India
Mumbai
Welcome to India! Mumbai is a huge, energetic city on the Arabian Sea, home to a famous stone gateway, a curving seaside promenade, and millions of people riding trains every single day.
Why is it famous?
Mumbai is India's biggest city and a major center for business, movies, and trade, built around one of the world's finest natural harbors.
It's home to the Gateway of India, a giant stone arch built to welcome visitors arriving by sea.
How was it built?
Mumbai grew out of seven separate islands that were slowly joined together over hundreds of years using huge amounts of landfill.
As the islands connected into one landmass, the city grew into a major port, and grand buildings like the Gateway of India and the railway terminus were built during the early 1900s.
Amazing facts
The Gateway of India stands 85 feet (26 m) tall and was completed in 1924 to mark a royal visit.
Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus railway station is so beautiful that it's been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Quick facts
- The Gateway of India stands 85 feet (26 m) tall and was completed in 1924 to mark a royal visit.
- Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus railway station is so beautiful that it's been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Marine Drive, a long curving seaside road, is nicknamed the 'Queen's Necklace' because its streetlights look like a glittering necklace at night.
- Mumbai's local trains carry more than 7 million passengers every single day — more people than the entire population of many countries!