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{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2017}}

{{Infobox settlement
| name =
| other_name =
| settlement_type = City
| image_skyline =
| image_alt =
| image_caption =
| nickname = Sopara
| map_alt =
| map_caption =
| pushpin_map = India Maharashtra#India3
| pushpin_relief=yes
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption =
| coordinates = {{coord|19.4154|N|72.8613|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = India
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Maharashtra]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Palghar district|Palghar]]
| subdivision_type3
=[[city]]
| subdivision_name3
=[[Vasai-Virar]]
| established_title = 
| established_date =
| founder =
| named_for =
| government_type = [[Municipal Corporation]]
| governing_body = [[Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation]]
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_rank =
| area_total_km2 =
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m =
| population_total = 4.6 lakh
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_rank =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym =
| population_footnotes =
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = [[Marathi language|Marathi]]
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code = 401 209(for east)
401 203(for west)
| area_code_type = Telephone code
| area_code = 0250
| registration_plate = MH48
| website =
| blank1_name_sec1 = [[Vidhan Sabha]] constituency
| blank1_info_sec1 = Nallasopara
| footnotes =
| official_name =
}}

'''Nallasopara''', formerly known as '''Sopara''', is a town within the [[Mumbai Metropolitan Region]]. The town lies in the [[Palghar district]] of [[Maharashtra]] and is governed by [[Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation]] (VVMC). [[Nalla Sopara railway station]] is part of the [[Western Railway Zone]].

Nallasopara is accepted by scholars as the [[Shurparaka]] (lit. ''city of braves''; {{IAST|Śūrpāraka}}) or Supparak of ancient India and was a busy trade centre and an important seat of [[Buddhism]]. It was one of the administrative units under the [[Satavahanas]] and is mentioned in the inscriptions of [[Karli, India|Karle]], [[Nashik]], [[Naneghat]] and [[Kanheri]].

==Climate==
It has tropical climate, specifically a tropical wet and dry climate (Aw) under the Köppen climate classification, with seven months of dryness and peak of rains in July.

This moderate climate consists of high rainfall days and very few days of extreme temperatures. The cooler season from December to February is followed by the summer season from March to June. The period from June to about the end of September constitutes the south-west monsoon season, and October and November form the post-monsoon season. The driest days are in winter while the wettest days occur in July.

Between June and September, the south-west monsoon rains lash the region. Pre-monsoon showers are received in May. Occasionally, monsoon showers occur in October and November. The average total annual rainfall averages between 2,000–2,500 mm (79–98 in). Annually, over 80% of the total rainfall is experienced during June to October. Average humidity is 61-86%, making it a humid climate zone.

The temperature varies from 22–36 °C (72–97 °F). The average temperature is 26.6 °C (80 °F), and the average precipitation is 2,434 mm (95.83 in). The average minimum temperature is 22.5 °C (72.5 °F). The daily mean maximum temperature range from 28.4 °C (83.1 °F) to 33.4 °C (92.1 °F), while the daily mean minimum temperature ranges from 17.5 °C (63.5 °F) to 26.4 °C (79.5 °F). In winter, temperature ranges between 12–25 °C (54–77 °F) while summer temperature ranges from 36–41 °C (97–106 °F)

{{Weather box
|metric first=yes
|single line=yes
|location=Nala sopara
|temperature colour=pastel
|Jan high C=28.5
|Feb high C=29
|Mar high C=31
|Apr high C=32.5
|May high C=33.2
|Jun high C=32
|Jul high C=29.7
|Aug high C=29.5
|Sep high C=29.8
|Oct high C=32.1
|Nov high C=32
|Dec high C=30.3

|Jan mean C=23.2
|Feb mean C=23.7
|Mar mean C=26.3
|Apr mean C=28.3
|May mean C=29.8
|Jun mean C=29
|Jul mean C=27.4
|Aug mean C=27.1
|Sep mean C=27
|Oct mean C=27.8
|Nov mean C=26.6
|Dec mean C=24.6

|Jan low C=17.9
|Feb low C=18.5
|Mar low C=21.6
|Apr low C=24.2
|May low C=26.5
|Jun low C=26.1
|Jul low C=25.1
|Aug low C=24.7
|Sep low C=24.3
|Oct low C=23.6
|Nov low C=21.2
|Dec low C=18.9

|precipitation colour=green
|Jan precipitation mm=0
|Feb precipitation mm=1
|Mar precipitation mm=1
|Apr precipitation mm=0
|May precipitation mm=10
|Jun precipitation mm=486
|Jul precipitation mm=870
|Aug precipitation mm=531
|Sep precipitation mm=350
|Oct precipitation mm=71
|Nov precipitation mm=6
|Dec precipitation mm=1

|source 1= ''Climate-Data.org'' (altitude: 5m)<ref>[http://en.climate-data.org/location/6281/ Climate: Vasai-Virar - en.climatedata.org]</ref>}}

