Bhiwandi is known as `The Manchester of India` because of the presence of largest number of powerlooms in the country. It is also one of the major textile industries of India.

Geography of Bhiwandi
Bhiwandi is located in the district of Thane, West Maharashtra. Bhiwandi is considered as part of the Greater Bombay metropolitan agglomeration, along with New Bombay and the cities of Kalyan, Thane, Ulhasnagar, Dombivli, Mira-Bhayandar and the Vasai-Virar region. The exact location of Bhiwandi is 19.293831° N 73.065839° E.

Bhiwandi lies in the Konkan coastal lowlands. There are many hills surrounding Bhiwandi, which add to the scenic beauty of the place. The average elevation is 24 m. The Vharala Devi Lake is the largest lake in Bhiwandi and this places also known as jungle of power looms.

History of Bhiwandi
During the early twentieth century, Maharashtrians and Konkani Muslims inhabited Bhiwandi. In the past most of the people were engaged in agriculture, fishing and handlooms. With the dawn of electricity, the handlooms began to be fast replaced by power looms. In 1930`s the place was renowned as a textile industry.

Transportation of Bhiwandi
Bhiwandi is connected to other major cities by means of air, rail and road. The most important mode of transport is the highway. Due to regular traffic blocks in the city there are two flyovers. In order to distribute traffic there is an alternate subsidiary road. The major mode of transport in Bhiwandi is auto-rickshaw. But the rickshaws here do not use meter system but operate on a stop-to-stop system. There are predefined stops on every every arterial route. The minimum charge of the rickshaws are 5Rupees.

There are buses running every half an hour to depots like Mumbai-Central, Thane, Kalyan, Vasai, Wada and Borivli. The Thane Municipal Transport operates bus services from Bhiwandi to Thane, and the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Transport operates bus services from Bhiwandi to Kalyan. There are no intra-city buses within the city, but the BNMC is planning a bus system soon. The nearest airport from Bhiwandi is in Mumbai.

Economy of Bhiwandi
The economy of Bhiwandi is dependent on the power loom industry. Majority of the people are engaged in the power loom sector. Bhiwandi is the largest power loom center in the country.

Demography of Bhiwandi
As per the 2001 census, Bhiwandi had a population of 598,703. Males constitute 61% of the population and females 39%. Bhiwandi has an average literacy rate of 66%, out of which 72% of the males and 56% of the females are literate.