Kalyan, India

Kalyan
—  city  —
Kalyan Location of Kalyan in Maharashtra and India
Coordinates	19°15′N 73°08′E
Country	India
State	Maharashtra
District(s)	Thane
Parliamentary constituency	Kalyan
Assembly constituency	Kalyan
Civic agency	Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation
Population • Density	1,576,614 (2011) • 63,065 /km2 (163,338 /sq mi)
Sex ratio	915 female/1000 male ♂/♀
Literacy	85.97%
Time zone	IST (UTC+05:30)
Area	25 square kilometres (9.7 sq mi)
Codes • Pincode • 421301,421306 • Vehicle • MH-05

Kalyan (Marathi: कल्याण) is a city in Thane district of Maharashtra, and a major railway station lying at the junction of the north-east and south-east lines of the suburban Mumbai division of the Central Railway, 53 km north-east of Mumbai. Kalyan is also a major Taluka place, a tehsil of the Thane district. With its neighbouring township of Dombivli, Kalyan jointly forms the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation, abbreviated as KDMC. It is considered a part of the Greater Mumbai metropolitan agglomeration, along with Navi Mumbai and the cities of Bhiwandi, Thane, Ulhasnagar and the municipal councils of Ambernath & Badlapur.

History

Kalyan is a port for more than two millennia until siltation and the rise of Mumbai eclipsed it and its sister ports, Nallasopara, Thane, Vasai, etc. The port was ruled by the Maurya and Gupta Empires of North India and later was part of a petty Konkan principality vassal to the Yadava dynasty of Deogiri. Extensive ruins in Kalyan indicate the city's former magnificence.^{[citation needed]}

After the Khilji sack of Deogiri, the Yadavas fled into the Konkan region and set up their base at Mahikawati, modern Mahim; Kalyan was a part of the brief Yadava state of Mahikawati. Mahikawati was conquered by the Muslims who set up petty coastal principalities.^{[citation needed]}

As a major entrepot, Kalyan soon became, by 530-535 CE the seat of a Nestorian bishop. The Churches of South Asia which were ecclesiastically dependent on the Church of Assyria and Chaldea in Mesopotamia or modern Iraq, lands then subject to the Persian Empire (Sassanians), early fell with it into the Nestorian Schism and used Middle Persian as the liturgical language. The Konkan, Tulunad and Malabar Coasts of South Asia are marked by stone crosses with Pahlavi inscriptions.^{[citation needed]}

According to some interpretations, Bombay region on the Konkan coast, a region which have been known after the ancient town Kalyan, was the field of Saint Bartholomew missionary activities and his martyrdom.

During the Middle Ages, Pope John XXII, headquartered at Avignon, sent a group of five missionaries to the Mongol Emperor at Khanbalik, modern Beijing in China, under the Dominican Fray Giordano or Jordanus. On their way, they picked up a novice, Demetrius, from West Asia and then travelled through South Asia, succoring the Nestorian Christians there, who were hard pressed by the Muslims. Giordano left his colleagues at Kalyan and travelled back north to Gujarat. During his absence, the Muslim governor and Qazi of Thane summoned the missionaries and demanded submission to Islam; when they refused, they were murdered (1321). The local Nestorians collected their remains and buried them; Giordano, on his return, took them to Sopara and buried them there. The Muslim Arab sultan of Gujarat, when informed of this development, summoned his governor of Thane and the Qazi; the Qazi fled but the governor was executed for his actions that militated against international commerce. When a later missionary, Odoric de Pordenone (fr:Odoric de Pordenone), visited Thane in 1324-1325, he collected their remains and moved on to China.^{[citation needed]}

The Martyrs of Thane were canonized by Pope Leo XIII and are Saints Thomas of Tolentino, James of Padua, Peter of Siena and Demetrius of Tiflis.^{[citation needed]}

In the later Middle Ages, Kalyan was occupied by the Ahmednagar Sultanate, an indigenous dynasty founded by a man forcibly converted from a Hindu Brahmin family as a child, and then by the Bijapur Sultanate, an Indo-Turkish state in the Deccan in the 16th century, and later by the Mughals under the Emperor Shah Jahan, who fortified the city in the mid-17th century. It came under Portuguese sway for a brief time before being re-conquered by the Muslim allies of the Mughals, and was later conquered by the Marathas, who made it one of their strategic centers because it guarded the entrance to Mumbai and the western coast of India. Kashibai, wife of the Peshwa Bajirao was born in Kalyan. About eighty years after the Maratha conquest, the Maratha Empire was forced to cede it to the British and Kalyan became part of the Bombay Presidency, a British India province that became Bombay state after India's independence in 1947.

