The island of Mumbai lies off the west coast of India. Because of its harbour, a wide bay between the city and mainland, facinf Africa and East Asia, Mumbai has been a natural shipping and trading centre thruogh all of its short history.

Mumbai covers an area of 600 Kms. Marathi is the main language. Mumbais' population has grown up most rapidly in the years after independance.

Due to moderating influence of the sea, the temprature in Mumbai undergoes little seasonal flutuations. In the warmest month of the year, May, temperature averages 32'C. January, the coldest month averages 24'C. The Indian Ocean mansoon, between June and September, deposits more than 90 persent of the annual 1800mm of rainfall.