Thane district is shown on the map of Maharashtra. This district lies in the northwest of Maharashtra state.

Nashik and Ahmadnagar districts are to the east of Thane district. Raigad district is to the south and Pune district to the southeast Mumbai suburban district is to the southwest The Arabian is to the west, whereas Gujarat and Dadra and Nagar Haveli territory are to the north of this district.

There are different land forms in Thane district. The western part of the district is a plain whereas Tungar, Jivadhan, Tandulvadi, Takmak, etc., are hills. The Sahyadri mountain is on the eastern boundary of the district. The Jawahar Mokhade plateau is in the north-eastern part of the district.
The different land forms in a region constitute its physical setup. If we consider the physical setup of Thane district, we see that there are three physical divisions.

• The mountain region of Sahyadris: The Sahyadri ranges constitute the eastern part if the district. Parts of Murbad, Shahapur, Jawahar and Mokhade talukas form this region.
• The river basins: The central part of this district is mostly a low-lying area. Kalyan, Bhiwandi, Wade, Dahanu, Ulhasnagar and Talasari talukas form this region.
• Coastal region: The western part of the district is a coastal plain, Dahanu, Palghar, Vasai, and Thane talukas make up this region.

Roads going eastwards towards Nashik district pass through Shrighat and Thalghat siituated in the district. Naneghat is on the border of Pune district towards the south-east. It has been an important road for transportation right from the early days. The Arnala fort in Thane District is the well-known fort.

Vaitarna and Ulhas are the two main rivers in Thane district.

• Vaitarna River:
  This river flows across Shahapur, Wade and Palghar talukas. Dahreja, Surya and Tansa are the tributaries of the Vaitarna river.
• Ulhas River:
  The river ulhas enters Thane district through neighbouring Raigad district. This river has its source in the Borghat and meets the Arabian sea at the Vasai Creek. Barbi, Bhatsai are its tributaries. The Ulhas river branches out in two directions near Thane. The western distributary of this river flows into the Thane creek. The Datiware creek in Palghar taluka is near the mouth of the Vaitarna river.

The Arabian sea is to the west of Thane district. That is why the climate of the district is generally hot and humid.

The mountainous region receive more rainfall than the coastal region. Jawahar, Wade, Shahapur, Murbad and Thane talukas recieve more rain than the other talukas. Jawahar and Suryamal are the hill-stations in our district.

Wells lakes and rivers are the sources of water supply in Thane district. There are more wells in Vasai, Palghar and Dahanu areas. There are bunds on the surya, Vardri, Pelhar, Ulhas and Murbadi Rivers. There is a dam across the Vandri river in Palghar taluka.

The important dams in the district are Vaitarna, Tansa and Bhatsa where there are reservoirs. Water supply to the city of Mumbai is made from some of the lakes in Thane district. Water from the rivers Ulhas and Barbi is supplied to the indusrtrial belt in the south and to New Mumbai.

From the point of view of Industries, Thane is an important district in Maharashtra State. There are many large scale and small scale industries in the district.
There are different types of textile industries at Thane and in the neighboring areas. There are cotton and woolen textile mills at thane. Silk yarn and cloth are made at Bhiwandi. There are a large number of powerlooms at Biwandi. There is a factory making artificial silk (yarn) at Mohane.

There are many factories manufacturing various articles from iron and steel in Thane - Belapur belt. There are factories manufacturing different types of machines and other metal equipment at Thane. There is a factory where spare part of motorcars are manufactured at Kalyan There are pharmaceutical and chemical factories at Ambernath, Bhaindar and Thane. There are paint and chemical factories at Thane and Bhaindar. There is a paper mill too at Thane. Plastic goods are manufactured at Ulhasnagar and Bhaindar.

There are matchbox factories at Ambernath and Thane. There are canning factories of various types of food stuff, fruit juice and slices as well as beverage factories at Thane and Kalyan. There is big milk project at Dabchari and Saralgaon and Pali have milk chilling centres. There is a rice mill at Kalyan, Bhiwandi and Dahanu. Bangle making factories are found in Tarapur and Chinchani area.

The first nuclear power plant in India was set up at Tarapur in Thane district.
In Addition, there are a number of factories manufacturing electrical equipment at Thane and Ulhasnagar.

There are Industrial estates at Ambarnath. Kalyan, Bhiwandi, Thane-Belapur, Badlapur, Mira Road, Tarapur and Murbad in Thane district.

The modes of transport in Thane district are roads, railways and waterways.
We find many roads and railway here as Thane disrict lies close to Mumbai City and Mumbai suburban districts and as industry has grown from Mumbai towards Thane.
National Highways: Three Notional highways pass through Thane district:

• Mumbai-Agra Highway: This road starts from Mumbai. The important places from Thane district on this Highway are Thane, Bhiwandi, Shahapur, Khardi.
• Mumbai-Banglore Highway: this Highway starts from Mumbai. A big bridge is built on the Thanecreek on this highway. This highway then proceeds from Vashi to Banglore via Panvel in Raigad district.
• Mumbai-Ahmadabad Highway: Ghodbunder, Manor, Kase etc. from this district are on this highway. There are also other roads in the district connecting other places
  
  Railways
  Three main railway lines pass throughThane district. the first railway line in India from Mumbai to Thane, was laid in this district.

