The Port of Mumbai (formerly Bombay) is a deep natural harbor on India’s northwest coast.
Port History
While archeological evidence suggests human occupation during the Stone Age, the earliest known inhabitants of the area were Koli fishermen. As early as 300 BC, the ancient Greeks called the area Heptanesia (meaning a cluster of seven islands), and it was a trade center with both Egypt and Persia in 1000 BC.
In the 3rd Century BC, it was part of the Asoka Empire, and it was ruled by the Calukyas from the 6th to 8th Century. The Yadavas of Devagiri, who ruled from 1187 to 1318, created a settlement on Bombay Island due to raids in 1294 by the Khalji dynasty. Their descendants still live in the Port of Mumbai.
Muslim armies invaded and conquered the area in 1348, when it became part of the Kingdom of Gujarat. Though the Portuguese failed in a 1507 attempt, they won the Port of Mumbai in 1534. Then in 1661, it fell under the rule of the British Empire when the sister of Portugal’s king married King Charles II. The English crown soon granted the area to the East India Company.
At first, the English did not consider the Port of Mumbai (or Bombay) a valuable asset to the Empire. Mainland powers -- the Mughals, Marathas, and Gujarat princes -- were more powerful than the British. But the end of the 18th Century brought many changes. Instability among mainland powers drove refugees to the island, including merchants and artisans, and Mumbai began to grow.
In 1853, India’s first passenger railway line started there. By 1860, the Port of Mumbai was the biggest cotton market in India, with many spinning and weaving mills located there. When the American Civil War cut off Britain’s cotton supplies from the New World, Mumbai underwent a tremendous boom in trade and became the world’s cotton trade center until the end of the war. When the Suez Canal was opened in 1869, the Port of Mumbai prospered despite the slums and unhealthy conditions brought with its growing population. Bombay suffered an outbreak of plague in 1896, and new projects were started to provide homes for the artisan classes.
During the late 1800s and early 1900s, Mumbai was a political center for nationalist and regional interests. The first session of the Indian National Congress was held there in 1885, as was the 1942 session where the Congress demanded independence for India.
After World War II, new residential growth began in suburban areas, and the municipal government covered all of Greater Bombay. It was the scene of passionate protests against the two-language structure that led to the partition of Bombay state into the today’s states of Maharashtra and Gujarat. Bombay became the capital of the State of Maharashtra in 1960.
In the 1970s, the Port of Mumbai experienced another wave of immigration, with associated construction boom, and Bombay overtook Kolkata (Calcutta) as the country’s largest city. In 1992-93, secular riots cost many lives and much property when local Maharashtrians became overwhelmed about the loss of their culture. In 1995, the old Bombay was renamed Mumbai, reflecting its historic beginnings. Since that time, terrorist attacks by Islamic extremists have disrupted life for Bombay’s citizens.
Port Commerce
The Port of Mumbai has been an important gateway to India for many years. Its deep-water harbor gives year-round secure shelter to ships. The Mumbai Port Trust (MPT) administers the Port of Mumbai, but the day-to-day management of the port is handled by departments under the supervision and control of the MPT. In the 2006-2007 season, over 52 million tons of cargo passed through the Port of Mumbai, including over 21 million tons of exports and 27 million tons of imports. The Port of Mumbai handled 138 thousand TEUs of containerized cargo that year.
The Port of Mumbai contains six areas for its 32 hectares of storage, including 17.4 hectares of covered storage, 12.1 hectares of that in warehouses. The port contains two dry docks for ship repairs. Beyond being served by a network of roads, the Port of Mumbai owns and operates its own railway of about 100 kilometers of tracks. In the 2007-2008 season, over six thousand vessels called at the port carrying cargo of 57 million tons, including over 117 thousand TEUs of containerized cargo.
Cruising and Travel
The Port of Mumbai is home to over 17 million people, making it one of the world’s largest cities. It’s home of Bollywood, the center of India’s booming film industry. It’s unique in India. That is, it’s a fast-paced commercial center where time is money. Tourists find many sights, particularly in South Mumbai. In 2004-05, the Port of Mumbai welcomed about 30 cruise ships. You can find an ample list of cruises that visit the Port of Mumbai by visiting the Cruise Compete website.
While Bombay is young by Indian standards, one can find rock-cut temples inside the city limits. England built a beautiful city within the walls of its Fort St. George, and visitors can find Gothic, Neo-classical, and Indo-Saracenic architectural styles there. The Port of Mumbai is home to some of India’s most famous museums and galleries, and it offers a wide variety of cuisines that reflect its cultural diversity.
While better known as a concrete jungle, tourists will find beautiful parks and gardens hidden within the city limits. Bombay’s street markets and vendors are colorful illustrations of the modern city. The Port of Mumbai also contains religious buildings that reflect its diversity. Visitors find temples, mosques, churches, and synagogues that are not only places of worship but also interesting architectural monuments. You can find more information on places to see and stay in Bombay by visiting the Indian Holiday website.
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