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Mumbai Facts & Worksheets

Formerly known as Bombay, Mumbai is a megacity which also serves as the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra.

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Formerly known as Bombay, Mumbai is a megacity which also serves as the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. The city lies on the Konkan coast of West India and has a rich history of indigenous empires and foreign colonial occupation mostly from the Portuguese then the British.

See the fact file below for more information on the Mumbai or alternatively, you can download our 21-page Mumbai worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

ETYMOLOGY

  • The term Mumbai is derived from Mumbā or Mahā-Ambā—the name of the patron goddess (kuladevata) Mumbadevi of the native Koli community.
  • Prior to being termed Mumbai, the oldest known names for the city are Kakamuchee and Galajunkja, which are still sometimes used today. Portuguese explorers in the 16th century began referring to the area as “Bombaim” which translates to “good little bay.”
  • When the British gained control of the city in the 17th century, the term became Anglicized to “Bombay.” The name Mumbai began to be used in the late 20th century and the government of India officially changed the name in November 1995.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

  • Mumbai is built on what was once an archipelago of seven islands: Isle of Bombay, Parel, Mazagaon, Mahim, Colaba, Worli, and Old Woman’s Island. In the third century BCE, the islands formed part of the Maurya Empire ruled by the Buddhist emperor Ashoka of Magadha.
  • Between the 2nd century BCE and 9th century BCE, the islands came under the control of successive indigenous dynasties: Satavahanas, Western Satraps, Abhira, Vakataka, Kalachuris, Konkan Mauryas, Chalukyas and Rashtrakutas, before being ruled by the Shilaharas.
  • The Mughal Empire, founded in 1526, was the dominant power in the Indian subcontinent during the mid-16th century. Growing apprehensive of the power of the Mughal emperor Humayun, Sultan Bahadur Shah of Gujarat was obliged to sign the Treaty of Bassein with the Portuguese Empire on 23 December 1534.
  • On 11 May 1661, the marriage treaty of Charles II of England and Catherine of Braganza, daughter of King John IV of Portugal, placed the islands in possession of the English Empire, as part of Catherine’s dowry to Charles.
  • India eventually gained official independence in 1947 and the territory of the Bombay Presidency retained by India was restructured into Bombay State.

GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE

  • Mumbai lies between the Arabian Sea to the west, Thane Creek to the east and Vasai Creek to the north and is characterized as a narrow peninsula. Mumbai consists of two distinct regions: Mumbai City district and Mumbai Suburban district, which form two separate revenue districts of Maharashtra.
  • There are six major lakes that supply water to the city: Vihar, Lower Vaitarna, Upper Vaitarna, Tulsi, Tansa and Powai. Soil cover in the city region is predominantly sandy due to its proximity to the sea.
  • Mumbai has a predominantly tropical climate where there is a dry period from October to May and a significant wet period around June. Monsoons cause floods which have long been a problem for the city. Air pollution has also been a great cause for concern among the city’s residents.

ECONOMY

  • As the largest city in India, Mumbai is the financial and commercial capital of the country, generating 6.16% of its total GDP. It has experienced an economic boom since the liberalisation of 1991, the finance boom in the mid-nineties and the IT, export, services and outsourcing boom in the 2000s.
  • State and central government employees make up a large percentage of the city’s workforce. Mumbai also has a large unskilled and semi-skilled self-employed population, who primarily earn their livelihood as hawkers, taxi drivers, mechanics and other such blue collar professions.

HIGHLIGHTS AND ATTRACTIONS

  • The Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus railway station is one of Mumbai’s most iconic landmarks. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that features striking High Victorian Gothic and Indian architectural styles.
  • Mumbai is the center of India’s booming “Bollywood” film industry. The architecturally resplendent Eros Cinema, adjacent to the Churchgate railway station, is a great place to take in a Bollywood movie. Alternatively, it’s possible to go on a tour to the heart of the action in Film City.
  • The ancient rock-cut caves on Elephanta Island are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a collection of cave temples predominantly dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva.

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW

  • Mumbai suffers from terrible transportation traffic at certain ‘peak’ hours or rush hours. Morning traffic is at its worst between 8 to 10 AM from the suburbs towards South Bombay.
  • Mumbai’s streets are filled with local stalls and markets selling inexpensive goods such as clothes and accessories. South Mumbai has Colaba Causeway and the suburban areas have the Hill Road market, Irla in Vile Parle, and many more.
  • With a population of 9.9 million people in the central city, Mumbai is the third-largest city in the world. Some 15.4 million live in Greater Mumbai (Mumbai and its suburbs). Though much of the city’s population are Marathas, inhabitants of Maharashtra and speaking the Marathi language, Mumbai is a cosmopolitan city.

Mumbai Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the Mumbai across 21 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Mumbai worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the Mumbai which is a megacity which also serves as the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. The city lies on the Konkan coast of West India and has a rich history of indigenous empires and foreign colonial occupation mostly from the Portuguese then the British.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Mumbai Facts
  • Historical Events
  • More About Mumbai
  • Fill It With Facts
  • Mumbai Must-Eats
  • It’s a Mumbai Thing
  • Notable Mumbaikars
  • Fly Me to Mumbai
  • Festivals in Mumbai
  • Elephants in Holi
  • Impact of Bollywood

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Link will appear as Mumbai Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, January 2, 2021

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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