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Capital of Maharashtra : Financial Capital of India

Last Updated : 27 Oct, 2023
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Capital of Maharashtra: Maharashtra is a state in India. Its capital is Mumbai. The Capital of Maharashtra is also the financial capital of India. It is the cultural, and entertainment centre of Maharashtra. Mumbai, the capital of Maharashtra, is a bustling municipality and India’s financial hub. Until 1995, the city was known as Bombay, but now it goes by its current name, Mumbai.

Let’s get a closer look at the Capital of Maharashtra – the Financial capital of India.

Capital of Maharashtra

Capital of Maharashtra History

The Capital of Maharashtra Bombay was a centre of cultural and economic advancement in the nineteenth century. It centred on India’s independence movement in the early 1900s. The City of Bombay became the state capital when India gained independence in 1947.

Later, in 1960, after the Samyukta Maharashtra movement, a new state was formed, also called Maharashtra, and Mumbai was designated as the state capital. The “best in the world” distinction went to Mumbai in 2008. It’s a major financial centre in India, hence the alternative name.

  • Mumbai (formerly Bombay) was originally a cluster of seven islands in the Arabian Sea.
  • Local villages and towns grew around Mumbai because Koli fishermen colonised the area early.
  • Mumbai gets its name from the locals’ reverence for their goddess, Mumbadevi.

Portugal’s Dominance on Maharashtra:

  • Various Hindu, Buddhist, and Muslim dynasties took turns ruling the Bombay area. But after the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama landed in Calicut in 1498, things were looking well for Bombay.
  • In exchange for military aid, the Portuguese gained the seven islands from the Sultan of Gujarat in 1534.
  • They established their capital in Bassein, ruled the island for over a century, and successfully converted thousands of Muslims and Hindus to Christianity in and around Bombay.

Bombay was a gift from Portugal to King Charles II:

  • In 1661, when Charles II of England married a Portuguese princess (Catherine of Braganza), the king of Portugal gave him the islands as a wedding present.
  • Additionally, King Charles II leased the island to the East India Company. The corporation fortified the island in preparation for any invasion.

Capital of Maharashtra – Cultures

Cultures and customs from all around the world come together in Mumbai. Population from throughout India and the world shows the city’s cosmopolitan nature. The city’s celebrations, cuisine, and artwork reflect this unique blending of cultures.

The Hindu festival of Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated with great enthusiasm in Mumbai. The city comes to life during this time with processions, music, and ornate decorations. Delivering lunch boxes to Mumbai’s office workers with military precision, the dabbawalas have become a cultural symbol. The city has many museums, theatres, and galleries that highlight its citizens’ culture and achievements.

Economic Capital of Maharashtra

Mumbai is the commercial, financial, and economic nerve centre of India. Its economic makeup is similar to India’s diverse mosaic of wealth and technical progress versus poverty and underdevelopment.

Mumbai is home to the Indian Atomic Electricity Commission’s headquarters, nuclear reactors, and plutonium separators, although many suburbs still use cow dung for fuel and electricity. Reliance Industries Limited, a privately held company with operations in the petrochemical industry and textile production, retail, and telecommunications, is based in the city. It made history by entering the Fortune 500 as India’s first privately held firm.

Winter and Summer Capital of Maharashtra

Nagpur is the winter capital of the state of Maharashtra in India, It is a fast growing metropolis and third largest city in Maharashtra after Mumbai and Pune. With a population of 46,53,570 (as per survey in 2011) Nagpur Metropolitan Area is the 13th largest urban conglomeration here in India.

Mumbai is the summer capital of Maharashtra. It is the Largest City in Maharashtra. Nagpur, winter capital of Maharashtra – Third largest city in Maharastra

Capital of Maharashtra tourism and attraction

Every type of tourist can find something to like in Mumbai. Historic sites and thriving, modern commercial and nightlife districts provide something for everyone. While in Mumbai, be sure to check out these great sights:

1. Gateway of India: This 26-meter Colaba arch symbolises Mumbai. The 1924 visit of King George V and Queen Mary spurred its development.

2. Elephanta Caves: These Hindu temples, just 10 kilometres from Mumbai, have been around since the 6th century BC. The carvings of Hindu deities inside the caverns are truly works of art.

3. Marine Drive: On this seaside walkway, you may walk from Nariman Point to Girgaum Chowpatty Beach. It’s an excellent place for a stroll, a jog, or a stroll in the evening.

4. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS): The former name, the Prince of Wales Museum of Western India, belies its extensive historical artefact collection. It is the location of the renowned Sultanganj Buddha.

5. Juhu Beach: Juhu Beach is a large, popular beach near the city’s heart.

6. Haji Ali Dargah: The island mosque in Worli Bay is a stunning example of Islamic architecture. Located here lies the mausoleum of Pir Haji Ali Shah Bukhari.

7. Victoria Terminus (VT): In 1887, construction began on this Gothic-style station. This area, which includes the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) in Mumbai, is a World Heritage Site.

8. Film City: Located in Goregaon, this 25-acre compound dates back to the year 1911. Sets and studios for making Bollywood films are located there.

9. Elephanta Festival: Every year in February, Elephanta Island hosts a massive celebration. There is music, dance, vibrant costumes, and age-old customs.

In conclusion, Mumbai is vital to India’s economic future, with people travelling nationwide to pursue their financial goals. In this city, making money is easy, but living is expensive. We saw the city’s frantic pace while riding the local trains that brought most of Mumbai’s workers to and from work and home.

Manufacturing and Technology in Capital of Maharashtra

Although the cotton textile industry, Mumbai’s 19th-century economic engine, is still vital to the city’s economy, it has significantly lagged behind rising industries, especially since the late 20th century.

Major industries in the town presently include the production of metals, chemicals, vehicles, electronics, and many supporting ones. Food processing, papermaking, printing, and publishing also boost the economy and workforce.

Mumbai lagged behind other Indian cities like Bengaluru (Bangalore) and Hyderabad in the IT industry for quite some time before catching up in the late 20th century.

Because of the better infrastructure and cheaper rates, many technology companies have relocated to the northern and eastern suburbs. Notable are the facilities in Navi Mumbai, which cater to information technology enterprises, and the special economic zone established in the city’s north in 2000.

Facts about Capital of Maharashtra

  • Mumbai has about 20 million people, making it India’s most populous city.
  • Land reclamation turned what was formerly seven separate islands into a single peninsula.
  • The city is best known as the location of Bollywood, the film industry responsible for more annual movie releases than any other in the world.
  • Mumbai is home to the most millionaires and billionaires in India.
  • During their 1911 visit to Mumbai, King George V and Queen Mary commissioned the construction of the iconic Gateway of India arch monument.
  • One of India’s busiest train stations, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus in Mumbai, is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  • The world’s largest urban tropical forest is in Mumbai’s Sanjay Gandhi National Park.

Capital of Maharashtra – FAQs

1. What is the real capital of Maharashtra?

Mumbai is the capital of Maharashtra. Mumbai is widely known as the financial, commercial, and entertainment capital of India. Until 1995, Bombay was the official name of Mumbai.

2. What is the nickname of Mumbai?

Mumbai, the financial capital of India, is often referred to as the “City of Dreams.” This nickname represents the city’s allure as the center of opportunities and aspirations for people from all over the country.

3. Why Nagpur is capital of Maharashtra?

The British East India Company took over Nagpur in the 19th century and made it the capital of the Central Provinces and Berar. After the first reorganisation of states, the city lost its capital status but according to the “Nagpur Pact” between political leaders it was made the second capital of Maharashtra.

4. Why is Mumbai famous?

The city is known as the commercial capital of India, but there is more to it than that. Mumbai is all about art, history, culture, food, theatre, cinema, nightlife and a lot more. This has raised the level of real estate sector in Mumbai.

5. Who is the king of Mumbai now?

There is no one “king” of Mumbai now. The term “king of Mumbai” is often used to refer to Dawood Ibrahim, a notorious Indian mafia don and drug lord who is currently in hiding in Pakistan. However, Ibrahim has been largely inactive in the Mumbai underworld since the early 2000s.

6. What is the oldest name of Mumbai?

The oldest name of Mumbai was Kakamuchee and Galajunkja.

7. What is Maharashtra famous food?

The most-popular forms are bhaji, vada pav, misalpav and pav bhaji. More-traditional dishes are sabudana khichadi, pohe, upma, sheera and panipuri. Most Marathi fast food and snacks are lacto-vegetarian.

8. What is the second capital of Maharashtra?

The British Government made Nagpur the capital of the second new state named Central Province in mid-19th century . it remained so till 1956, after which it became the second capital of Maharashtra.

9. What is the third capital of Maharashtra?

Nagpur is the third largest city Maharashtra. It is also know as winter city of India. It is the 13th largest city in India by population. 



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