In the Middle Ages, when Kalyan was occupied by the Ahmednagar Sultanate, they gave name as Gulshanabad and in the time of Maratha it was changed to Kalyan.^{[citation needed]}.Kalyan is a port city of shivaji maharaj.

Attractions in Kalyan

1. Kolsewadi
2. Khadakpada
3. Akshat Maha Ganpati Mandir (Peshwa Temple)
4. Pokharan Ganpati, Parnaka
5. Kala Talav, Kalyan
6. Acharya Atre Rang Mandir
7. Ganesh Ghat
8. Shri Swami Samarth Temple
9. Metro Junction Mall
10. Sarvodaya Mall
11. Godrej Hill
12. Doodh Naaka
13. joker plaza

Around Kalyan

1. Shri Gajanan Maharaj Temple, Lonad
2. Birla Mandir, Shahad (maintained by the Birla Group)
3. Siddhivinayak Mahaganapati Temple - Titwala 15 
4. Haji Malang Dargah - 15km
5. Mahuli Fort - 35km
6. Manas Mandir - 36km

Durgadi Fort

The city of Kalyan was surrounded by a fort wall, the construction of which began during Shah Jahan's reign and was completed during Aurangzeb's reign in 1694 A.D. This city wall, which ran in excess of 2000 yards, 2123 to be precise, were guarded by 4 gates and 11 towers. The fort wall enclosed an area of 70 acres and on a high mound near the Kalyan creek, where the current Ganesh ghat stands, was a fine fort since as early as 1570.

Of the four gates the Adhar gate called after the village of Adhar about half a mile to the north, wall near the middle of the north wall; the Ganesh gate, about 400 yards distant, was near the middle of the east wall; the Ganesh gate is also called Jalela Darvaja, as it was burnt by the English in their first campaign (1780), the Panvel gate, about 700 yards distant, was near the middle of the south wall; and the Bandar or wharf gate, about 330 yards distant, was in the centre of the west wall. At the north-east corner of this area, on high ground on the river bank, was a fort nearly cut off from the city by a natural hollow, and, later, by a semicircular stone wall enclosing a space about 200 feet (61 m) long by a little less in breadth.

The wall of the fort along the top of the inner bank of the ditch, and, near the north end, had a gateway known as the Delhi or Killyacha Darwaja, which was entered by a path along the top of the north side of the town wall. Inside the fort there was a low belt of ground, about the same level, as the top of the ditch, with a shallow pond not far from the Delhi gate. The remains of the pond are still visible, in the north-west corner the fort rose in a small flat-topped mound about thirty feet high. On the top of the mound, on the west crest which overhangs and is about 100 feet (30 m) above the river, is the prayer wall or idgah, sixty-four feet long, thirteen high and seven thick, which is now in a dilapidated condition. This doubtful wall is said to be of the old Durga temple wall and is thickly plastered.

Under the Marathas (1760–72), a new gate about 150 feet (46 m) to the south of the Ganesh gate was opened near the mansion of Ramji Mahadeo Biwalkar, the Peshwa s Governor. In the citadel of the fort Marathas built a small wooden temple of Durgadevi behind the mosque, and called the fort Durgadi Killa in honour of the goddess, a name which it still bears. They also converted the mosque into Ramji's temple. The fort measures 220 feet (67 m) in length and somewhat less in breadth. Under the English the fort wall was dismantled and stones carried to build the Kalyan and Thane piers and a dwelling for the customs inspector in the west of the Kalyan fort. The gate to the north-west is almost the only trace of the fort wall, which is of rough stone masonry. During 1876 the original idol of the goddess Durga was stolen.

