Nala Sopara is a city and a municipal council in Thane district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is a town within the Mumbai Conurbation. The town lies in Thane district of Maharashtra state in India. The population of the city is 184,664 (2001 census). It is also the name of a railway station on the Mumbai suburban railway on the Western Railway (India) railway line.

History

It is the site of the ancient port of Shurparaka or Sopara, now silted up. Sopara is one of the oldest port towns in India dating back more than 1000 years. The name nalasopara is probably derived from combination of nala area and sopara area.

Localities

Nalasopara has some of the historic location located in Vasai Taluka like one of the Buddhist stupa known to be built in the reign of Samrat Ashoka. It also has some temples located within it which are not only historical but also a part of ancient architecture with beautiful monuments carved in it. The Nalasopara (West) area consist of Sopara, Umrale, Nale, Gaas, Nirmal and Wagholi villages. Ancient Chakreshwar Temple and Chakreshwar Lake is located in Sopara village and Adi Shankaracharya Math in Nirmal village. The localities in Nalasopara (East) are Achole Road, Achole village, Don Lane, Tuling, Taki Road, Santosh Bhavan, Nagindaspada. The Achole talav at Achole village is a place of tourist attraction, it is a place worth visiting with soft music, lights, benches..and a place ideal for friends to meet. Lake Palace is a very old building there.

St. Aloysius High School founded by Dr. A.F. Pinto is the school in the town offering education up to class XII.

Infant Jesus High School is located in Nalasopara it is located east of Vijay Nagar

Administration

It is governed by its own Municipal Council, the Nala Sopara Nagar Parishad.

Demographics

As of 2001 India census, Nala Sopara had a population of 184,664. Males constitute 54% of the population and females 46%. Nala Sopara has an average literacy rate of 79%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 77%, and female literacy is 82%. In Nala Sopara, 13% of the population is under 6 years of age. This place has witnessed very steep rise of population since 1998, due to cheapest property rates in Mumbai suburban railways area, steep rise of property rates in Mumbai and being well connected to Mumbai city by local train services.

References