City-information for Mumbai

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Population 12.5 million

The name Bombay is a Portuguese corruption of 'Mumba" or "Mumbai," which is a name for Parvati, the wife of Lord Siva. Bombay is made up of a collection of seven islands connected by reclamation from the sea.

It was taken over by the Portuguese in the early 16th century. They leased it the British in 1668. When the British took over it was a very small town. The British then built it into an important port city.

Now Bombay is the most important city in India for business activities, having a good percentage of all the wealth in India. Over one-third of the income tax paid in India is from Bombay, and half the foreign trade is done from here. The best time to visit Bombay is in January. During the rainy season it has some of the heaviest rains in all of India.