Transport

The Tanga (Horse-Wagon) is the oldest mode of transport in Kalyan. The various NGOs in the city have opposed this transport system due to animal cruelty issues. It is now restricted only to British Era Kalyan (Dudh Naka-Gandhi chowk - Tilak chowk - Parnaka areas). Autorickshaws are an important mode of transport in most regions. In 1999, the KDMC started its own bus service for Kalyan City and the nearby small villages. New, improved BEST buses function in the city. Motor-bikes and bi-cycles are a popular transport option.Kalyan railway station is one of the busiest railway stations in the country handling most of the rail traffic in and out of Mumbai.

The major modes of transportation in Kalyan are -

• KDMT run city-bus service
• Municipal Corporation buses connecting Kalyan, Vitthalwadi, Ulhasnagar and Ambernath.
• Auto-rickshaws
• Local trains
• Private vehicles - Cycles, motorcycles, scooters & cars

The KDMT run bus services which not only ply within the Kalyan city, but it also provides routine bus service facilities to nearby townships and villages. The major bus routes within the city limits are -

1. Ring route: Covers most of the areas along the periphery and touching all the major areas of Kalyan. This service starts and end at Kalyan railway station. The ring route buses ply either via Durgadi killa route or via Birla college route.
2. Vitthalwadi to Birla College route: Starting from Khadegolavli village it travels through Vitthalwadi Station, Katemanivli Naka, Vijay Nagar, Tisgaon, Chakki Naka, Netivli, Patripul, Gurudev Hotel, Murbad Road and then its last stop Sahyadri Nagar near Birla School and College.
3. Nearby villages in its Tehsil: Khadegolavali, Mohone, Ambivali, Manivali, Umbarde, Ghotsai, Balyani, Titwala, Mhaskal, Apti, Rayate, Dahagaon Poi, Mamnoli, Dahivali, Saravali, Vehengale, Bhivandi, Jambhul Vasahat, Khoni, Hedutane, Narivali, Usatane, Wadavli, Malanggad, Khidkali, Dombivali, Shil Phata, Shirdhon.
4. Surrounding townships: Vashi, CBD Belapur, Nerul, Ulhanagar, Ambernath, Badlapur.

Also, there are Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport (NMMT) buses that ply from Kalyan to areas in Navi Mumbai including CBD Belapur, Nerul, Vashi and Panvel.

Parts of Kalyan

Kalyan city is divided into two parts: East and West due to the traditional railway system. They are connected via Patri Pool.

Kalyan East : Saibaba Nagar, Vaishnavi Park, (in Kailash nagar) Gurudatta Apartment, comprises Lok Vasahat (Lok Gram, Lok Dhara and Lok Vatika), Netivali (Tejpal nagri), Dr Nair Wadi near lokgram police station, Suchak Naka, Chakki Naka, Sastri Nagar, Chetna, Amar Deep Colony, Tata Power locality, Radhe Krishna park complex, Sunrise Valley, Anmol Garden Complex, Nandivili, Netivali Area, Chinchpada, Hanuman Nagar, Katemanivali,Yogeshwar Tower, Anandwadi, Milind Nagar, Kailash Nagar, Kolsewadi, Vijaynagar, Tisgaon, Shivaji Colony, Siddhartha Nagar, Karpewadi, New Jimmy Baug, Waldhuni and Patripool area etc.

Kalyan West comprises Station Area (Nehru Chowk), Bail Bazaar, Govind Wadi, Ghas Bazaar, Reti Bunder Shivaji Chowk, Shankar Rao Chowk, Ahilyabai Chowk, Tilak Chowk, Bazar Peth, Gandhi Chowk, Parnaka, Dudhnaka, Raheja Complex, Sahajanand Chowk, Agra Road, Lal Chowki, Adharwadi, Durgadi Killa Area, Murbad Road, Syndicate, Ramdas Wadi, Pournima Talkies, Karnik Road, Kala Talao, Chikanghar, Rambaug Lane [0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6], Joshibaug, Birla College Road, Beturkar Pada, Mhasoba Maidan, Sahyadri Nagar, Gauripada, Anupam nagar, Yogidham, Vidhi complex, Khadak Pada, Mohan Pride,Godrej Hill, Radha Nagar some parts of Shahad.

