The city of Mumbai (formerly known as Bombay) originally consisted of seven islands, namely Matunga-Sion, Parel, Mazagaon, Wadala, Old Woman's Island, Mahim and Colaba. This group of islands, which have since been joined together by a series of reclamations, formed part of the kingdom of Ashoka, the famous Emperor of India. When the Muslim ruler Sultan Muhamed Begada captured the islands, Bombay was till then inhabited by the Hindus. Vasco da Gama, a Portuguese traveler, was the first person to explore the sea-route to Bombay. The discovery led to repeated attacks by the Portuguese, who eventually captured the islands in 1534. By 1665, all the seven islands that constitute Mumbai came under the control of the British Government and were further leased to the East India Company in 1668. India became a free country on August 15, 1947 and Bombay became the capital. Bombay was named as Mumbai after “Mumbadevi”, the patron goddess of Koli fisher folks in 1995.

Climate of Mumbai is fluctuating one as it is a coastal area and the weather is highly influenced by the presence of Arabian Sea. Mumbai climate can be broadly divided into three seasons, namely winters (November-February), summers (March-May) and monsoons (June-September). During the winter cold northerly winds are responsible for a high wind chill factor and the temperature varies in between 23°C (74°F) and 30°C (86°F). During the summer, the temperature rises up to 35°C (95°F). June to September is the monsoon season when the city is lashed by heavy rain, characterized by high humidity and temperatures of over 30°C (86°F). Average annual rainfall is about 2200 mm.

Mumbai is called the financial capital of India; the stock exchange is the primary stock exchange of the country with two of the most important stock exchanges in India - the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE). Besides being the financial and commercial capital, it has one of the largest cotton textile industries in the country. Most of India's television and satellite networks are located in Mumbai, as well as the major publishing houses.

Mumbai International Airport is connected with all the important cities of India as well as the world. Mumbai has various modes of transportation: public buses, trains, taxis and autos. Local Trains are the major means of transport in Mumbai. There are four lines of these local trains that cover the city extensively. Public buses run by the BEST (an autonomous body under the BMC) cover almost all parts of the metropolis as well as parts of New Bombay and Thane. The buses are red color generally and on the front and side of the bus route details are written in Hindi Language. The regular taxis are black and yellow in color, with manual meters and without air condition. Auto rickshaws, allowed to operate only in the suburban area, are the main form of hired transport there.

There are different types of schools in Mumbai- Municipal schools run by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) or private schools run by trusts and individuals. Most of the people prefer private schools as the facilities are better and English is used as the medium of instruction. After ten years of schooling, students enroll for two years in a Junior College where they choose from one of the four popular streams: Arts, Commerce, Science and Law. All professional colleges in Mumbai are affiliated to the University of Mumbai (known earlier as University of Bombay) one of the oldest and premier universities in India. The city is also home to several premier research institutions like the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) and the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC).

Mumbai is home to a good many place of tourist interest. Being on the coast of Arabian Sea, Mumbai has some great beaches which attract locals and tourists. One of the most striking monuments of Mumbai, the Gateway of India was built to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary for the Delhi Durbar in 1911. The gateway is an arch with a height of 26 meters and is made up of yellow basalt and reinforced concrete, behind the arch, there are steps leading down to the water. The whole harbour front was realigned in order to come in line with a planned esplanade which would sweep down to the centre of the town. The nearby statues of Shivaji and Swami Vivekananda add charm to the massive structure, the Gateway of India.

Hanging Gardens also known as Ferozeshah Mehta Gardens are the perfectly manicured terraced gardens on the slopes of the Malabar Hill, just opposite the Kamala Nehru Park. It is built over three reservoirs, which store 30 million gallons of water pumped here for cleaning before being supplied to the town. The garden is famous for its lush green cover and the numerous hedges that are carved into the shape of animals. The main attraction regarding this garden is that offers a lovely view of the sunset across the horizon of the Arabian Sea.

Mumbai Film City is also sometimes called Bollywood, the name inspired from Hollywood churning out thousands of Hindi movies that are shown across the world. Bollywood traces its start to 1911 when the first silent Indian feature film was released by D.P. Phalke. Acclaimed as one of the biggest film industries of the world, Bollywood produces over 1000 films every year.

These are the tenth century caves located on the Elephanta Island, 10 km away from the Gateway of India at Mumbai. Elephanta island is a one of the most visited places around Mumbai and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. The island was so named by the Portuguese, after the statue of an elephant near the landing area of the island. The cave complex is a collection of courtyards, grand halls, shrines, inner cells, porticos arranged in the splendid symmetry of Indian rock-cut architecture, and filled with exquisite stone sculptures of Hindu Gods and Goddesses. The main cave, which is known as Elephanta, is supported by massive pillars, each rising on a square base with fluted shafts.

Mumbai has traditional, religious, state and national festivals organized and celebrated in the city, depicting one or more aspects of human life, relationships or ancient traditions. Some of the festivals celebrated in Mumbai are specific to the city, while some are celebrated through Maharashtra and even all over India also some cultural festivals are basically celebrated to encourage tourism and traditional arts in the city.