Wadala Road (also spelled Vadala, formerly spelt Wuddala) is a station on the Harbour Line of Mumbai's railway network.
वडाळा रोड
Wadala (West) remains one of the best residential areas in the whole city, with some of the best infrastructure, serene localities and large parks frolicked by youngsters as well as senior citizens. The roads are shaded by huge trees over 150 years old. The extremely large concentration of educational institutes in the area makes it a hub for young students during the day, while leaving it calm during the night.
Wadala is also known to house people of different religions such as Hindus, Christians, Muslims and Parsis, all living together harmoniously. In terms of languages too, the area consists of people who speak Marathi, Gujarati, Tamil, Hindi, Malayalam with each language commanding a significant number of speakers.
Wadala has several schools and some of the finest colleges such as the prestigious Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute (V.J.T.I)‡, The University Department of Chemical Technology (UDCT - The name has now been changed to University Institute of Chemical Technology, UICT) and Khalsa College, located near one another. SNDT Women's University, Dr. Ambedkar Commerce & Law College also has a campus in Wadala West.
It also houses one of India's best eye hospitals, Aditya Jyot Eye Hospital.
Wadala is the only station in the whole of Mumbai that connects you to the Western, Central as well as Harbour lines. It is home to one of the oldest treatment center for Leprosy established during British rule, known as Ackworth Leprosy Hospital. Part of the sprawling complex is now given over to an AIDS Organization. This area happens to house a variety of flora and fauna.
The Five Gardens is also a major green lung to the city. Wadala also has the "Rocket Garden" another park which has now undergone a transformation from its weedy days. Asia's largest Government Colony, the Central Govt Housing Quarters, are in Wadala West.
Wadala is also known for Churches, Temples, Dargas.Five minutes from the station is the 400 year old Lord Vitthal Temple built by Sant Tukaram who brought the idol from Pandharpur—the original birthplace of Lord Vithal. The temple is known as ‘Prati Pandharpur’ (Pandharpur temple’s replica). One of the biggest one day festival in Mumbai is been held around this temple to devote Lord Vitthal on Ashadhi Ekadashi (According to Hindu Calendar) in June/July. Near by the temple the 15th-century Lord Ram temple and the Hanuman temple are also situated. People from all over Mumbai come to these temples to offer their prayers.
The famous St. Joseph Church (Our lady of Dolours Church) is situated on the D.S Barretto Road, between Five Gardens and Wadala station. Many Christians are situated in Wadala most of them are east indian catholics. Manglorean Christians, South-Indian Christians and Protestants are also found in the inviting environs of Wadala.
Few know that Wadala (East) houses two cemeteries - the Bahá'í Cemetery and the Chinese Cemetery. These cemeteries were laid out in Wadala a long time ago, for the same reason that the Ackworth Leprosy Home was built at Wadala - in those days it was a "distant suburb of the happening city".
The dargah on a hill after the bridge ends is another Wadala landmark. The Barkat Ali Dargah is a very visited holy place. The salt pans in the east are another Wadala landmark.
Wadala is home to Asia's first and largest IMAX Dome Theatre, the ownership of which is now with Big Cinemas.
A number of housing colonies exist in Wadala. Some of them are Bhakti Park, Dosti Acres and Lloyd's Estate. Wadala East also has the BPT (now MbPT housing colony), a large sprawling colony for the port workers, complete with hospital and a field that is used to play cricket. Wadala west has a small sized C.G.S. Colony.
In Wadala East near Antop Hill, Govt. of India build Intellectual Property Office responsible for Controlling General of Patents, Designs and Trademarks in India. It also has a very popular Balaji Temple, that celebrates the "Jatra" festival each year with great gusto in the month of January. It reminds one very much of a rural "mela" but was and is still very popular.
Around 15 minutes away from Wadala Station East, past deserted trucker land, is Flamingo Bay. For the past 12 years, flamingoes have been wintering here. From December to March, thousands of them descend on the mudflats a mile from the shore, to feed on the nutrient-rich marshes. Thankfully, this ethereal view isn't commercialized, so the only people you'll see on any weekend are a bunch of nature enthusiasts, keenly gazing out onto the mudflats through their binoculars. The proposed Nhava Sheva bridge that will connect the island to the mainland will destroy their habitat, and lead to the final flight of these beautiful birds.
Wadala enjoys proximity to Dadar, a prominent locality within Bombay. Dadar East lies west of Wadala, Sion (Koliwada) to the immediate north, the sea to the east and Sewri to the south. Of late, Wadala has become an upper middle class residential locality with a large number of residential buildings springing up. Amongst the more prominent residential complexes that have sprung up here are Bhakti park Dosti Acres, Lloyds' Estate and Dosti Estates.
Over the years, slum development had started in Wadala adjacent to the railway tracks and a large colony started to settle. In 2007, the state government finally took action and cleared the area completely of slums.
Also the latest development is Bhakti Park a residential project by Ajmera Builders this is next to Imax Theatre the ownership of which now is with Adlabs. This residential complex enjoys a quiet atmosphere with a mountain view to its east side.it also has probably the biggest garden in the town measuring around 25acres.
‡ - Formerly known as 'Victoria Jubilee Technological Institute' .