Vasai
Vasai
Bassein | |
|---|---|
City | |
Vasai Fort (entrance) | |
Location of Vasai in Maharashtra, India | |
| Coordinates: 19°28′N 72°48′E / 19.47°N 72.8°E | |
| Country | India |
| State | Maharashtra |
| District | Palghar |
| Division | Konkan (North) |
| Named after | Vasa Konkani tribes |
| Vidhan Sabha constituency | Vasai (Vidhan Sabha) Constituency |
| Government | |
| • Type | Municipal Corporation |
| • Body | Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation |
| Elevation | 11 m (36 ft) |
| Population (2007) | |
• Total | 49,337 |
| Demonym(s) | Vasaikar in Marathi & Konkani, Basseinite in English. |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+5:30 (Not observed) |
| PIN code(s) | 401 201 to 401 203 |
| Area code | +91-0250-XXX XXXX |
| Vehicle registration | MH-48 |
| Official language | Marathi |
| Other language(s) | Kadodi, Agri, Vadavli, Konkani & Koli |
| Website | vvcmc |
Vasai (Konkani and Marathi pronunciation: [ʋəsəi]; British English: Bassein; formerly and alternatively Marathi; Bajipur) is a historical place and city located in Palghar district; it was partitioned out of the Thane district in 2014. It also forms a part of Vasai-Virar twin cities in the Konkan division, Maharashtra, India, and comes under the Police Jurisdiction of Mira-Bhayander, Vasai-Virar Police Commissionerate.
The Portuguese in Goa and Damaon built Fort Bassein to defend their colony and participate in the lucrative spice trade and the silk route that converged in the area. Much of Portuguese Bombay and Bassein was seized by Marathas under Peshva rule, at the Battle of Bassein in 1739.
The British East India Company at Bombay then took the area from the Maratha Empire in 1780; following the First Anglo-Maratha War.