Bhiwandi

Bhiwandi is a city in the Thane district of the Konkan division of Maharashtra, India. It is located 20 kilometers (12 mi) northeast of Mumbai and 15 km (9.3 mi) northeast of the city of Thane. The city is a part of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. Bhiwandi was first inhabited by the Agri, Koli, Kunbi and Konkani peoples, who lived near the Konkan sea coast. In the early 16th century, Bhiwandi had a spice port on the Kamwadi River, now Bunder Mohalla. In the early 20th century, Bhiwandi was a small town inhabited mainly by Maharashtrians. Their most common occupations were in agriculture, fishing, and weaving. With the decline of the textile industry in Mumbai, Bhiwandi became attractive to textile companies due to its strong and consistent power and transportation infrastructure. The city of Bhiwandi has the largest number of power looms and handlooms in the country.[2][3][4] The majority of the population is employed in the power loom sector. The second-largest power loom, after the one in Surat, is located in Bhiwandi.