Daily Globe British Values, Global Perspective
Mumbai is a historic city which came under the reign of many empires and kingdom. Meanwhile, the city has travelled several miles and developed to the extent that it is today the wealthiest city in India.
There are many interesting things to know about Mumbai. One of which is the fact that the city was originally a cluster of seven islands. It were the Britishers who took the job of reclaiming the area between the islands and constructing railway line and roads, and thus forming the city. The Britishers, on their part didn’t came to gain the power of the city by conquering it. In fact, it was given as dowry to the British by the Portuguese when King Charles II married Portuguese Catherine of Braganza. Along with the seven original islands of Mumbai the British also received the ports of Tangier as the dowry. The erstwhile regions of Mumbai were amongst the few places in India that received the Portuguese colonization for the first time. However, as apparent it is, the regions of Mumbai still constituted the islands. Additionally, before the influx of the Portuguese, the lands were ruled by successive indigenous kingdoms.
Meanwhile, it were the Britishers who in true terms laid the foundation of the city. Along with reclaiming the areas between the seven islands under the project, which was known as the Hornby Vellard Project, the Britishers also transformed the city into a significant port on the Arabian Sea. Following that, the city then received major developments in the domain of education and commerce. It didn’t took much time for the city to become one of the most dominant commerce cities. Meanwhile, during the time when the country was struggling for its independence, it became a major base for the country’s independence movement. It hosted the first ever session of the Indian National Congress before the country’s independence. Later, the city also became the center of Samyukta Maharashtra movement, which was a movement started for the formation of Maharashtra state. In 1960 Maharashtra earned its statehood and Mumbai was declared the capital of the state. In the following decades the city suffered from several wounds like the Hindu-Muslim riot, multiple bomb blasts, and terrorist attacks. However, the city still survives and continues to grow and develop.
Today the city is the wealthiest city in India, and is the prime center of commerce. Thus, is also called the commercial capital of India. It is sufficiently equipped with every single aspect of modernization. From housing all major financial institutions, universities and colleges, excellent transportation, plush residences, flashy shopping malls, sports center, art galleries, libraries, exquisite restaurants and luxury replete hotels in Mumbai, the city is also home to the Bombay Stock Exchange, Bollywood, and Department of Atomic Energy etc.
On the tourism front, the city has long attracted travelers across India. It is one of the premier holiday destinations in India. The good thing is that there exist number of good tour companies, helping one to explore the city. However, if one likes to travel solo, the city itself will be lots of help. The most significant places to visit in Mumbai include: Marine Drive, Esselworld & Water Kingdom, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Gateway of India, Elephanta Island, Siddhivinayak Temple, Kanheri caves, Bandra Worli Sea Link, Juhu Beach, Chowpatty Beach, Haji Ali Dargah, Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Iskcon Temple, Film City, Nehru Planetarium, Mumbai Zoo, and Hanging Gardens etc.