==History==
===Sopara===
'''Sopara''' (by some identified with the [[Ophir]] mentioned in the [[Hebrew]] texts<ref>1 Kings 9:28; 10:11; 22:49; 1 Chronicles 29:4; 2 Chronicles 8:18; Job 22:24; 28:16; Psalms 45:9; Isaiah 13:12</ref>) was an ancient port town and the capital of the ancient [[Aparanta]]. The ancient port of Sopara was an important port in western India, which operated under the celebrated port of [[Cambay]]. The site of this ancient town is located near the present day Nala Sopara. In ancient times, it was the largest township on India's west coast, trading with [[Mesopotamia]], [[Egypt]], [[Kingdom of Cochin|Cochin]], [[Arabia]] and [[Eastern Africa]].

The [[Mahabharata]] and the [[Purana]]s state that the {{IAST|Śūrpāraka}} was reclaimed from the sea for the dwelling place of [[Parashurama]] and it became a [[Tirtha (Hinduism)|tirtha]] for this reason.<ref>Pargiter F.E. (1922, reprint 1972) ''Ancient Indian Historical Tradition'', Motilal Banarasidass, Delhi, p.201</ref> The finding of the relics in a stupa and the rock edicts (the fragments of the 8th and 9th major rock edicts) of [[Ashoka]] in 1882<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120418140428/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2001-11-18/mumbai/27243463_1_edict-shah-rukh-nalla-sopara Times of India article on Sopara, 18 November 2001]</ref> prove the importance of this port town from the 3rd century BCE<ref>Thaper, R. (1997). ''{{IAST|Aśoka}} and the Decline of the Mauryas'', Oxford University Press, New Delhi, {{ISBN|0-19-564445-X}}, pp.5,236</ref> to the 9th century CE. The Sanskrit text [[Mahavamsa]] (VI, 46,47) states that the first king of the [[Sinhalese Kingdom]] (now [[Sri Lanka]]), [[Vijaya of Sri Lanka|Vijaya]] sailed from Supparaka (Sopara) to Sri Lanka.<ref>Thaper, R. (1997). ''{{IAST|Aśoka}} and the Decline of the Mauryas'', Oxford University Press, New Delhi, {{ISBN|0-19-564445-X}}, pp.82,135</ref> [[Ptolemy]] mentioned this town as Soupara, and it was a major commercial centre during his time<ref>Thaper, R. (1997). ''{{IAST|Aśoka}} and the Decline of the Mauryas'', Oxford University Press, New Delhi, {{ISBN|0-19-564445-X}}, p.236</ref> According to the Jaina writers, Shripala, a mythical king married Tilakasundari, daughter of king Mahasena of Soparaka. Jinaprabhasuri (14th century) in his ''Vividhatirthakalpa'' mentioned Soparaka as one of 84 [[Jainism|Jaina]] [[Tirtha (Jainism)|tirtha]]s (sacred places). He also mentioned about an image of [[Rishabhadeva]] located in this city till his time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/Thane/places_s.html|title=Chapter 19 Places|work=Thane district Gazetteer|publisher=Government of Maharashtra|year=2006 |orig-year=1982}}</ref>

The earliest reference occurs in Mahabharata as Shuparak. Suppara Jataka, believed to be of 6th century BC, talks of Sopara as a prosperous port trading with ports of S.W.Asia, Gujarat, Malabar and Srilanka, its experts (navigation pilots- bodhisattvas), and the seas that they voyaged across. From about third or fourth century BC precise historic data can be pieced together.

During primeval time, it was a colossal city of India western Ghats and was one of the major ports for foreign trading. India was trading with Arabia, Africa, Egypt and Rome via this Port. It has also been suggested that King Hiram of Tyre brought gold, precious stones and almug trees for Solomon from this city that was called land of Ophir.<ref>A L Bashman, The Wonder That was India, Picador Press India</ref>

