Khopoli

Infobox Indian Jurisdiction
native_name = Khopoli | type = city | latd = 18.78 | longd = 73.33
locator_position = right | state_name = Maharashtra
district = Raigarh
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altitude = 138
population_as_of = 2001
population_total = 58,657| population_density =
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area_total =
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Zenith water fall is the most attracting place of khopoliKhopoli (Marathi: खोपोली) is a city in the Indian state of Maharashtra, at the base of the Sahyadri mountains, near Karjat surrounded on all sides by hills. It has grown rapidly in the last decade due to the proximity to Mumbai and Navi Mumbai , particularly after the extension of the Mumbai Suburban Railway to Khopoli. It is governed by the Khopoli Muncipal Council, which consists of publicly elected representatives. It is the site of the first privately owned hydroelectric power station in India built by Tatas. [http://www.assocham.org/events/recent/event_141/_s.d_dubey.pdf]

Geography

Khopoli is located at coord|18.78|N|73.33|E| [ [http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/16/Khopoli.html Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Khopoli] ] . It has an average elevation of 138 metres (452 feet).

History

During the British rule the name of this place was campolee. Then this place was called Khopoli. The name khopoli was derived from the following two words. Khopi (means a hut) and awali (means a row) i.e many huts in a row.

There is a waterbody (generally called as shankar mandir talao). but the actual name of this waterbody is Kakan talao. The name to this water body was given because of a genuine reason. Once there was some queen and there was a drought in khopoli. So she had sold her diamond bangles (They were called Kakan in marathi, Kangan in Hindi) and hence the name Kakan talao. This talao is very deep. In the deep waters of the kakan talao lies an escape route of shivaji maharaj.

The (ghat section) the road which climbs through the mountains to lonavla is called the Bhor Ghat. This road was built by Dalhousie. It was the only way to many far off countries and the only way for transportation and so was of utmost importance.

The Marathi novelist R. V. Dighe (र. वा. दिघे) lived and wrote in Khopoli. Dighe holds a special place in Marathi literature because, even though his novels are not popular, he was one of the very few writers who in the last century wrote about the quintessentially Marathi people – the vaarkari (वारकरी) who are devotees of the Marathi deity Vithoba (विठोबा) and the shetkari (शेतकरी), the farmers who till the land and form a sizeable fraction of Maharashtra. His best known novels are paaNkaLaa (पाणकळा) and paD re paaNyA (पड रे पाण्या).

Demographics

In the 2001 India census [GR|India] , Khopoli had a population of 58,657. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Khopoli has an average literacy rate of 74%, higher than the national average of 59.5%. Male literacy is 80%, and female literacy is 68%. Thirteen per cent of the population is under 6 years of age.

Features

Khopoli is predominantly an industrial town, with steel companies constituting a large part of its industrial base.

It is also a regular rest and refreshment stop for motorists traveling on the Mumbai-Pune Highway (officially National Highway 4), one of the busiest roads in the country. However, the opening of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, which bypasses the town, has had a negative impact on local businesses, which were largely dependent on travellers passing through town for most of their revenue.

Khopoli is a convenient base location for local tourist spots, including as Duke’s Nose, Rajmachi Point, Tiger’s Leap, and the Ashtavinayaka temples of Shri Ballaleshwar at Pali (38 km) and Shri Varad Vinayak at Mahad (7 km).

Connectivity

Khopoli railway station is a railhead, meaning that the suburban railway line from Mumbai ends here. For long distance trains, shuttles, and regular suburban trains, the nearest junction is Karjat. The town is also well-connected by road since it lies on National Highway 4.

At Khopoli there is a branching-out of the Mumbai-Pune National highway (State highway No. 35) called Hall Phata, connecting the city to Karjat, Matheran, Murbad, etc.

Distances from major cities/towns

Industries

*The Ruby Mills Ltd
*Zenith (Birla) India
*Mahindra Ugine Steel Company (MUSCO)
*Wartsila India Ltd.
*Alta Laboratories
*Innovasynth Technologies
*Bhushan Steel
*Uttam Galva Steels Ltd.
*Mohan Rocky Springwater Breweries
*Parle-G ltd
*Cremica Bread
*TATA Power
*Color Roofs India Ltd.
*Kanjur Naturals
*Bombay Oxygen Company.
*A to Z Gas sales & Services (A2Z)

Places of interest

*Bhagwan Parshuram Mandir and Agni Mandir - Papco Mills
*Zenith waterfall and Ring waterfall
*Sahyadri ranges during monsoon season
*Shree Swami Samarth Math-Bhanvaj Road
*Gagangiri Ashram
*Old Shiv temple and lake
*Hazrat Gazibaba's, Latif shah baba's, Siddique shah baba and hazrat latif shah baba's Dargahs.shree venkatesh steels ltd.

References

* cite web
last = Dubey
first = S. D.
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Hydro Development in India - An overview and challenges
work = An ASSOCHAM study
publisher = The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India
date =
url = http://www.assocham.org/events/recent/event_141/_s.d_dubey.pdf
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2007-03-08