Thane

Thane is a major city located in western India. It sits within the state of Maharashtra. The city is positioned on the north-east part of Salsette Island.

It functions as the headquarters for the Thane district. Thane is also a key part of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. It sits very close to the city of Mumbai. According to the 2011 census, Thane is the 15th most populous city in India. Its population was recorded at 1,890,000 people.

The climate in Thane is classified as a tropical monsoon climate. This type of climate borders on a tropical wet and dry climate. The weather remains stable with high rainfall and few extreme temperatures. Temperatures generally vary between 22 °C and 36 °C. During the summer, noon temperatures can reach 40 °C. In the winter, night temperatures can drop to 12 °C. Most of the rainfall occurs between June and October. The average annual rainfall is between 2000 mm and 2500 mm. Because the humidity ranges from 61% to 86%, the area is considered a humid zone.

Thane has a very long and complex history of different rulers. The city emerged as an urban area under the Shilahara dynasty. This dynasty ruled the north Konkan region from 800 to 1265 CE. During this time, the city was known as Srī-sthānaka or Sthānaka. A 1094 CE inscription describes it as a velakula. This term means it was a harbour used for import and export. Over the centuries, the area was ruled by many groups. These included the Yadavas, the Muzaffarids of Gujarat, and the Portuguese. The Mughals and Marathas also contested the area in the 17th century. Shivaji captured the area from the Mughals in 1675. The British took control following the Treaty of Salbai in 1782.

Water features are a defining part of the Thane landscape. The city is home to many different lakes. Masunda Lake, also called Talao Pali, is in the heart of the city.

It is surrounded by the Kopineshwar temple and Jambli market. A statue of Shivaji Maharaj stands near this lake. Upvan Lake is another notable feature.

It is located at the foothills of Yeoor. A statue of Lord Shiva sits in the middle of Upvan Lake. There are dozens of other lakes in the region. These include Kolshet Lake, Kausa Lake, and the larger 6-hectare Shill Lake. Some lakes are located near the marshlands of the Ulhas river.

Transportation history in Thane is very significant for Asia. On 16 April 1853, the first passenger train service in Asia was inaugurated. This service ran between Bori Bunder and Thane. The train covered a distance of 34 km. It was pulled by three locomotives named Sahib, Sindh, and Sultan. When the line was extended to Kalyan in 1854, the first railway bridges were built.

Today, Thane is a massive railway junction. It handles 654,000 passengers every day. The city is also developing a new metro network. A 29 km ring metro project is expected to open in 2029. This project will include 22 different stations.

The people of Thane represent a diverse population. The primary language spoken is Marathi. Many people also use Hindi or Urdu. About 48.50% of the population speaks Marathi as their first language. Other languages include Gujarati, Bhojpuri, and Kannada. There is also a small community of about 1,800 Jews living in Thane. Some East Indian families in the Khatri ward still speak Portuguese. The literacy rate in the city is 91.36%. This includes a male literacy rate of 94.19% and a female rate of 88.14%.

Thane also has a busy system of municipal services. The Thane Municipal Corporation manages the city's finances and transport. In the 2022–23 financial year, the corporation reported revenue of ₹2,867 crore. The Thane Municipal Transport, or TMT, provides bus services. The TMT operates 299 buses across 45 different routes. These buses carry about 280,017 passengers every day. The city is also recognized for its environment. In the 2024 Swachh Vayu Survekshan, Thane ranked 12th as a National Clean Air City. This ranking applies to cities with populations larger than 10 million in its category.