===Excavations at Sopara===
[[File:Stupa Of Nalla sopara (Mumbai) 03 Panorama shot.jpg|thumb|upright=2.5|The stupa of Nala Sopara]]
[[File:Statue Of Buddha At Sopara Stupa.jpg|thumb|Statue Of Buddha At Sopara Stupa.]]
In April 1882, [[Bhagvanlal Indraji]], a noted [[archaeologist]], [[numismatist]] and [[epigraphist]] excavated at the ''Burud Rajache Kot'' mound in Merdes village, near Sopara. The ruins of a Buddhist Stupa was found. From the center of the stupa (inside a brick built chamber) a large stone coffer was excavated which contained eight bronze images of Maitreya Buddha which belong to the c. 8th-9th [[century]] CE. This coffer also enclosed relic caskets of [[copper]], [[silver]], [[Rock (geology)|stone]], [[crystal]] and [[gold]], along with numerous gold flowers and fragments of a begging bowl. A silver coin of [[Gautamiputra Satakarni]] ([[Satavahana]]) was also found from the mound. The Bombay Provincial Government presented the Sopara relics to the Asiatic Society of Bombay. The coins and the artifacts found during the excavations at the site of this ancient town can still be viewed in the [[Asiatic Society of Bombay|Asiatic Society, Mumbai]] museum. In an old Muslim graveyard near Ramkund, the fragments of 8th and 9th major rock edicts of Asoka were found. These rock edicts can be viewed in the [[Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya]], Mumbai. The site was re-excavated by M.M.Qureshi of the Archaeological Survey of India in 1939-40, when several stone lintels and two small stupas were found on the south side of the main stupa in addition to a few sherds of plain glazed ware of the Muslim period. Anwar Munshi (1972) found a number of Satavahana lead coins at Sopara.<ref name=":0">{{Cite document|title = Onshore and Nearshore Explorations along the Maharashtra Coast: with a View to Locating Ancient Ports and Submerged Sites|citeseerx = 10.1.1.570.5017}}</ref> In 1956, a fragment of 11th major rock edict was found from a coastal village, Bhuigaon.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.asi.nic.in/nmma_reviews/Indian%20Archaeology%201955-56%20%20A%20Review.pdf|title=Indian Archaeology 1955-56 - A Review |last=Ghosh|first=A. (ed.)|orig-year=1956|year=1993|publisher=Archaeological Survey of India|pages=29|access-date=2009-10-18}}</ref> During an excavation in 1993, a ring well, fragments of [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] amphorae red polished ware and glass (all belong to the early centuries of the Common Era) were found.

The ancient habitation site lies 2 km away from the stupa which overlooks the dry creek on the south and on the east opens to [[Thane creek]]. A large quantity of [[Islamic]] Glazed Ware, Black and Red Ware were found at the site. It seems that during the Early Historical period Sopara was located on the mainland facing Agashi island on the north and [[Vasai|Bassein]] to the south. The backwaters between the mainland and the island were suitable for the movement and anchorage of ships. Gas and Nirmal villages were once part of the creek. A number of tanks and architectural remains arc noticed in the areas adjoining these villages. All the ancient relics were found in the area between the stupa and the creek. Up to the 19th century this creek was navigable and ships of 20 tonnes used to ply here. The significance of the architectural pieces becomes more important when the surface findings arc taken into account. The area around Bhatela pond is a landing place or bunder, where even remains of a Portuguese jetty and customs house are seen. Exploration (1994) in the adjoining area has yielded Red Polished Ware and Glazed Ware. The evidence is further corroborated by a joint excavation in 1993 carried out by the [[Archaeological Survey of India]] and the [[British Academy]], Hyderabad where antiquities of the Early Historical period ([[Satavahana]] and Kashatrapa period) — lead and copper coins, semi-precious stone beads, small fragments of Northern Black Polished Ware, amphorae pieces and Islamic Blue Glazed ware were discovered. An earthen wall and a fourteen coarse stone wall with varying sizes of stone blocks were also encountered during this excavation.<ref name=":0" />

It is clearly evident from the archaeological and literary sources that Sopara was the main entrepot dating from the pre-[[Asoka|Asokan period]] up to the 3rd century A.D. and again from 9th to 13th century A.D. There is no evidence of cultural remains from 4th to 9th century and it seems that during this period Sopara had lost its importance. The main cause for the decline of the ancient port of Sopara was due to the effect of siltation caused by a rise in sea level. Further near-shore and off-shore marine archaeological exploration and excavation would be helpful to ascertain the extent of the ancient port city.<ref name=":0" />

==Sopara Edicts of Ashoka==
{{main|Edicts of Ashoka|Major Rock Edicts}}
[[File:Soppara Ashoka Major Rock inscription.jpg|thumb|Ashoka [[Major Rock Edicts]] at Sopara.]]
[[File:Sopara Edict Grafix.jpg|thumb|Transcription of the Edicts.]]
The following are translations of the fragments of the edicts found at Sopara by [[A.L. Basham]].<ref>Aśoka and the Decline of the Mauryas (Third Edition);Oxford University Press;Pg.380-381</ref> In these edicts, Ashoka refers to himself as "Devanampiya"(Beloved of The Gods) and "Piyadassi" (The handsome one).

