Karjat () is a city, a
Municipal Council, a
Tahsil and a sub-district in
Raigad district,
Mumbai,
Navi Mumbai in the
Indian
state of
Maharashtra.
Geography
Karjat is located at , and has a population of 2,17,363. It is located on
Bhor ghat,
Sahyadri,
Western Ghats as well as at the end of coastal plains of
Konkan region near
Deccan. It has an average elevation of 194 metres (636 ft). It lies on the banks of the
River Ulhas. Tourism, Adventure Sports, Higher Education, Film Shooting, Retailing, Nurseries & Plantation and Spa Hospitality are the main occupations. Karjat is a
tahsil/
taluk in Maharashtra and is situated in the
Asthavinayak Ganesha belt region. As Karjat is a part of Mumbai Metro Region
Mumbai metropolitan area,
MMRDA has cleared Karjat for advanced Urban Planning with minimum FSI of 1.0. and
CIDCO is being entrusted with town planning and implementation. New Housing policy has removed many procedural hurdles, which will facilitate ultra-modern urbanisation of the area. townships are being developed under MMRDA Special Township provisions of Maharashta Regional and Town Planning Act, amended in year 2007 and also under Special Township Projects under section 63-I(A) of the Mumbai Tenancy & Agricultural Lands Act providing for automatic Non-Agricultural conversion of land of 100 acres/40 Hactres. Karjat has engineering, pharmacy, medical, management, advertising, hospitality colleges and also a Mass Media Advertising Institutes (AICAR) affiliated to the
AICTE &
University of Mumbai and also a few other graduation colleges and Oxford Schools. It has several tourist attractions including
Palasdari,
Matheran ,
Khandala,
Bhimashankar,
Malshej Ghat,
Lonavla, etc.
Transport
Karjat is a major rail terminus, connected via local trains to
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus Mumbai,
Khopoli and
Panvel. Regular shuttle trains also run between Karjat and
Lonavala and Karjat and
Pune. Located about halfway between Mumbai and
Pune, the town is a famous stop to buy
Vada pav, (a popular potato savoury originated from here) when travelling by train between the two cities. All long and short distance trains halt here. Pune highway, national highways,
Nasik Highway,
Goa Highway,
Mumbai-Pune expressway and state highways and
Raigad District,
Kharghar are well connected. The under construction sea over bridge, trans-harbour link between
Sewri,
Mumbai and
Navi Mumbai will cut the distance between the two cities further and offer faster connectivity to Karjat also. Its proximity to many industries and holiday spots with good connectivity has made it a unique city in India. A new broad gauge railway has started between Karjat and Panvel and harbour railway line now stands extended up to Karjat.
The nearest airports are Mumbai Airport and the Navi Mumbai International Airport ( under Construction). The Nhava Sheva JNPT Port is the nearest seaport.
Karjat is accessible via following highways:
Mumbai-Pune Expressway
NH 17
NH 4
NH 3
MH SH 35
MH SH 38
NH 4B
NH 222 via Murbad for Ahmednagar
Golden Quadrilateral
Hall-Phata (Karjat could be entered also from Junction of Old Pune-Mumbai highway & Karjat State Highway near Khopoli)
Karjat-Khopoli-Pen Road
Ale-Phata junction via Murbad/Malshej
Chauk-Dand-Phata or Palaspe-Phata to Apta-Phata from Goa Road or via Panvel or Khopoli/Pali
Sewri-Navi Mumbai Sea Link Expressway (under construction)
NH 8 via Murbad-Wada/Dahanu or Kalyan/Bhiwandi
Proposed Chakan-Bhimashankar-Karjat Highway
Karjat has a bus terminal near railway station in Bhisegaon. It is well connected to other cities in and around state by Maharashtra state owned passenger buses. Many private owned buses also provide transport service between Karjat and neighboring cities, including Mumbai and Panavel. Private taxis are also available near station.