• Mumbai-Chennai Railway Line: Starting from Mumbai, this railway line goes to Chennai (Madras) via Thane, Dombivli, Kalyan, Ulhasnagar, Ambarnath, Badlapur stations in the district.
• Mumbai-Culcutta Railway line: Thane, Kalyan, Shahad, Titwala, Asangoan, Khardi and Kasara railway station are on this railway route.
• Mumbai-Delhi Railway Line: this railway goes to Delhi from Mumbai via Vadodara in Gujarat State. The following railway stations from Thane district are located on this railway line: Bhaindar, Vasai Road, Nala Sopara, Virar, Palghar, Dahanu, Road, and Gholwad.

Local Transport: Local transport facility has been provided on a large scale for the people of Thane district to go to Mumbai and various other suburb and to other places in the district. Local transport is useful for traveling to and from offices, factories, educational institutions etc. as well as for the business.
Trains used for local transport are called local trains. They run on electricity. Local trains leaving from Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (Bori Bunber) go upto Kalyan, Ambernath and Kasara in Thane district. Local trains leaving from Chruchgate railway station go upto Dahanu in the district. One railway line goes from Diva to Panvel in Raigad district in the south. Trains have now started from Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (Bori Bunber), Mumbai upto Vashi.
In addition to this buses also carry the local traffic in Mumbai-Thane-Kalyan cities.

Waterways: Thane district is near the sea. So the coastal traffic in the district is carried by sea. Creeks are also used for transport. Dahanu, Satpati, Mahim, Kalyan, Vasai, Uttan etc are the ports in the districts.

Trade: Wood for building construction, coal, honey, salt, fish fruits, vegetables, etc., are sent to other places from the district. Cotton, iron, sugar, fertilizers , medicines, kerosene etc. are brought into the district from other districts or states.

 

There a number of important places in Thane district.

Thane
Thane is a district headquarters. There are many industries here. There are cotton and woolen textile mill. Also, there are factories manufacturing paper, paints, metal equipment, machinery and iron goods. The Kopineshwar temple of Thane is famous.

Kalyan
This is the taluka headquarters and the main railway junction. There are rice mills here as also factories making car spare parts. Sand bricks and rice are sent out by water ways from here. Hajimalang Darga is situated on Malangagad hill nearby.

Bhiwandi
This town is situated on Mumbai-Agra highway. This place is famous for its handlooms and powerlooms. Carpets and ilk fabrics are made here. Machinery for rice mills is also manufactured here. There are rice mills and timber marts.

Ambarnath
This town is on Mumbai-Pune railway line. There are factories manufacturing chemicals, matchboxes, explosives and watches. The ancient Shivalaya of Ambarnath is worth visiting.

Ulhasnagar
This is taluka headquarters. This town is situated in the Ulhas river basin. There are factories making radio sets and plastics goods.

Jawhar
This place is on the Nashik-Dahanu route. As it is situated on a high plateau, it is famous as a hill station. Jawhar is taluka headquarters. An Adivasi Sarvodaya canter is located here. There is a dairy facility (Gawaliwada) at Dapchari nearby for adivasis. A milk scheme has been developed here on a large scale.

Manor
This place is situate don the banks of the Vaitarna River. It is junction of Mumbai-Ahmadabad and Palghar Wade roadways. That is why it has become a transport center.

Vajreshwari
Vajreshwari is famous for its hot water springs. Hot water springs are also found in Ganeshpuri, Akloli, Datiwali, Kakner.

Virar
This is an important place in Vasai taluka. Local trains from Mumbai travel upto this station. The Arnala Fort is located nearby, Arnala fort is well-know fort.

Vashi
New Mumbai beyond the thane Creek is planned city. Vashi, the main town, is known as Vashinagar.

Dombivli
This is an important center on the central railway. There are various industries here.

Bhaindar
This is an important center on the Western railway. There are many salt pans here. There are also factories manufacturing chemicals, paints, plastic articles and medicines.

Mokhade
This place is the taluka headquarters. The hill-station suryamal is nearby.

Vasai
Vasai on the Western railway is the taluka headquarters. There is a famous historical fort here. There are also banana and betel-leaf plantations. There is a factory making fountain pens.

Palghar
Palghar is the taluka headquarters. There is a nuclear power plant at Tararpur which is nearby.

Dahanu
This place is the taluka headquarters. There are chikku and rose gardens here. It is a fishing port. There are factories manufacturing iron water drawing wheels and car spare parts. Also there are rice mills. A special kind of jaggery (tadgul) is made from the sap of the palm tree. Small boats too are built here.

Satpati
This port is famous for fishing.

Talasari , Shahapur, Murbad, Wade
These are taluka headquarters They are developing gradually. There is a Vitthal-Rakhumai temple at Shahad and a Ganpati temple at Titwala.