Vaitarna River is located in the district of Thane in Maharashtra, India

Vaitarna River

About:

The Vaitarna River is one of the important rivers in the state of Maharashtra, India. It flows across the northern part of the state and is a significant source of water supply to Mumbai. The river originates from the Trimbak Hills in the Western Ghats and empties into the Arabian Sea.

Location info:

Address:Thane,Maharashtra,India

District: Thane

Nearest City:Mumbai

Best time to visit: :October to March

Climate/Weather:

Summer (March to June): Hot and dry, with temperatures ranging from 25°C to 35°C. Monsoon (July to September): Heavy rainfall in the region, often exceeding 2,000 mm annually, which significantly raises the river's water levels. Winter (November to February): Cool and pleasant, with temperatures between 15°C and 28°C, offering comfortable weather for exploration.

History:

The Vaitarna River has been historically important as a source of water for irrigation and drinking in the surrounding regions. The construction of the Upper Vaitarna Dam in 1957 and the Middle Vaitarna Dam in 2012 provided a crucial water supply for Mumbai, especially during periods of water scarcity. The region around the river is also rich in biodiversity and natural beauty.

Interesting things to do:

Lakes and Hills:
Thane the city of Lakes has around 30 lakes. The most beautiful of them is the Masunda Talao, also known as Talao Pali. The lake offers boating and water scooter facilities. Some of the other popular lakes are Upvan Lake, Kacharali Talao, Makhamali Talao, Siddheshwar Talao, Bramhala Talao, Ghosale Talao, Railadevi Talao etc.

Interesting things to Visit:

Essel World:
This amusement park is located at Gorai, at a distance from the hub of the city. The main attractions here are the 34 rides that comprise of roller coasters, rainbows, bumping cars. The complex houses many cafeterias and restaurants. Nearest Railway Stations: Malad or Borivali, from where the journey must be made by road and sea (Ferry). Also approachable by road via Bhayandar on Western Express Highway. Open: 1100 to 1900 (off season) 1000 to 2000 (April-June & October-December).

Water Kingdom is just next to Essel World and claims to have the largest wave pool in Asia. It has water slides and swimming pools for kids as well as elders.

Bassein (Vasai):
Bassein or Vasai was an ancient Portuguese settlement located about 48-km to the north of Mumbai, near the Thane creek. The Bassein Fort was constructed in 1532 by Bahadur Shah, Sultan of Gujarat. You can see ruins of the Fort and the Cathedral of St. Joseph and the Churches of St Antony and St. Paul. The city walls are still intact. There are also decorative gateways inscribed with coats of arms and Portuguese graves dating back to 1558.

Mobile range info:

Mobile network connectivity is generally good in the towns and villages surrounding the river, especially with major providers like Jio, Airtel, and Vodafone. However, in more remote or forested areas, signal strength may drop.

How to reach?

Nearest Railway Station:Thane.

Nearest Airport: The nearest airport is Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai, about 100 km away.

Road Transport: The three national highways passing through the city are Mumbai-Agra Highway, Mumbai-Banglore Highway, Mumbai-Ahmadabad Highway.Hence reaching here is not a problem.

Nearest Visiting places:

Matheran:
Matheran, 70 kms from Thane, is a hill station of natural beauty and pollution free environment. It is situated 750m up in the Sahyadri Ranges of the Western Ghats. Matheran is a 11 km hike by road from Neral and accessible from the foothills by a toy train. There are fine views from the top. Best season is November-February and April-June.

Tansa wildlife sanctuary:
This sanctuary is located 90km from Mumbai in Thane district. The sanctuary with an area of about 320sq.kms has around 54 species of animals and 200 species of birds in the sanctuary. Major wild animals are Panther, Barking deer, Mouse deer, Hyena, Wild boar etc. Tansa Lake flows through the sanctuary. Best time to visit is November -May.

Lonavla and Khandala:
Lonavla and Khandala are two hill resorts 5kms apart at an altitude of around 600m in the western ghats. Khandala is a quite village overlooking a picturesque ravine and surrounded by wet season waterfalls. Located 106km from Mumbai, on the Mumbai-Pune railway line, Lonavla is a good base to visit the Karla and Bhaja caves and also the Rajmachi, Lohagen and Visapur Forts nearby. Karla and Bhaja are rock-cut-caves which are among the oldest and finest examples of Hinayana Buddhists rock temple art in India. The Walwan Dam at Lonavla was built in 1915 to supply hydroelectric power to Mumbai's textile mills. Best time to visit is during the monsoon.

Nearest Petrol Pump:

BPCL Petrol Pump, Virar: A nearby station for travelers coming from the Mumbai side.

Hotels/Lodge/Accommodation:

Sharda International Hotel
Naupada W,Near Malhar Cinema, Thane, Mumbai, 400602

Hotel Satkar
Mohan Mahal,L B S Marg, Thane, Mumbai, 400602

Hotel Sharanam
Eastern Express Highway,Near R T O,
Opposite Ramkrishna Nagar, Thane West, Mumbai, 400604

Things to carry:

Comfortable hiking shoes for trekking and exploring the surrounding areas. Rain gear if visiting during the monsoon, as the region experiences heavy rainfall. Sunscreen and hats to protect against the sun during summer months. Binoculars for bird watching and enjoying the views of the surrounding nature. Water bottles and snacks if exploring more remote areas around the river.

Tips & Suggestions:

The best time to visit the Vaitarna River is during the monsoon or winter months when the weather is pleasant, and the river is at its scenic best. Plan for outdoor activities like trekking, camping, and boating, but ensure safety precautions are taken, especially during the monsoon when water levels rise. Keep in mind that certain parts of the river are part of restricted areas due to dam operations, so check local regulations before planning visits.

Help Line/Phone Number:

Police Station: 100

Nearest Hospital:

Akshay Hospital
Kolbad Naka, Kesar Mill, Thane West, Mumbai, Maharashtra

Wokchardt Hospitals Limited
Mulund Goregaon Link Road,Mulund West, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400078

Spectrum Health Care
Thane, Maharashtra

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