===8th Major Rock Edict===
"In the past, kings went on pleasure tours, which consisted of hunts and other similar amusements. The Beloved Of The Gods, the king Piyadassi, when he had been consecrated for 10 years, went to the tree of Enlightenment. From that time arose the practice of tours connected with Dhamma, during which meetings are held with ascetics and brahmans, gifts are bestowed, meetings are arranged with aged folk, gold is distributed, meetings with people of the countryside are held, instruction in [[Dhamma]] is given, and questions on Dhamma are answered. The Beloved Of The Gods, the king Piyadassi, derives more pleasure from this, than from any other enjoyments."

===9th Major Rock Edict===
"Thus speaks the Beloved of the Gods, the king Piyadassi: People practice various ceremonies in illness, at the marriage of sons and daughters, at the birth of children, when going on a journey on these and on other similar occasions people perform many ceremonies. Women especially perform a variety of ceremonies, which are trivial and useless. If such ceremonies must be performed they have but small results. But the one ceremony which has great value is that of Dhamma. This ceremony includes regard for slaves and servants, respect for teachers, restrained behaviour towards living beings, and donations to sramanas and brahmans - these and similar practices are called the ceremony of Dhamma. So father, son, brother, master, friend, acquaintance and neighbour should think,'This is virtuous, this is the ceremony I should practice, until my object is achieved.'"

==Demographics==
{{As of|2011}} India [[census]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040616075334/http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999|archive-date=2004-06-16|title= Census of India 2011: Data from the 2011 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)|access-date=2008-11-01|publisher= Census Commission of India}}</ref> Nala Sopara had a population of 4.6 lakh. It shows Nalasopara's population grew to 4.6 lakh in 2011 from 2.3 lakh in 2001 census. It is one of the well-known suburbs in Mumbai. Males constitute 54% of the population and females 46%. Nala Sopara has an average literacy rate of 79%, higher than the national average of 74.04%: male literacy is 77%, and female literacy is 82%. In Nala Sopara, 13% of the population is under 6 years of age. Nala Sopara has witnessed steep rise of population due to relatively cheaper property rates in the Mumbai suburban area.

Among minority languages, [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]] is spoken by 17.82% of the population and [[Hindi]] by 22.92%.<ref>{{cite web|title=51st Report of the Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities in India|url=http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM51stReport.pdf|website=nclm.nic.in|publisher=[[Ministry of Minority Affairs]]|date=15 July 2015|access-date=15 February 2018|page=151|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180216025959/http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM51stReport.pdf|archive-date=16 February 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Places of importance ==
===Chakreshwar Mahadev Mandir===
The ''Chakreshwar Mahadev Mandir'' ({{Coord|19.416982|N|72.798733|E|display=inline}}) is a very ancient shrine of Lord Śiva.<ref>{{cite web|title=Chakreśvar Mahādev Mandir (Nalasopara, Thane)|url=http://teerthayaatra.wordpress.com/2012/03/18/chakresvar-mahadev-mandir-nalasopara-thane/|website=Tīrtha Yātra|access-date=26 May 2016|date=18 March 2012}}</ref> This is a relatively small [[temple]] and is noted as the holy place where Svāmi Samarth performed dhyānam, pratiṣhṭha of a Rām Mandir near-by and blessed a śiṣhya who undertook a sajīva samādhi at this very place. The temple lies at one corner of the Chakreshwar lake in Nallasopara West.<ref>{{cite web|title=Nalasopara - Buddhist Stupa & Chakreshwar Mahadev Temple - a cycling expedition|url=http://bijoor.me/2013/12/28/cycling-to-nalasopara-buddhist-stupa-chakreshwar-mahadev-temple/|website=Tok|access-date=26 May 2016}}</ref>

The era of construction is not clearly known. The temple was attacked by invaders and many of the idols were thrown into the nearby Chakreśvar lake. Many such old and rare idols were recovered later and put up in the current temple structure.{{citation needed|date=April 2020}} The present structure is relatively new and small.

