian word, ‘Bandar’, which means port. Bandra was a nondescript fishing village centuries ago and primarily had Kolis (fishermen) and farmers as its residents.
3. Chowpatty
Source: Shawn Morgan / Flickr
This one is synonymous with young couples for its endless possibilities and the sea. Bollywood has done a fairly good job of portraying the essence of the place in colorful songs. It literally stands for four lanes and was meant initially for Girgaum beach because of the possibility of four water inlets of the sea near Girgaum.
4. Cumbala Hill
Source: Grande Illusion / Flickr
This one is located near the posh locality, Kemps Corner, and got its name on account of the vast number of beautiful lotus flowers or kamals that flourished in the region in the past.
5. Churchgate
Source: Archana Menon / Flickr
The old Church gate was demolished in the 1860s. The gate led up to the fort that allowed people to enter St. Thomas’ Church. The name, however, wasn’t the only one. It was also called ‘Pawan-chakki gate’ – most probably because of a windmill that existed in the location in the 18th century.
6. Dhobi Talao
Source: Jshyun / Flickr
Dhobi Talao witnessed dhobis in large numbers who showed up to wash clothes at a tank, which stood in the area aeons ago. Although the tank was covered up later, the name stuck and Dhobi Talao is a very well-known area in contemporary times.
7. Mahim
Source: Anuradha Sengupta / Flickr
Mahim used to be a desert island and had fishermen and families residing in the area. Mahim has been adapted from ‘Mahimavati’ which means miraculous in Sanskrit. Thename came about after King Bimbadev built a city called Mahikavati.
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FAQs
What are the old names of places in Mumbai? ›
The oldest known names for the city are Kakamuchee and Galajunkja; these are sometimes still used. In 1508, Portuguese writer Gaspar Correia used the name "Bombaim" in his Lendas da Índia (Legends of India).
What is Mumbai best known for? ›Mumbai is a mix of iconic old-world charm architecture, strikingly modern high rises, cultural and traditional structures, and whatnot. The city is known as the commercial capital of India, but there is more to it than that. Mumbai is all about art, history, culture, food, theatre, cinema, nightlife and a lot more.
What are the names for Mumbai? ›Mumbai (also known as Bombay, the official name until 1995) is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra.
What was the old name of Mumbai answer? ›Bombay was renamed Mumbai on 6 March 1996.
Which area of Mumbai is famous? ›Colaba Causeway
One of the most crowded and electrifying places to visit in Mumbai is the Colaba Causeway, famous for being a shopping paradise and having endless shops to choose from. It has a charm about it, which will suck you into its world of colourful shops and old-world cafes like a magnet.
Mumbai, the capital city of Maharashtra is called the “city of dreams” or “Mayanagri” as they call. It has gained this epithet over the years not just because it offers limitless opportunities for the Indian citizens across the states, but also for people across the borders.
Is Mumbai a common name or special name? ›Names that are the same for groups like animals, places, or people are called common names. Eg., girl, boy, peacock, chair, dog etc. Names that are unique to a particular person, place, thing, or animal are called special or unique names. Eg., Sandy, Lisa, Mumbai, Hyderabad, etc.
Why does Mumbai have two names? ›The city's official name change, to Mumbai from Bombay happened when regional political party Shiv Sena came into power in 1995. The Shiv Sena saw Bombay as a legacy of British colonialism and wanted the city's name to reflect its Maratha heritage, hence renaming it to pay tribute to the goddess Mumbadevi.
Is Mumbai new name? ›Bombay was officially renamed by legislation in 1995, and under the Shiv Sena Government in Maharashtra, the city became Mumbai.
Is Mumbai name changed? ›Mumbai (Marathi: मुंबई), from Bombay, renamed in 1995.
What are the 3 heritage sites in Mumbai? ›
The Elephanta Caves, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and The Victorian & Art Deco Ensemble of Mumbai are recognised as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
What is the oldest place in Mumbai? ›Colaba is the life centre of old Bombay, being one of the islands out of seven. It not only boasts of proximity to the Arabian Sea, but has the pride of India viz.,Gateway of India, The Taj Palace and Taj Intercontinental, Jehangir Art Gallery, Prince of Wales Museum etc.in the vicinity.
Which city is known as second Mumbai? ›Proddatur – The Second Bombay. Situated in Andhra Pradesh, Proddatur is well known for its gold and cotton industries, and hence is called the Second Bombay. It is also referred to as the 'City of Gold' because of the large-scale gold business that takes place here.
What's the best place in Mumbai? ›Parel/Lower Parel
It is known for both the residential and commercial areas. It has some of the topmost residential complexes of the city and also lots of commercial complexes including the Kamala Mills. It is one of the posh areas of Mumbai and is also considered amongst the safe areas of the city.