S T Bus Terminal (Gundage) Phone : 220371, 222076, 222085
Tourism
Karjat is a preferred spot for weekend holidays, picnics, river rafting, trekking, hiking, and mountain climbing. It is a favored destination during rainy season.
Many farm houses and residential colonies are situated here with all civil amenities and a municipal corporation. People from Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane and Pune have second or weekend homes here and regularly celebrate festivals, new year parties, week-end bash here. It is also popular for pleasure visits during the monsoon season. Distance from Chembur to Karjat is 46 kilometres and from Sion it is 49 kilometres. Karjat has an advanced bio-tech institute which has been developing patented hybrid varieties of rice of international repute, apart from other crops and techniques.
Art Director Nitin Chandrakant Desai's "ND Studio" is a major stopover attraction for Karjat Tourists these days and top directors Films are shot here. White Feather Films is also setting up a new studio here. Hollywood production companies such as Twentieth Century Fox, Walt Disney and DreamWorks(with Reliance Big Studio) are setting up mega studios and production facilities here. Academy Award winning movie Slumdog Millionaire was shot here.
Karjat has got one of the largest chain of Farm Houses in Asia.
Karjat is also a trekking destination: it offers plenty of trails, ranging from medium to very demanding. The undulating hilly terrain and lofty slopes make it an ideal spot for trekking enthusiasts. The three prominent trekking trail leads to Matheran via Rambagh point, Peth Fort, and Chanderi Fort.
It’s possible to go for white water rafting during the monsoon, on the upper sections of the Ulhas River. Kondana Village, 15 km from Karjat, is the put-in point. The best time go rafting is July to September, and the nerve tingling rafting adventure highly depends on the rainfall.
Some of the other attractions in Karjat include:
; Ulhas Valley
: This valley glitters with large flowing streams of Ulhas river. It offers breathtaking sights during the monsoons, when the water falls gush through the thick greenery of the valley. There are a number of tunnels in the Ulhas valley, which helps the trains to pass through the valley.
; Bhor Ghat
: This ghat has a historical significance. It was the ancient trade route connecting the ports at Choul, Revdanda, Panvel, etc. on the Konkan coast and the hinterland on the Deccan plateau.
; Kondana Caves
: These caves are famous because of their Buddhist style .These caves offers an ancient life style of Buddhist followers. There are many Sculptures and stupas which are the architecture of the ancient period of Buddhist.
; Peth Fort
: This fort is also known as the Kotligad. This fort is conical in shape and gives an amazing view of the foothills. This fort is placed on the back of the Western ghats and Matheran ranges.
MMRDA has planned to develop a part of area in Karjat-Khopoli belt as Recreational Hub. On horizen are Twenty20 league ground, Paint Ball Park, Theme Parks, Amusement Park, Golf Course and other recreation facilities. Greg Norman's 27-36 Hole Super Championship Golf Course is also located in Karjat.
Educational institutes
Due to its proximity to Mumbai and Pune, Karjat has also become an educational hub with several institutes of higher education being located here:
Konkan Gyanpeeth Rahul Dharkar College of Pharmacy & Research Institute
Konkan Gyanpeeth College of Engineering (360 seats)
Asian Institute of Communication and Research AICAR Business School
Biotech Research Institute
Dhirubhai Ambani School Lodhivali CBSE
Engineering Institute of Bhivpuri
Christian Bible College, Vishwanagar
HOC Pillai International School
Agricultural College
L & T Construction Skills Training Institute
ONGC Kendriya Vidyalaya CBSE
Indian Institute of Geomagnetism
Medicinal Plants Institute
Yadhavrao Tasgaonkar Institute of Technology
Mahatma Gandhi Memorial MGM Medical University
Tasgaonkar Institute of Pharmacy
Dnyananubhav Vidyalaya, Kashele
Hybrid Rice Research Institute
Tops Security Men Training Institute
Tata Cancer Medical Institute and Research
Magic Bus Rock Climbing Centre
Vocational Training Institute
Saraswati Institute of Management & Research
Aptech Arena Residential Training Centre
Institute of Intelligence & Security Management (IISM)
Puppetry Training Institute
SeaRock Cruise Academy
Pillai's Mahatma Education Complex
Healis – Sekhsaria Institute For Tobacco Cancer Oncology
Academy of Development Science
Konkan Gyanpeeth Karjat College of Arts, Commerce & Science
Universal Business School
Karjat Ibsar Management Institute
Land-revenue blocks in Karjat
Adivali
Akurle
Ambherpada
Ambiwali Bk.