The old Kalyan consists of basically from Kalyan station area, Shivaji Chowk, Shankarrao Chowk, Ahilyabai Chowk, Bazaar Peth, Gandhi chowk, Tilak Chowk, Parnaka & Dudhnaka, Agra road, Lalchowki to Durgadi Fort.

In past few years sprawling new skyscrapers and multi-facility residential complexes have mushroomed in and around Kalyan.

Civic Amenities

Kalyan is a part of Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation established in 1995. It is the fifth largest township in Maharashtra after Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur & Thane with a population of about 1.2 million.

1. Electric supply: The township receives it electric supply from the Maharashtra State Electricity Board (MSEB).
2. Roads: The inner arterial roads and the main routes through the city have been developed by the MSRDC. Perpetual road-digging and subsequent mediocre patch work during the implementation of the JNNURM project to ensure better sewage in the conurbation had previously left the roads in a sorrowful state. The government has completed the reconstruction of major roads thus affected.
3. Water supply:The city has good water sources in and around it, which includes the Ulhas river in its vicinity, lakes in the central areas, and high storage tanks. the city boasts of a eco friendly waste water treatment plant and a water cleaning plant near Gandhare village. Some areas though, have restricted water supply timings, causing inconveniences among locals.
4. City transport:City transport services is provided by the Kalyan Dombivali Municipal Transport run buses (KDMT) which runs city buses along the major routes in the city and surrounding townships & villages. However, auto-rickshaws remains a major source of transport in the city. In the recent past, the number of auto-rickshaws in the city has seen a dramatic rise, albeit a highly disorganised one. The KDMT buses lead to major traffic-jams during the peak hours a some halts. The frequency of the ring-route buses have been increased to solve the road transportation woes of the city dwellers.
   

   

   KDMT Buses
5. Public parks & playgrounds: There are three large Parks in Kalyan area i.e. Rani Laxmibai Park (Near Commissioner Bungalow), Nana- Nani Park at Near Gurudev Hotel & Park Near Lord Shivas Paradise in Chikanghar. Other small parks have been developed near big localities to cater the demands of citizens for a more environment friendly sustainance. There are 3 major play grounds i.e. Maxi Ground, Subhash Maidan & Birla College Ground.
6. Capacity to handle natural calamities: Kalyan, being situated on the banks of Ulhas River, along with proximity to Gandhari and Waldhuni river, has been prone to flooding during monsoons. The deluge of 26 July 2005, saw Kalyan being badly affected as it was totally cut-off from the neighbourhood for 3 days. However, the devastation in Kalyan & surrounding areas was highly under reported vis-a-vis areas in Mumbai like Kalina, Kurla etc. The government, on proposals of the disaster management and control systems have completed laying of more waste pipelines throughout the city to reduce the possibility of major water related calamities.
7. Real-estate developement: There is rapid real estate development in the township. Recent development projects and more development proposals by the government has led to tremendous demand for housing. The city has experienced a boom in its real estate pricing. Infrastructure development is changing the face of the township like never before.
8. Medical facilities: Kalyan boasts of high class medical facilities. There are well known hospitals like Fortis Hospital, Shree Devi hospital, Phadke Hospital, Meera Hospital, Shree Hospital, Apex Hospital in Kalyan. In addition to these, there is also a very good Railway hospital available for the railway employees at Kalyan. Plus, there is a municipal hospital, the Rukminibai Hospital near Kalyan station. However, the cost of advanced medical facilities are very high in Kalyan. The city has shown a very high health index compared to most other suburbs, thanks to good healthcare facilities from the private and government sectors.
9. Education: Education in the city is considered the best among most outer Mumbai suburbs. Large number of schools and colleges, active participation of parents and teachers in social activities and strong political background have contributed to a even better education system.

