Kalyan

Kalyan (Pronunciation: [kəljaːɳ]) is a city on the banks of Ulhas River in Thane district of Maharashtra state in Konkan division. It is governed by Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation. Kalyan is a subdivision (Taluka) of Thane district. Kalyan and its neighbouring township of Dombivli jointly form Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation, abbreviated as KDMC. It is a founding city of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. Kalyan is the 7th biggest city in Maharashtra and 29th in India. Kalyan also serves as a major railway station for the trains bound to Mumbai and is a large junction separating two routes, one going Karjat and other Kasara.

In Colonial India, the British Raj called the city Kallian, Cullian, or Calliannee.

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 2123 yards and was 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 fort as early as 1570.

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.

Under the Marathas (1760–72), a new gate about 150 ft 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 Killain after the Hindu goddess Durga. The fort measures 220 ft in length and somewhat less in breadth. Under the English rule, the fort wall was dismantled and stones carried away 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 Durga was stolen.

Demographics
The majority of Kalyan citizens are Hindus and Muslim.

Climate
Kalyan is characterized by koppen classification Aw (tropical monsoon) with high rainfall during monsoon season and dry season year around. Because of Kalyan's proximity to the sea, it experiences greater diurnal temperature variations especially during winter when on some days the average high would reach 34°C with average lows near 14-15°C. Kalyan's humidity is also lower than Mumbai during winter season and pre summer (March-April) Though it has seen high few points, particularly in the month of May with near to 30°C dew points. Kalyan receives heavy rainfall during June-September.

Transport
Trains, buses and auto-rickshaws are the important modes of transport in and around Kalyan. 200,000 Kalyan citizens travel daily by local trains.

Kalyan Junction railway station is on the railway line between Mumbai and Karjat/Kasara. Kalyan has access to four railway stations on the Central line - Thakurli Station, Vitthalwadi, Shahad Station and Kalyan Junction. Kalyan Junction serves as an important railway station for the people in and around Mumbai.

Civic amenities
With a population of more than 700,000, Kalyan is a part of the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation established in 1983, with municipalities of Kalyan, Dombivli, Ambernath and 81 other villages. It was then one of the largest urban local bodies in Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) and in the state, with an area around 209 km2. The government of Maharashtra has decided to delete major area of the corporation limits on different occasions. Presently the total area of the corporation has remained, and measures about 67 km2.

Government
KDMC is a municipal corporation in Thane district of Maharashtra State, India. The municipal corporation was formed in 1983 to administer the twin townships of Kalyan and Dombivli. The municipal corporation has a population 15,18,762 citizens as per the 2011 census. Due to its highly educated population it is often called the second cultural capital of Maharashtra after Pune. Kalyan was once famous as a port in ancient times. Records of its existence as a premier port in the region have been found in ancient Greek manuscripts.

The corporation is governed by Bombay Provincial Municipal Corporation Act 1949. The following authorities are given charge to implement the provisions of the act:
 * A corporation
 * A standing committee
 * Ward committees
 * Municipal commissioner

Both the cities are divided into 122 wards. Municipal Corporation consists of Councillors elected directly at Ward Elections. The number and boundaries of the Wards into which the city is divided is specified by the State Election Commissioner. There are five Councillors nominated by the corporation. As per the provisions of the Act, the total number of Councillors is 121. The Corporation elects one of its members as the Mayor and another to be the Deputy Mayor.

Schools and colleges

 * Birla College of Arts, Science & Commerce
 * Mar Thoma Special School for Children in Need of Special Care

Notable people

 * Vishwanath Bhoir– MLA, (Kalyan West)
 * Tushar Deshpande – Indian cricketer. (Fast bowler)
 * Pranav Dhanawade – Indian cricketer. (Record holder for most runs 1009*)
 * Ganpat Gaikwad– MLA, BJP (Kalyan East)
 * Anandi Gopal Joshi – first Indian female physician
 * Gavin Packard – Indian actor
 * Pramod Ratan Patil– MLA, MNS (Kalyan Rural)
 * Narendra Pawar – Ex-MLA, BJP (Kalyan West)
 * Lalit Prabhakar – Indian actor
 * Shrikant Shinde – Member of Parliament (Kalyan)