Bombay

Bombay (pop. 9,925,900), large seaport in western India, capital of Maharashtra state, on the Arabian Sea. Bombay was built on several small islands, now joined to each other and to the mainland, forming an area of 25 sq mi (65 sq km). Its large harbor deals with the bulk of India's imports, notably wheat and machinery, and exports such as cotton, rice, and manganese. Local industries include textiles, leather goods, and printing. Bombay is an important cultural center, with a university founded in 1857. The city is overcrowded, with a fast-growing, mainly Hindu population. The site was ceded to the Portuguese in 1534 and passed to Great Britain in 1661. The city was headquarters of the British East India Company (1668–1856).

See also: India.