Schools and colleges

Mumbai University Affiliated Colleges

• Birla College of Arts, Science & Commerce
• K.M. Agrawal College Of Arts, Commerce and Science
• Seth Hirachand Mutha College Of Arts, Commerce and Science
• Sonawane College of Arts, Commerce and Science
• Mohindersingh Kabulsingh College of Arts, Commerce and Science.
• Hill Spring International Jr.College Of Science & Commerce.
• Model College, Kalyan
• Saket College, Kalyan
• New High School Junior College
• Hindi Junior College
• R.K Junior College
• G.E.I's Jr. college

Schools

• Model English High School
• Ganesh Vidya Mandir
• Old Lourdes English High School
• Ideal English High School
• National Urdu High School and Junior College نیشنل اُردو ہائی سکول اینڈ جونیئر کالج
• Muhammadiya English Schoolمحمدیہ انگلش سکول
• Capt. R. M. Oak High School
• St. Mary's High
• Arya Gurukul
• Birla School
• St. Jude's High School
• Rao Saheb Govind Karsan Ramji Vidhyalaya
• Royal English School
• MJBK Kanya Vidhyalaya
• G.E.I'S High School
• Subhedar Wada Primary School
• Abhinav Vidya Mandir
• Sharda Mandir High School
• Shree Gajanan Vidyalaya
• Sri Vani Vidyashala High School
• New Sri Vani Vidyashala High School
• Adarsh Hindi High School
• Adarsh Vinodini Mandal High School(a.k.a. Shishuvihar)
• Nutan Vidyalaya
• Gayatri Vidyalaya
• Central Railway School
• Saraswati Vidya Mandir
• Don Bosco School
• Girls High School
• Guru Nanak English High School
• Bhairavnath Vidyalaya
• Hindi High School Junior College
• Holy Cross Convent School
• K.C.Gandhi English School
• Mohinder Singh Kabal Singh English High School
• Sri Vani Vidyashala High School
• Lok Kalyan Public School
• Nirmala Hindi High School
• Nutan Hindi School
• Shiv Shambhu Hindi Vidyalaya
• Symbiosis School
• Podar International School
• Rita Memorial School
• Sai English High School
• Nalanda Vidyalya
• Central Railway Secondary and Higher Secondary School
• Samrat Ashok English high school
• St. Ywan Chwang English High school
• R.K. Hindi High School
• Mahant Kamaldas School
• St Thomas High school
• Alfa English School

Villages in Kalyan Taluka

Adivali	Balyani	Danbav	Guravali	Khadegolavali II	Mharal I	Nimbavli	Sagaon Sonarpada	Usarghar	Vaveghar
Ambivali	Bapsai	Davdi	Hedutane	Khadivali	Mharal II	Netivali	Sandap	Ushid	Vaveghar
Ankhar	Barave	Dombivli (Rural)	Jambhulmohili	Khoni	Mhaskal	Ozarli	Shahad 1	Utane	Vehele
Antade	Bere	Dombivli (Urban)	Ju	Kole	Mohili	Palsoli	Shahad 2	Vadavli Budruk
Antarli	Bhopar	Gajabandhan Patharli	Kachore	Kolimb	Mohone urban area XIX	Phalegaon	Shidhon	Vadavli tarf Barhe
Ane	Chavare	Galegaon	Kalyan (Urban area XVII)	Kolivali	Mos	Pimpaloli	Sangode	Vadavli khurd
Aapti Barhe	Chikanghar 1	Gandhare	Kambe	Kopar	Nadgaon	Pisavali	Sapad	Vadeghar 1
Aapti Chon	Chikanghar 2	Gerse	Katai	Kunde	Nalimb	Poi	Thakurli	Vadeghar 2
Arela	Chinchavali	Gharivali	Katemanivali I	Mamnoli	Nandap	Rayate	Tis	Vaholi
Asdegolavali	Chole	Ghesar	Katemanivali II	Mande	Nandivali tarf Ambernath	Raye	Titwala	Valkas
Atali	Dahagaon	Ghotsai	Kelni	Manivali	Nandivali tad Pachanand	Revate	Umbarde	Varap
Ayare	Dahivali	Goveli	Khadegolavali I	Manjarli Barhe	Nilaje	Runde	Umbharni	Vasat Shelvali AMBIVALI

