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.
FAQs
'Breach Candy' in South Bombay is a posh area close to 'Haji Ali Dargah'. The area was in fact called 'Burj Khadi', which is a mix of Arabic and Hindi. The name now is a case of mispronunciation and obviously has nothing to do with 'candy'. Bandra gets its name from the word 'port' which means 'bandar' in Marathi.
What are the different names of Mumbai? ›
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.
Why did Bombay change its name to Mumbai? ›
According to Slate magazine, "they argued that 'Bombay' was a corrupted English version of 'Mumbai' and an unwanted legacy of British colonial rule." Slate also said "The push to rename Bombay was part of a larger movement to strengthen Marathi identity in the Maharashtra region."
What is Mumbai best known for? ›
Not just Bollywood, Mumbai also is a leading arts and entertainment capital in India. With the Indian Television industry, the ad agencies, some of the oldest museums and galleries located here, Mumbai definitely is very artsy.
What is Mumbai named as? ›
The name of the city, Mumbai is derived from patron deity the Mother Goddess Mumba Devi, worshiped by the earliest inhabitants the Kolis.
Does Mumbai have a different name? ›
Mumbai (also known as Bombay, the official name until 1995) is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra. Mumbai lies on the Konkan coast on the west coast of India and has a deep natural harbour. In 2008, Mumbai was named an alpha world city.
What is the first name Mumbai? ›
In 1996, the newly elected Shiv Sena-led government renamed the city of Bombay to the native name Mumbai, after the Koli native Marathi people Goddess Mumbadevi.
Is Mumbai a common name or special name? ›
Names that are unique to a particular person, place, thing, or animal are called special or unique names. Eg., Sandy, Lisa, Mumbai, Hyderabad, etc.
What is the new Mumbai another name? ›
Navi Mumbai (Marathi pronunciation: [nəʋiː mumbəi] previously New Bombay) is a planned city next to Mumbai (Bombay), located in the Konkan division of the western Indian state of Maharashtra, on the mainland of India.
Who gave Bombay its name? ›
After the British gained possession, it was believed to be anglicised to Bombay from the Portuguese Bombaim.
As the commercial capital of the country, Mumbai has much appeal to anyone in search of work and better career prospects. Migrants from every part of the country move to the city every day in search of a better life, hence the name 'City of Dreams' was coined.
Why is Mumbai called the city that never sleeps? ›
Its heritage is a combination of traditional festivals, multiple cuisines, including street food, music and fine arts. Also known as the city that never sleeps, it is one of the busiest places in India with traffic continuously on the move on all main arteries.
Why is Mumbai unique? ›
Mumbai is India's most electric city. Considered as the city that never sleeps, Mumbai has people coming from all across the country to develop a name for themselves. The city provides lots of opportunities and is welcoming to all people from different parts.
What is Mumbai special for? ›
Mumbai, one of the major cosmopolitan cities in India, is a popular tourist attraction. It is primarily famous for large markets, mesmerising beaches, towering buildings, and exquisite five-star hotels.
What is Mumbai highest famous for? ›
Mumbai High, formerly Bombay High is the largest oil field in India. It is an offshore oilfield located in the Arabian Sea, approximately 160km west of the Mumbai coast. It was discovered in 1974, started production in 1976.
How did places get their names? ›
Most often the names of places are related to the original people that founded the settlement and they can often be attributed to the landscape, animals, vegetation or social activities of the area.
Why is Bandra called so? ›
In Konkani, bandar is a loanword from Parsi (Persian) meaning harbour or port. The area along with much of the Konkan region, was ruled by the Silhara dynasty in the 12th century. Bandra was a tiny fishing village inhabited by Kolis (fishermen) and salt farmers.
Why is it named Andheri? ›
The name Andheri was derived from Udayanagari, the name of a hill near the Mahakali caves .
How did Dadar get its name? ›
It gets its name from the village of Dadar through which it runs. Dadar in Marathi means a staircase or ladder, and as this locality could be regarded as part of a ladder leading to Bombay it was called Dadar.