==Schools==
{{Unreferenced section|date= October 2019}}
There are over 50 schools in Nallasopara and several provide higher education. These are listed below:
* Adarsh Education Society's Kapol School
* Agape Pre School
* Anjuman Khairul Islam Urdu High School
* Avdhoot Bhagwan Ram English High School
* Avdhoot Bhagwan Ram Vidyalaya
* B.N.Memorial High School
* Blooming Bud English High School
* Chandresh Lodha Memorial High School
*Claridges High School
* Divine Life School
* Divine Providence High School
* Evergreen High School
* GD Ideal High School
* Gurukul English High School
* Holy Angels School
* Holy Mary English School
* Holy Cross High School, Nirmal
* Indira Gandhi school & jr.college
* Infant JDivine Life School
* Infant Jesus High School
* Iris School & Junior College
* JBS High School
* Kanchan High School & Junior College
* Krist Raj High School
* Kids Corner
* KMPD High School
*Limra English School
* Little Flowers English High School
* Little Star Play Group Nursery
* Lokmanya High School & Junior College
* M.B. Harris College of Arts
* M.B. International School and College
* Mata Bhagwati Yug Nirmaan Vidyalaya
* Mother Mary's English High School
* Mount Mary's High School
* Mahura Bal Vikas High School & Jr. College (Santosh Bhavan) Hari om nagar nallasopara (E)
* Narayana E-Techno School (W)
* New Orchid High School and Junior College
* New English School, Sopara
* Nutan Vidyalaya
* Pancham High School & Junior College Of Arts & Science
* Purushottam Vidyalay (English High School)
* Rahul International School
* Rana Pratap Madhyamik Vidyalaya & Jr. Collage (Santosh Bhawan)
* Raja Shivaji vidyalaya
* Reckon Public Academy
* RK International School
* Rosary International Boarding School
* Ryan International School
* Sacred Heart High School
* Shivaji Vidya Mandir High School
* Saraswati High School
* SKC school
* Sant Leela Shah high school & junior college
* Smt.K.L.Tiwari College of Architecture.
* Sopara English High School
* St. Aloysius High School
* St. Anthony High School
* St. Augasthi High School
* [[St. Francis De Sales High School (Mumbai)|St. Francis De Sales High School]]
* St. Joseph & Mary Convent School
* St. Lukes English High School & Junior College
* St. Mary's English High School
* St. Paul High School
* St. Willibrord International School
* Sudarshan English High School
* Summer Field School
* Thakur Vidya Mandir High School
* The Krayons Pre Primary School
* Treehouse School
* U.S Ostwal English High School and Jr. College
* Vedant public high school and Jr. College
* Vinay Vidyalaya
* Vidya Varidhi Vidyalaya & Jr. College
* Vidya Bhushan Hindi Vidyalaya
* Vidya Bhushan Marathi Vidyalaya
* Zilla parishad urdu school ansari nagar
* Zulekha Begum Balumiyan Zakaria English High School
* Nirmal vidyalaya, Niraml School
* Emmanuel English School
* Welkin National School

==Industrialization And Transportation==

===Industrialization===
The eastern part of Nala Sopara is highly industrialized, with small and medium scale units producing a wide variety of goods. Many industries are set up in Nala Sopara.

===Transportation===
Train Network, and Road Network connect Nalasopara with all the other area of Mumbai city. Train, Bus, auto and private taxi services are the mode of transport.

==Reference in Literature==

A Gujarati Novel based Historical events written by [[Zaverchand Meghani]] named''Gujaratno Jay'' mentions that Parents of famous [[Jain]] laymen Vastupal and Tejpal who constructed [[Dilwara Temples]] had stayed in Sopara for some period of time after running away from home.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Gujaratno Jay|last=Meghani|first=Zaverchand|publisher=Gurjar Sahitya Bhavan|date=April 2011|isbn=978-81-8461-481-7|location=Ahmdabad|pages=21}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Indian maritime history]]
*[[Surparaka Kingdom]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http://www.geocities.com/unitedit/places/Sopara/sopara.htm&date=2009-10-25+23:35:15 Sopara]
*[https://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http://www.geocities.com/unitedit/places/SoparaPort/SoparaArticle.htm&date=2009-10-25+23:35:18 A Case Study of Sopara]
*[http://www.bhramanti.com/kanheri.html Kanheri Caves]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20061031153222/http://thane.nic.in/htmldocs/history.htm Ancient History of Thane]
*[https://dsal.uchicago.edu/books/DS416.A3/ Archaeological Survey of Western India]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060928071427/http://www.nio.org/annual_reports/1993-94.pdf Onshore explorations at Sopara and Kalyan]
{{Edicts of Ashoka}}
{{Mumbai metropolitan area}}

[[Category:Hindu temples in Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Palghar district]]
[[Category:Neighbourhoods in Mumbai]]

Nala Sopara - Revision history

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