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About Thane

Throughout the history of the region presently known as Thane, one can see clearly its strategic importance in connecting the western part of India from the rest of the world, chiefly for the purpose of trade with foreign countries. The ports of Sopara, Thane, Sanjan and Kalyan have been playing their roles in making the area important for any ruler to start and maintain trade relations with the western countries.

The early sign of foreign trade goes as far back as B.C. 2500, when the contemporary rulers of this part of the country were maintaining trade relations with countries like Egypt, Babylon and Phoenicia. The era between BC 250 and 250 AD saw the relations fructifying with overseas settlements, like Greeks and Parthians, while that between 250 AD to 640 AD with Persian settlements. By 640 AD , they were known to be dealing with the traders in Arabia as well as Persia, which continued up to 1200 AD. Later part of the history saw the emergence of foreign rules in India, which brought Thane in close contacts with the Portuguese and the British.

Thane was known to a be a part of the North Konkan, and the Ashoka edicts found at Sopara establish its importance as a political and commercial center during the period when Gautam Buddha was alive. The area was visited by several Arab writers during the Shilharas regime who gave an account of the trade that was being conducted during this time. The Shilharas were a great patron of art and culture, which is reflected through the grandeur of the temple built at Ambarnath.

During the period spanning 1300-1500, the area of North Konkan came under the influence of Turk rulers of Delhi, who ruled the region through a military officer permanently stationed at Thane. Later period saw the emergence of Portuguese, Marathas and the British in the region. The Portuguese continued their hold of Vasai from 1535 to 1739, when the Marathas seized it from them after a long siege. The Treaty of Vasai brought it under the authority of the British in 1802, and it was subsequently incorporated into the Bombay Presidency.

After the independence, Thane continued to grow at a normal pace until the paucity of space in Mumbai prompted home seekers to find new destination adjoining the metro area. Thane became a popular choice of the multitudes who throng the city of Mumbai every subsequent year. Soon, the property development activities in Thane took a sharp turn northward, as a large number of corporate enterprises jumped on the bandwagon, heralded by the agencies, like Thane Municipal Corporation. Today the real estate industry in Thane is growing at a colossal speed, which is continuously increasing the size of its economy.