Matunga

History

Matunga formed a part of the seven original islands of Mumbai with Mahim, then known as Mahikavati.

Matunga was among the first well planned localities of Mumbai. The Dadar-Matunga-Wadala-Sion plan of 1899-1900 was formulated to evenly distribute population as well as provide better living standards. Matunga has a juxtaposition of Irani cafes and Udupis and houses one of the oldest residents of Mumbai.

Educational institutions

Matunga houses the Institute of Chemical Technology (erstwhile University Department of Chemical Technology), Guru Nanak Khalsa College, R.A. Podar College, South Indian Education Society's School, Ramnarain Ruia College are some of higher education institutions located in Matunga, which are accredited by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC).

In 1937, the general council of Salesians of Don Bosco approved a plan to buy 60,000 square yards (50,000 m²) land in Matunga from the Bombay Municipal Corporation. The Corporation approved the sale on July 16, 1937. The Salesians bought the land for Rs. 229,160. The Don Bosco High School (formerly known as The Catholic Educational Institute) run by them was shifted from the rented premises at Tardeo to the new Don Bosco campus at Matunga.

Mumbai's first engineering college, Victoria Jubilee Technological Institute (VJTI) was founded in 1887. It was later renamed Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute.

Matunga has a huge population of South Indians especially, the Tamil Brahmins, who have been residing here for several decades. That is one of the major reasons for one to find many of the traditional temples and restaurants serving authentic South Indian dishes to be situated here.The number of Gujaratis has also been on the rise in recent years. One of the earliest Gujaratis to come to Matunga were from the Kapol community. They built the Kapol Hostel and Kapol Niwas in Matunga. However, there are very few Kapols left now.