Bombay, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. With an estimated 2006 population of thirteen million, it is the most populous city in India, and by some measures, the most populous in the world. Along with the neighbouring suburbs of Navi Bombay and Thane, it also forms, at 19 million, the world's fifth most populous metropolitan area.

Bombay city, some of it below sea-level and flanked to the east and west by ridges, consisted originally of seven islands, separated only during high tide, and all barely separated from the Konkan coast of Maharashtra; to the north of Bombay city is Salsette Island and Greater Bombay. The city has a deep natural harbour and its port handles over half of India's seagoing passenger traffic and a large proportion of her maritime cargo.