Ambiwali Tarf Kothal Khalati
Ambot
Anjap
Antrat Tarf Need
Antrat Tarf Waredi
Ardhe
Arvand
Asal
Ase
Ashane
Avalas
Awasare
Baliware
Bamnoli
Bandhiwali
Bardi
Barne
Bedisgaon
Bekare
Bendase
Bhadwal
Bhaliwadi
Bhansoli
Bhatgaon
Bhisegaon
Bhivpuri Road (Camp)
Bhoirwadi
Bhutiwali
Bid Bk.
Birdole
Bopele
Borgaon
Boriwali
Borle
Chafewadi
Chai
Chandhai
Chevane
Chinchawali
Chinchwali
Chochi
Dahigaon
Dahiwali Tarf Need
Dahiwali Tarf Waredi
Damat
Deopada
Dhak
Dhamni
Dhamote
Dhotre
Diksal
Dolavli
Done
Eksal
Garpoli
Gaulwadi
Gaurkamat
Gudhavan
Gundage
Haliwali
Hedawali
Humgaon
Injiwali
Jambhiwali
Jambrung
Jite
Jummaatti
Kadav
Kalamb, Karjat
Kalamboli, Karjat Tarf Waredi
Kashele
Kelavli
Khanand
Khandape
Khandas
Kharwandi
Kikavi
Kirawali
Kolhare
Kolhiwali
Kondana
Kondiwade
Kondiwale
Koshane
Kothimbe
Kumbhe
Kumdalaj
Kurung
Kushiwali
Ladiwali
Male
Malegaon Tarf Kothal Khalati
Malegaon Tarf Waredi
Mamdapur
Mandawane
Mangaon Tarf Wasare
Mangaon Tarf Waredi
Maniwali
Mankiwadi
Markewadi
Matheran
Mircholi
Mograj
Mohili Tarf Waredi
Mohili Tarf Wasare
Mudre Bk.
Mudre
Mugape
Mulgaon Tarf Wasare
Naldhe
Nandgaon
Nangurle
Nasarapur
Neral
Newali
Newali
Nikhop
Olman
Palasdari
Pali Tarf Kothal Khalathi
Pali Tarf Waredi
Parade
Pashane
Pathraj
Peth
Pimpalpada
Pimploli Bk.
Pinglas
Pohi
Poshri
Poshir
Potal
Rajape
Saidongar
Salokh Tarf Need
Salokh Tarf Waredi
Salpe
Salvad
Sandashi
Sangavi
Sapele
Savale
Savele Tarf
Sawargaon
Shelu
Shilar
Shingdhol
Shirshe
Sugave
Tadwadi
Takave
Talawali
Talwade
Tambas
Tamnath
Tembhare
Thakurwadi
Tighar
Tiwane
Tiware
Ukrul
Umroli
Vadap
Vaijanath
Vakas
Varai Tarf Need
Varne, Karjat
Vengaon
Wadawali
Wadawali Tarf Waredi
Wanjale
Wanjarpada
Warai Tarf Waredi
Ware
Wave
Wavloli
Zugarewadi
References
External links
Karjat, Government of Maharashtra
Category:Cities and towns in Raigad district
Category:Tourism in Maharashtra
Category:Railway stations in Maharashtra
Category:Kalyan-Lonavala rail line
Category:Karjat-Panvel rail line
Category:Karjat-Khopoli rail line
Category:Raigad district