# Virar

> city in Maharashtra, India

**Wikidata**: [Q2487341](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2487341)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virar)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/virar

## Summary

Virar is a city located in the Palghar district of Maharashtra, India, situated at coordinates 19.47°N, 72.8°E along the western coast of the country. The city, which sits at an elevation of 11 meters above sea level and falls within the UTC+05:30 timezone, has grown to become a significant urban settlement in the region since its establishment. Virar serves as an important residential and commercial hub within the state, with the postal code 401303 facilitating its administrative and logistical functions.

## Key Facts

- **Classification**: City (large human settlement)
- **Country**: India (independent since August 15, 1947)
- **District**: Palghar district (established in 2014)
- **Coordinates**: Primary: 19.47°N, 72.8°E | Secondary: 19.45591°N, 72.81136°E
- **Elevation**: 11 meters above sea level
- **Postal Code**: 401303
- **Timezone**: UTC+05:30
- **WOEID**: 2292747
- **Freebase ID**: /m/041bgk
- **GeoNames ID**: 1253133
- **Who's On First ID**: 102028267
- **Wikipedia Title**: Virar
- **Commons Category**: Virar
- **Sitelink Count**: 24
- **Wikipedia Languages**: Arabic, Bengali, Bishnupriya Manipuri, Cebuano, English, Persian, French, Gujarati, Hindi, Italian, Malagasy, Marathi, Malay, Nepali, Newar, Dutch, Punjati, Kapampangan, Portuguese, Swedish, Thai, Urdu, Vietnamese, Min Nan Chinese
- **Aliases**: 维拉尔 (Chinese)
- **Image Reference**: JivDani, Virar - panoramio (30).jpg (Wikimedia Commons)
- **Category for People Born Here**: Category:Virar

## FAQs

**What state and district is Virar located in?**

Virar is located in the Indian state of Maharashtra, specifically within Palghar district, which was established as a separate district in 2014.

**What are Virar's geographical coordinates and elevation?**

Virar is positioned at coordinates 19.47°N latitude and 72.8°E longitude, with a secondary coordinate reading of 19.45591°N, 72.81136°E. The city sits at an elevation of 11 meters above sea level.

**What is Virar's postal code and timezone?**

Virar uses the postal code 401303 and operates on Indian Standard Time (IST), which is UTC+05:30.

**How is Virar identified in global geographical databases?**

Virar is catalogued with multiple identifiers across different databases: WOEID 2292747, Freebase ID /m/041bgk, GeoNames ID 1253133, and Who's On First ID 102028267.

**In what languages does Virar have Wikipedia articles?**

Wikipedia articles about Virar exist in 24 languages, including English, Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Arabic, Bengali, Persian, French, Italian, Portuguese, Thai, Urdu, Vietnamese, and various other languages.

## Why It Matters

Virar matters as a rapidly developing urban center in the Mumbai metropolitan region, serving as a crucial residential hub for commuters working in Mumbai while offering more affordable housing options compared to the main city. The city's incorporation into the newly created Palghar district in 2014 reflects its growing administrative and economic significance within Maharashtra. Its position along the western coast of India and its connectivity through the Western Railway line make it strategically important for regional transportation and logistics. The city's elevation of just 11 meters above sea level places it in a coastal zone that is significant for understanding urban planning, climate adaptation, and sustainable development in low-lying coastal areas of India. Virar's presence in multiple international knowledge bases (WOEID, GeoNames, Freebase, Who's On First) demonstrates its recognition in global geographical and data systems.

## Notable For

- Being one of the major cities in the newly created Palghar district (established 2014)
- Serving as a significant residential suburb in the Mumbai metropolitan area
- Having multilingual Wikipedia coverage across 24 different language editions
- Being catalogued in multiple international geographical databases with unique identifiers
- Representing coastal urban development in Maharashtra at 11 meters elevation

## Body

### Geography and Location

Virar is situated in the Palghar district of Maharashtra, India, positioned at coordinates 19.47°N latitude and 72.8°E longitude. A secondary coordinate reading places the city at 19.45591°N, 72.81136°E, reflecting precise geodetic measurements. The city sits at an elevation of 11 meters above sea level, classifying it as a low-lying coastal settlement. This geographical positioning places Virar along the western coast of India, within the Mumbai metropolitan region, making it susceptible to monsoon weather patterns and coastal climatic influences. The city's location in Palghar district, which was carved out of Thane district in 2014, places it in a region that has experienced significant administrative reorganization to better manage local governance and development.

### Administrative Structure

Virar falls under the jurisdiction of Palghar district, a relatively new administrative unit in Maharashtra that was established in 2014. The city uses the postal code 401303, which facilitates mail distribution and serves as a key identifier for administrative and logistical purposes. As a city classified as a large human settlement, Virar operates within the broader framework of Indian municipal administration while serving as a urban center within the state of Maharashtra, which achieved independence as part of India on August 15, 1947.

### International Classification and Identifiers

Virar is recognized in multiple global geographical and knowledge database systems, each providing unique identifiers for location identification. The WOEID (Where On Earth Identifier) 2292747 assigns Virar a unique code in Yahoo's geographical database. The Freebase ID /m/041bgk provides a semantic web identifier, while the GeoNames ID 1253133 links the city to the GeoNames geographical database maintained by the Swiss foundation. The Who's On First ID 102028267 provides an open-data geographic identifier. These multiple identifiers reflect Virar's presence in international knowledge systems and facilitate cross-referencing across different platforms and applications.

### Digital Presence and Multilingual Coverage

Virar maintains a significant digital footprint with a dedicated Wikipedia article titled "Virar" available in 24 different language editions. These languages include major world languages such as English, French, Italian, Portuguese, and Arabic, as well as regional Indian languages including Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Bengali, Punjabi, Nepali, and Urdu. Additional language editions exist in Cebuano, Dutch, Persian, Swedish, Thai, Vietnamese, Malay, Malagasy, Bishnupriya Manipuri, Newar, Kapampangan, and Min Nan Chinese. The city has a Commons category titled "Virar" on Wikimedia Commons, featuring the image "JivDani, Virar - panoramio (30).jpg" which provides visual documentation of the city. The combined sitelink count of 24 across all language Wikipedia editions indicates substantial multilingual coverage relative to similarly sized settlements.

### Temporal and Cultural Context

As part of India, which achieved independence on August 15, 1947, Virar exists within the temporal context of post-independence Indian urban development. The city's inclusion in the newly created Palghar district in 2014 represents a significant administrative development, reflecting the region's growing population and urban importance. The city has an alias in Chinese (维拉尔), indicating its recognition in international contexts beyond India. The category "Category:Virar" on Wikipedia serves as an organizational tool for content related to the city, while the "category for people born here" designation facilitates genealogical and biographical research about notable individuals from Virar.

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
2. Flickr Shapefiles Public Dataset 2.0
3. GeoNames