Ambernath
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ambarnath (alternatively Ambernath) is a township on the outskirts of Mumbai, with a population of more than 300,000. It is famous for an 11th century Shiva temple where a fair is held every year on Mahashivratri. Legend has it that there is an underground tunnel from the Shiva temple to Pune, which was used by Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Ambarnath has a Mumbai Suburban Railway link to Mumbai and lies on the route to Karjat and Pune. Most people rely on the railway link to commute to Mumbai for work. Ambernath is in an industrial zone and is home to hundreds of small and large chemical factories, the most famous of which are WIMCO and DMC. Many people also live in an area called Ordnance Estate which is meant for the Ordnance Factory nearby that manufactures artillery shells. It has given India an Olympian, hockey player Mervyn Fernandes. Ambarnath has a beautifully planned residential housing society called Suryodaya Housing Society, probably the largest housing society of bungalows in Asia, which contains more than 655 plots and covers around 4 km² of area. The area was once attractive, but because of unplanned development the infrastructure is stretched to support the current population growth and the bungalows have all been replaced with apartment buildings. A small, self contained township, Ambarnath has such prominent schools as Inner Wheel, Kendriya Vidyalaya (Central School), SICES, Fatima and Mahatma Gandhi. It has a large Muslim population, occupying Woolan Chawl, Bhendipada, Buapada, and Chinchpad. There are more than 11 masjids. Ambarnath caters to the needs of many Mumbai residents who prefer it to the congestion of the city. Prospects for Ambarnath seem positive, as Anand Nagar MIDC is expanding, creating increased job opportunities.
Places to see in Ambarnath include the Shiva Temple, GIP Tank, One Tree Point, Ayyapa Temple, Shantisagar Water Resort, Chikloli Dam, and Barvi Dam. A popular hill station called Matheran, and Titwala, which has a famous Ganesh temple, are close by
