City of Mumbai

Mumbai is a commercial port city that represents the diverse faces of India.

Date of sister city relationship:　June 26 1965
Language:　Hindi, English, Marathi, and 20 others
Currency:　Indian rupee
Attractions:　Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus railway station/ India gate / Elephanta Island /

Population:　Approx. 21 million (2011)
Area:　437.71 km2
Geography:　The city is located on the West coast of India, overlooking the Arabian Sea.
Mumbai was built on what was once an archipelago of 7 islands: Colaba, Little Colabra, Worli, Mahim, Mazagon, Parel, and Mumbai Island.
By 1845, under the British administration, the 7 islands were merged into a single landmass and the city became an important gateway to West India.
Climate:　A typical tropical savanna climate. The seasons are divided into rainy (mid-June to late-September) and dry (October to early-June).
City:　The Corporation Council is made up of members elected from each of the 227 electoral wards, and the Mayor is elected by the Council. Capital of Maharashtra State, the city has been developed as a port and commercial center, but there remains many buildings dating back from British colonial rule, coexisting with swaths of high-rise apartment buildings. The city is also known for its thriving film industry called Bollywood (Bombay Hollywood).

It comes from a name used in the area since ancient times.
The name may be derived from Mumba, the patron goddess of the native Koli and Agri.

3rd Century BC:　The islands, inhabited by the Koli fishing community, come under control of the Maurya Empire and become a center for Hindu and Buddhist religion and culture
9th Century CE:　The area comes under control of the Shilahara Dynasty. Under their rule, Walkeshwar Temple and Banganga Tank are built
1348:　The islands comes under Muslim rule under the Muzaffarid dynasty of the Gujarat Sultanate. The Haji Ali Dargah Mosque is built under their rule
1534:　The islands come under the control of Portugal through the Treaty of Bassein.
1661:　The islands are passed from Portugal to England as dowry of Princess Catherine of Braganza, daughter of John IV of Portugal to Charles II of England. The area was called Bombay (Good Bay) at the time
1668:　England leases the islands to the English East India Company, which will control them for the better part of two centuries
1857:　The Indian Rebellion of 1857 leads to the end of the Company’s rule in India. Rule reverts to the British Crown
1947:　Independence is gained from the British through the Indian Independence Act.
1995:　English name is officially changed to “Mumbai”

Yokohama has had a strong Indian presence since before World War II. The presence of Indian trading companies and an important Indian population led to Yokohama and Mumbai becoming Sister Cities. The two cities became Sister Cities after a personal letter from the Mayor of Mumbai (at the time called “Bombay”).

1965 June:　Became Sister Cities
1966 August:　The Yokohama Mumbai Friendship Committee is founded
1967 June:　Bombay Mayor and his wife visit Japan, Sister City Signing Ceremony
1985 May:　20th Sister City Anniversary, Bombay Festival (Bombay citizen groups visit Yokohama, Bombay Exhibition, Indian　film screenings, art exhibition, Indian elephant welcoming ceremony)
1989 August:　“Bombay Special Week” exhibition is held in Yokohama (chorus group concerts and other events)
1990 November:　25th Sister City Anniversary, citizen groups, official delegation and chorus groups visit Bombay
1993 November:　A Yokohama delegation visits Bombay to attend the 2nd CITYNET Congress.
1995 September:　30th Sister City Anniversary, Bombay delegation visits Yokohama
1995 November:　Yokohama delegation visits Mumbai
1997 January:　Mumbai Municipal Commissioner visit Yokohama for the CITYNET seminar
1997 November:　Mumbai Municipal Commissioner visit Yokohama for the 3rd CITYNET Congress
2000 November:　35th Sister City Anniversary, Yokohama delegation visits Mumbai
2006 Oct-Nov:　The Mayor of Yokohama participates in the 22nd CITYNET Executive Committee Meeting, pays a courtesy call to the Mayor of Mumbai
2009 September:　The Mayor of Mumbai participates in the 6th CITYNET Congress, in Yokohama.
2010 October:　45th Sister City Anniversary, the Mayor of Mumbai and his chief executive visits Yokohama along with their spouses. Mumbai’s Municipal Commissioner gives a speech to the Yokohama City Council
2015 June:　50th Sister City Anniversary, Mayor of Mumbai visits Yokohama along with her husband and gives a speech to the Yokohama City Council
2015 November:　Creation of the Yokohama Mumbai Representative Office, official Yokohama delegation visits Mumbai
2017 October　The Government Officer of Maharashtra states visit Yokohama
2018 September　The Government Officer of Maharashtra states visit Yokohama　

Yokohama-Mumbai friendship Committee
The Yokohama Mumbai friendship Committee oversees various activities that aim to deepen the exchanges between the two cities.

Many of the victims of the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 were Indians living in Yokohama, and they received help from the government as well as from Japanese citizens. To show their gratitude for the relief efforts that were offered them, the Indian community of Yokohama donated the memorial to Yokohama in December 1939.
The Drinking Fountain is located in Yamashita Park, in the Naka ward of Yokohama.