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A region in Asia: Mumbai, India

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Mumbai is India's financial capital and one of the world's biggest cities. Its location on the west coast shapes its climate, growth and challenges.

Site and climate

Mumbai (called Bombay until 1995) is the capital of the state of Maharashtra, on India's west coast by the Arabian Sea.
It was built on seven islands that were joined by land reclamation. Its natural harbour made it a great port.
It has a monsoon climate: most rain falls from about June to September. On 26 July 2005, 944 mm of rain fell in one day at one weather station, causing deadly floods.

A booming city

Mumbai is India's financial capital: home to the Reserve Bank of India and the Bombay Stock Exchange (founded in 1875, Asia's oldest stock exchange).
It is the centre of the Hindi film industry (Bollywood).
It is a megacity. Millions of migrants have arrived from rural India, pulled by jobs.

Challenges and solutions

Housing is very expensive. Many people live in informal settlements such as Dharavi, one of Asia's largest, home to hundreds of thousands of people. Dharavi also has thriving small businesses, including recycling, pottery and leather work.
Other challenges: traffic, crowded trains, pollution and flooding.
Solutions include new metro lines, road projects and upgrading housing and sanitation.
Worked example

Explain why Mumbai grew into a megacity.

  1. Its natural harbour on the west coast made it a major port for trade.
  2. It became India's financial and film centre, creating many jobs.
  3. Millions of migrants were pulled from rural areas by these jobs, and the young population then had children in the city.

Answer: A great port, financial and film industries creating jobs, and huge rural-urban migration.

Key idea

Mumbai: capital of Maharashtra on the Arabian Sea; built on seven islands joined by reclamation; monsoon June to September (944 mm in one day, 26 July 2005). India's financial capital (Bombay Stock Exchange, 1875) and home of Bollywood. Megacity with informal settlements like Dharavi, which also has busy recycling industries.

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