Five Great Walks at Thane
For the times when you are looking for a new place to walk
Twelve Bungalows (or Bara Bungalow): This is the farthest from Rustomjee Urbania and is at Kopri en-route Thane Railway Station's Eastern side approach. Before you wonder about the word bungalows, do note the locality does have real, two-storied bungalows where key government officials stay. These tile-roofed dwellings are reminiscent of a bygone era when even large buildings at Thane had tile roofs to drain off the copious rain that the place receives each monsoon. The tiles also extended beyond the wall to drain rainwater away from the walls & also to shade the structure from harsh sunlight in summers. There are some multi-storied buildings too now which house government staff. The walk here can be done on a paved path painted red that is popular and frequented by Thane-ites. Old Hindi film music is played on the speakers and you can enjoy it amidst sounds made by bats and birds. The walk goes through well-landscaped areas & adjoining large trees. The distance has been marked too and one round is 700 m. There are places to rest and drinking water too. The toilet sadly is not well maintained. There is also an open-air gym. Parking is available for cars and two-wheelers. This is amongst greenest walks at Thane and one can also find vegetable vendors selling their produce on tempos along this walk. Along the path, a seller of fresh juices puts up a kiosk each morning like is common near walking spots all across India.
Garden besides EEH ending at Teen Hath Naka: At Thane, we are lucky to have more greenery than at Mumbai and the median separating the service road along the Eastern Express Highway is a good example of it. When you are headed towards Mumbai from Majiwade, the median from the Pipeline Road to Teen Hath Naka Junction has been landscaped and a path made there for walkers. One round of the path takes about 7 to 8 minutes which means it is likely about 500 m. in length. The garden has trees on sides, grass and shrubs. It has an open-air gym and restrooms. Currently, an air-conditioned restroom is under construction. One can park one's vehicle on the adjoining service road and walk in this garden. It is frequented by a large number of local residents and is a very popular walking spot each morning. The only downside with this location is as it adjoins the highway one has to endure both vehicle exhaust and noise from traffic any time of the day.
Kachrali Lake: This is one of two secluded (cut off from traffic) walking paths listed here. Right opposite the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) Office this lake has been spruced up in the past few years and now has reasonably clean water. The landscaped area around the lake has within it a path favored by a lot of people living in the vicinity. Among the busiest walking spots in Thane, one walk around the lake takes about 6 minutes. There is ample parking space right in front of the lake as also across the street and around the lake. The lake houses a temple, a library, an open-air gym, and an amphitheater. Devotional music is played early mornings and adds to the charm of the place. The lake water has fishes, a giant turtle, geese, and ducks. Trees on one side of the lake host numerous bats whose screeching is audible both early morning and in the evening. One also finds numerous cats and kittens all along the lakeshore. Apparently, a lot of people bring and leave their pet cats in this place as there are good Samaritans who feed and tend for the stray cats at Kachrali Lake. TMC is to be complimented for reviving this lake and providing a nice recreational spot for the city’s residents. Snack stalls spring up on the road at the entrance in the evenings. Early mornings, the entrance area also sees fruit and vegetable vendors put up stalls. One can buy fresh and reasonably priced produce, including coconuts from in front of Kachrali Lake. Across the street, there is a store that sells cold-pressed oils which has Marathi signboard referring to wooden oil-expeller traditionally used in India for producing oil.
Brahmala Lake: This is the quietest walking spot among five I have listed here and nearest for residents of Rustomjee Urbania. A small lake that is perhaps among the best maintained in Thane, it has a regular crowd thronging it daily. It is a miracle that amidst all the buildings this tiny lake has been saved and serves as a great recreation spot. One can find regulars go through with their exercise here at the two open-air gyms within. This lake too houses an amphitheater and changing rooms. It also has a temple and a machan climbing which one can get a good view of the surroundings. This lake too has children’s play stations. Drinking water and washroom facilities have been provided. One can get good pictures of surrounding buildings from their reflection in the water. There are a few huts within used by yoga practitioners and also those just relaxing. Limited parking spots are available outside on the road leading to the lake.
Under the Flyover starting at Cadbury Junction: Do note that this place is currently out of bounds as the flyover is being maintained and scaffolding used for maintenance of the underside and side walls leaves no space for walking. This is a very unique walk right under a flyover through a well laid-out path that is clean and has plants on both sides. There is a path along the periphery and a road at the center which is favored by children on skates. Cyclists also can be found on this walk. It is a unique experience to be walking underneath a flyover with vehicles whizzing past both above and on both sides (along the service road beside the flyover). For space-starved Thaneites, this walk is a very unique spot for exercise. Play stations have been provided for children and the walk does have a washroom facility. This walk too takes about 8 minutes for one complete round starting at Cadbury Junction and touching Nitin Company junction and turning back.
Here is a link to 3 of the above places on Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/dR4ZUn1ZFhU15Bni7