Kalyan International Airport near Kalyan-Nevali

As a result of the some objections being raised by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests on the current proposed location of the Navi Mumbai International Airport near Kopra Panvel area, because the construction of the airport would involve reclamation of low-lying areas in an ecologically fragile zone as well as destruction of several hectares of mangroves, other locations were being actively being considered, which includes the one off village Nevali near Kalyan-Ambernath 55 km away from the current airport in Mumbai. There exists an old and abandoned air-strip of World War II era and the Union Defence Ministry owns the 1,500 acres (6.1 km²) of land on which it is located. The proposal is now centred around those 1,500 acres (6.1 km²) of land. If the current location at Kopra Panvel does not go through, then the Kalyan-Newali location would be considered for a future Kalyan International Airport which would serve as third International airport for the Mumbai Metropolitan region. But, Minisstry of Forest & Environmental Affairs has given Green Signal to the Navi Mumbai International Airport, after modifications in Plan of Airport. Hence, the possibility of having third airport of Mumbai in Kalyan has ended. There have been talks of the utilisation of the 1500 acre land for recreational purposes, and proposals for the fourth international airport or a world class sports and parking complex have been on the rise recently.

Recent development projects in Kalyan

• Skywalks: To ease traffic around the station area, MMRDA has constructed a 1.4 km long Skywalk, at the cost of a whopping Rs.84 Cr, under the Station Area Traffic Improvement Scheme (SATIS), making it the third longest skywalk in Mumbai (approx. 1297 metres), after Borivali and Thane. Given the earlier traffic and geographical system, it has been the most challenging skywalk project so far, and is the most expensive skywalk in Mumbai. Another skywalk linking the East-West parts of Kalyan is now under development.
• The JNNURM project is being implemented to improve water supply and sewage facilities in Kalyan by putting up pipelines under important highways. This has been done to avoid any situation similar to the Mumbai floods of 2006, which severely affected the suburb.

Proposed Developments

• MMRDA has drawn up plans for a monorail link between Thane-Bhiwandi-Kalyan over a three year duration at the cost of Rs. 3000 Crores. The project is in the planning stage.
• Developments on revamping Kalyan Junction as another Railway Terminus are planned to ease rail transport in Mumbai.
• MMRDA has plans for a multi-modal bus rapid transport system (BRTS) and mass rapid transport system (MRTS) which will cover Kalyan as well.
• A four-lane expressway will enable people to travel between Virar-Vasai-Diva-Bhiwandi-Kalyan-Panvel to Alibag in a matter of few hours. The four-lane expressway will have wide footpaths, subways, foot-over bridges and service roads linking the major towns on the route.
• The project of developing roads in Kalyan is on at a full pace. A sum of Rs 300 crore is being spent on construction of roads, railway over-bridge, bridges, under-passes and subways.
• There are reports of MMRDA pondering over turning the suburbs of Kalyan-Dombivli as solar cities. Solar power and products may soon be welcomed.
• More malls, large fashion and retail outlets and convenience stores are being developed.
• Two monorail corridors from Kalyan are proposed by authorities, one 26 km long, linking Kalyan - Ulhasnagar - Dombivli and another, 30 km long, connecting Kalyan to Mahape. These projects are expected to be completed by 2031.

With all these projects Kalyan is set to be another resourcefully, economically and socially developed suburb of Mumbai.

Local Websites

• KDMC :: Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation.
• [1] :: A Kalyan City Informative Website .
• Kalyanguide.com :: A Kalyan City Portal.
• Kalyan Dombivli Express :: Local Web News Portal.
• Kalyan Dombivli Plus :: Local Online Newspaper.
• Kalyan City Life :: A Kalyan City Blog.
• Properties and Upcoming Residential projects in Kalyan.
• http://www.kalyancityonline.com :: A Kalyan City online Portal.
• Mumbai Local (Kalyan Dombivli local blog)