Mumbai, the city where dreams are made and fulfilled! From jam-packed railway platforms to the famous Dabbawalas, multi-millionaires to suburban slums, the dazzling Bollywood to the quintessential vada pav, the uniqueness of Mumbai city is beyond words.
Why is Mumbai a smart city? ›With the implementation of Mumbai as smart city, the transparency, flexibility and automation of administration process between the government and citizens is possible and response to different issues can be faster on real time basis.
Which is the richest area of Mumbai? ›Colaba. Situated at the Southern part of Mumbai, Colaba is one of the four peninsulas of Mumbai. The other three are Worli, Bandra and Malabar Hill. It is one of the wealthiest neighborhood in India, known for high-end boutiques, malls and is one of the major tourist attractions in the city.
Which is the most rich area in Mumbai? ›- Juhu, also known as Beverly Hills of Bollywood is one of the posh areas in Mumbai.
- Chowpatty Beach as seen from Malabar Hill, the most expensive area in Mumbai.
- Hi-rise skyscrapers at night in Cuffe Parade, one of the posh areas in Mumbai.
- Residential buildings in Bandra West, the most expensive area in Mumbai.
Dharavi is a suburb in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. It has often been considered to be one of the world's largest slums. Dharavi has an area of just over 2.39 square kilometres (0.92 sq mi; 590 acres) and a population of about 1,000,000.
Is Mumbai also called Pink City? ›It was founded on 18 November 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the ruler of Amber, after whom the city has been named. Jaipur is known as the Pink City of India .
Is Mumbai still the city of dreams? ›
In conclusion, Mumbai is the city of many dreams because it has many things for many people. If you want to work hard and gain success, then Mumbai is your place. Come here on a holiday or business and will find yourself falling in love with this city.
Is Mumbai the city that never sleeps? ›Its residents proudly call it “the city that never sleeps”. It has an energy and drive to build and grow rapidly. Its bustling financial heartland is also based in the southern tip of an island, meaning development is constrained by water on three sides.
What language is spoken in Mumbai? ›The 4 languages primarily spoken throughout the Mumbai Suburban District are Marathi, Hindi, English and Gujarati.
What is the meaning of Mumbai? ›Mumbai. / (mʊmˈbaɪ) / noun. a port in W India, capital of Mahrashtra state, on the Arabian Sea: ceded by Portugal to England in 1661 and of major importance in British India; commercial and industrial centre, esp for cotton.
What is the most unique name in India? ›- Balakrishnan: Meaning “young Krishna”.
- Calvert: Meaning “shepherd”.
- Devesh: Meaning “Lord Shiva”.
- Eashan: Meaning “Shiva”.
- Fakir: Meaning “a saintly person”
- Gangesh: Meaning “Lord of the Ganges River”.
- Hardeep: Meaning “light of God”.
- Ishan: Meaning “Lord of wealth” or “sun”.
association with Mumbai
name from the local goddess Mumba—a form of Parvati, the consort of Shiva, one of the principal deities of Hinduism—whose temple once stood in what is now the southeastern section of the city.
The city was called Mombayn, Bombay, Bombain, Bombaym, Monbaym, Mombaim, Mombaym, Bambaye, Bombaiim, Bombeye, Boon Bay, and Bon Bahia at different points in colonial history. But it was officially renamed to Mumbai in 1995.
What city has two names twice? ›Seattle–Tacoma, Washington (state), US.
Do people still call Mumbai Bombay? ›The older name of “Bombay” was changed to “Mumbai” in recent years, many people across the world are used to old name “Bombay”, therefore they still call Mumbai as Bombay.
Who founded Mumbai? ›King Bhimdev founded his kingdom in the region in the late 13th century and established his capital in Mahikawati (present-day Mumbai). Bombay as the state of India was founded in 1950. In 1996, Bombay was renamed Mumbai.
Which are the oldest parts of Mumbai? ›
Colaba is the life centre of old Bombay, being one of the islands out of seven. It not only boasts of proximity to the Arabian Sea, but has the pride of India viz.,Gateway of India, The Taj Palace and Taj Intercontinental, Jehangir Art Gallery, Prince of Wales Museum etc.in the vicinity.
What are the very old buildings in Mumbai? ›- Town Hall Mumbai. ...
- Mount Mary's Basilica. ...
- Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus. ...
- Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation Building. ...
- Haji Ali Dargah.
...
South Mumbai.
| South Mumbai South Bombay Old Mumbai / Mumbai City District | |
|---|---|
| • Body | BMC |
| Area | |
| • Total | 67.7 km2 (26.1 sq mi) |
| Population (2011) | |
- Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus. The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus is not just a UNESCO World Heritage site, but also the country's most famous railway station and Mumbai's most iconic landmark. ...
- Haji Ali Dargah. ...
- Mumba Devi Temple.