In pre-independent India, the British Raj spelled Kalyan as Kallian, Cullian, Callian and sometimes as Callianee. Over the centuries, the city has seen attacks by various foreign armies, including the Mughal, the Portuguese and the British. The Marathas were held in high regard by the locals for being their only line of defense against invasions. Walter Hamilton, a foreign visitor passing through India, described Callianee as 'A Geographical, Statistical, and Historical Description of Hindustan, and the Adjacent Counties' in Volume 2 on page 150 of his 1820 book. and Tabat Islambooly. All three completed their medical studies, and each was the first woman from their respective countries to obtain a degree in Western medicine. Anandi Gopal Joshi, from Kalyan, along with Kadambini Ganguly, was one of the first two Indian women to obtain a degree in Western medicine. An 1886 graduate, Joshi is also believed to be the first Hindu woman to set foot on American soil.
Around Kalyan
Durgadi Fort
The city of Kalyan was surrounded by a fort wall, the construction of which began during Shah Jahan's reign and was completed during Aurangzeb's reign in 1694 A.D. This city wall, which ran in excess of 2000 yards, 2123 to be precise, was guarded by 4 gates and 11 towers. The fort wall enclosed an area of 70 acres and on a high mound near the Kalyan creek, where the current Ganesh ghat stands, was a fine fort since as early as 1570. The wall of the fort along the top of the inner bank of the ditch, and, near the north end, had a gateway known as the Delhi or Killyacha Darwaja. Under the Marathas, a new gate about to the south of the Ganesh gate was opened near the mansion of Ramji Mahadeo Biwalkar, the Peshwa's Governor. In the citadel of the fort Marathas built a small wooden temple of Durgadevi behind the mosque, and called the fort Durgadi Killain in honor of the goddess, a name which it still bears. The fort measures in length and somewhat less in breadth. Under the English rule, the fort wall was dismantled and stones carried to build the Kalyan and Thane piers and a dwelling for the customs inspector in the west of the Kalyan fort. The gate to the north-west is almost the only trace of the fort wall, which is of rough stone masonry. During 1876 the original idol of the goddess Durga was stolen.
Demographics
The majority of Kalyan citizens are Hindus with Muslims being a significant minority..
Climate
Transport
Trains, Buses and Auto-rickshaws are the important mode of transport in and around Kalyan. 200,000 Kalyan citizens travel daily by local trains. Kalyan Junction railway station is on the railway line between Mumbai and Karjat/Kasara. The city of Kalyan has access to three railway stations on the Central line - Thakurli Station, Vitthalwadi Station and Kalyan Junction. Kalyan Junction serves as an important railway station at the node of Mumbai. Dombivli station is about 48 km from CSMT station along the central railway line and is connected to all parts of Maharashtra by rail as well as road. Kalyan is one of the most important junctions in India with most of the outstation trains stopping at it. Nearest airport is Mumbai airport which is 40 km away. Kalyan has its own bus service named KDMT, a city corporation owned and operated bus service operating within Kalyan-Dombivli City region and the neighbouring Navi Mumbai City. It is the 3rd largest bus service provider in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region after BEST and NMMT in terms of areas covered.
Civic amenities
With a population of more than 700,000, Kalyan is a part of the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation established in 1983, with municipalities of Kalyan, Dombivli, Ambernath and 81 other villages. It was then one of the largest urban local bodies in Mumbai Metropolitan Region and in the state, with an area around 209 km2. The government of Maharashtra has decided to delete major area of the corporation limits on different occasions. Presently the total area of the corporation has remained, and measures about 67 km2.
Government
is a municipal corporation in Thane district of Maharashtra State, India. The municipal corporation was formed in 1983 to administer the twin townships of Kalyan and Dombivli. The municipal corporation has a population 15,18,762 citizens as per the 2011 census. Due to its highly educated population it is often called the second cultural capital of Maharashtra after Pune. Kalyan was once famous as a port in ancient times. Records of its existence as a premier port in the region have been found in ancient Greek manuscripts. The corporation is governed by Bombay Provincial Municipal Corporation Act 1949. The following authorities are given charge to carry out the provisions of the act:
Both the cities are divided into 122 wards. Municipal Corporation consists of Councillors elected directly at Ward Elections. The number and boundaries of the Wards into which the city is divided is specified by the State Election Commissioner. There are five Councillors nominated by the corporation. As per the provisions of the Act, the total number of Councillors is 121. The Corporation elects one of its members as the Mayor and another to be the Deputy Mayor.
