The city of Thane is situated on the western banks of Thane creek with Parsik hills on the east and Yeoor hills on the west. The city was then know as Shreesthanak. It was more popularly known as the Capital of the Shilahar dynasty. The history of Thane city can be broadly categorized into 5 eras.

‘Aparant’ is the ancient name of the geographical area hosting Thane city. During the Indian expedition of the Greek Emperor Alexander, a number of philosophers, historians and geographists visited India. Among them a Greek historian ‘Tolemi’ has mentioned about the city of Thane in his writings. A famous sailor named Marcopolo had also visited Thane in 1290 ‘A.D. and noted it to be one of the best cities in the world. A place called | ‘Ghodbunder was famous for horse trading thus deriving its name from the word ghoda i.e. horse and bunder meaning port.

During this period a fabric called ‘Tansi’ was exported from Thane. During the period from 13 A.D. to 17 A.D., the Muslims, Portuguese, Marathas, & the British dynasties ruled Thane. From 810A.D. to 1260A.D. the Shilahar Dynasty ruled over Thane. The Emperors of Shilahar dynasty were disciples of Lord Shiva and the Kopineshwar Temple has been built during their reign. During this period, At this time the Shilahars also divided the city into different sections and named them as ‘padas’. it is seen that these padas exist even today by names of Naupada, Patlipada, Agripada etc.

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Nagla Bunder, Ghodbunder Road, Thane West

Nagla Bunder is situated near Bhainder Pada.

Nagla Bunder is the choke point of Thane Creek where it is the thinnest making it strategic port which was made by Portuguese 400 years ago. But now that fort is in ruins. There was a huge hill as a view point towards sea which is destroyed by rock mining and made almost flat. It is about to destroy the fort too. Excessive sand mining and sewage dump in Nagla is making the waters dirty

Sand Extractions in Reti Bunder are done and also the rocks are mined and transported. Once there was huge hill which is reduced down to a small stone see below. It was used to be a hill which gave excellent view of the creek but now its almost reduced to a small stone (below). These mountains are exploited and mined for rocks. There are many machines excavating the site. Many such mountains are exploded and mined for rocks. There is a small our lady of hope church (once a fort).


Our Lady Of Hope Church, Nagla Bunder, Thane West



Our Lady of Church is situated near Ghodbunder Road, atop a small hill. A small road cuts from Bhainder Pada which leads to Nagla Bunder. There are many rock and sand machines there. There was a 400 year old Nagla Bunder fort here. 

Friday, July 20, 2012

Kavya Hills and Unnathi Greens, Thane West

Kavya Hills front and Unnathi Greens at back, Ghodbunder Road, Thane West. The mountain peak behind is the second highest peak of Sanjay Gandhi National Park with a height of 440 meters. I call it the 440 Peak.

Sanghavi Hills, Thane West