Dharavi (Mumbai)

India / Maharashtra / Mumbai
Dharavi, often described as the largest slum in Asia, is a 427 acre triangular stretch of land in central Mumbai, housing more than 600,000 slum dwellers; the unofficial number can go near a million. It is a conglomeration of continuous settlements, separated by a small road or sometimes a wall - constructed hastily at times of conflict. Dharavi is literally sandwiched between the Western and Central suburban railway lines with Mahim and Bandra to its west, Mithi River to the north and Sion and Matunga to its east and south respectively. Mahim, Matunga and Sion railway stations mark its three corners.
Dharavi has had settlements since the beginning of the 18th century, which comprised Kolis or the fisher folk, who lived at the edge of the creek that came in from the Arabian Sea. The Gazetteer of Bombay City and Island in 1909 had mentioned Dharavi as one of the 'six great Koliwadas of Bombay'. It is thought that the present day Dharavi also includes the land obtained by the accidental drying up of the creek that happened over a period of time.

Dharavi’s emergence is closely associated with the migratory patterns that had marked the city of Mumbai. The migrants who made Dharavi their home are the Maharashtrians from the Konkan coast, the Gujarati community, the Muslim tanners from Tamil Nadu and artisans from Uttar Pradesh. As their illegal settlements in South Mumbai grew, they were literally pushed by the authorities to the then the edge of the city, the present Dharavi. Post 19th century, as the population of Mumbai grew, the city started expanding into the hinterland and Dharavi became more and more to the center of Mumbai. Ironically, this heart shaped settlement now virtually is at the heart of Mumbai.

An overview of Dharavi indicates declining standards in basic infrastructure such as sanitation and health care. But there is a silver lining as well; a thriving leather trade and garment industry exist here - air conditioned leather showrooms on the main road which display every conceivable designer label is indicative of this fact. Statistics tells that its industries account for an annual turnout of Rs 3000 crores. Now Dharavi is on the path of a makeover, the draft of the plan has been approved by the central government and it is only a matter of time before Dharavi emerges from its shady image to that of a modern township.

Dharavi is located 12 km south-east of Juhu and is almost the same distance from Church Gate Station. Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport is the nearest airport.


www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JpoCyTewGg
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dharavi
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   19°2'39"N   72°51'18"E

Comments

  • most famous area
  • This is the biggest slum in Asia. it needs to be cleared if we want to turn it into a housing district.
  • Mumbai's gettho
  • Do not remove slums but remove the poverty and unemployment which has created Dharavi
  • I was there
  • All Great people Live here.
  • this ain't asia's largest slum.. it's asia's 2nd largest slum.. 2nd largest to a slum in karachi, pakistan!
  • 1st largest slum in India is Sakinaka Ashalpha see the map, it is huge than Dharavi, all worst people lives in these slums................
  • dharavi is not good for new ganeration becaus all bad habbit give u free of cost.
  • Mr Bhagat Dharavi is not unemployed, in fact its is Mumbais manufacturing sector. The clothes you wear the leather handbag you wife carry even the papad you eat might have come from the industries that run dharavi. people here work hard in the worst conditions so that they can escape poverty, unlike a lot of us who born with a golden spoon in our mouth these people deserve better life. Dharavi is not a product of unemployment its a product of lack of cheap housing in a city. Its a product of our governments parceling away lands that could have gone to public housing to builders. Mr SP321. your comments are as naive as they can get in case you haven't already noticed Dharavi is housing district. just because it doesn't house the people who are born rich does not mean it doesn't have the right to be called housing. People from the slums have no access to the internet and hence people like you are not marked abusive. But your comments are as racial and abousive and politically incorrect as it can get. Please use this forum responsibly. at least read the national geographic article before you post.
  • I was born, grew, studied in school and lived here. Now I am in Gulf. The facts people know about this place is almost wrong even in this Internet Age! This may not be a good, clean, and scenic place to live, but so are many places in India! I own an apartment in Mukund Nagar and am very happy to be there.
  • Dharavi, often described as the largest slum in Asia, is a 427 acre triangular stretch of land in central Mumbai, housing more than 600,000 slum dwellers; the unofficial number can go near a million. It is a conglomeration of continuous settlements, separated by a small road or sometimes a wall - constructed hastily at times of conflict. Dharavi is literally sandwiched between the Western and Central suburban railway lines with Mahim and Bandra to its west, Mithi River to the north and Sion and Matunga to its east and south respectively. Mahim, Matunga and Sion railway stations mark its three corners. Dharavi has had settlements since the beginning of the 18th century, which comprised Kolis or the fisher folk, who lived at the edge of the creek that came in from the Arabian Sea. The Gazetteer of Bombay City and Island in 1909 had mentioned Dharavi as one of the 'six great Koliwadas of Bombay'. It is thought that the present day Dharavi also includes the land obtained by the accidental drying up of the creek that happened over a period of time. Dharavi’s emergence is closely associated with the migratory patterns that had marked the city of Mumbai. The migrants who made Dharavi their home are the Maharashtrians from the Konkan coast, the Gujarati community, the Muslim tanners from Tamil Nadu and artisans from Uttar Pradesh. As their illegal settlements in South Mumbai grew, they were literally pushed by the authorities to the then the edge of the city, the present Dharavi. Post 19th century, as the population of Mumbai grew, the city started expanding into the hinterland and Dharavi became more and more to the center of Mumbai. Ironically, this heart shaped settlement now virtually is at the heart of Mumbai. An overview of Dharavi indicates declining standards in basic infrastructure such as sanitation and health care. But there is a silver lining as well; a thriving leather trade and garment industry exist here - air conditioned leather showrooms on the main road which display every conceivable designer label is indicative of this fact. Statistics tells that its industries account for an annual turnout of Rs 3000 crores. Now Dharavi is on the path of a makeover, the draft of the plan has been approved by the central government and it is only a matter of time before Dharavi emerges from its shady image to that of a modern township. Dharavi is located 12 km south-east of Juhu and is almost the same distance from Church Gate Station. Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport is the nearest airport.
  • demolish it! All gangster of mumbai live there
  • I,m serviceman i like to dharavi.
  • one cent of land at dharavi now cost one crore
  • This article is quite effective for basic knowledge of dharavi !!!!
  • TaTa is not man he is god for india.
  • U guys remember, Even this place made 6 Oscars to win. Many People from Dharavi are now Great. Became Doctor's, Engg's, Developers and even so many to say. Soon The dreams of the people here gonna be true which they want to be. I'm Proud that I'm From Dharavi.
  • Dharavi is a dimond of mumbai
  • How old is Dharavi??
  • You are wrong dharavi is diamond okay ..............................
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