Virar (Pronunciation: [ʋiɾaɾ]) is a coastal city in taluka Vasai and district of Palghar, India. It is clubbed into Vasai-Virar city, administered by Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation. It lies in south part of Palghar District in Vasai Taluka and north to the city of Mumbai. It is an important part of Palghar District, Because Palghar is the outermost part of northern side of Mumbai Metropolitan Region. Virar railway station is one of the prominent railway station on the Western Line of Mumbai Suburban Railway due to being the station on the line with high frequency of local-train transit for both ends, Palghar (Dahanu) as well as Churchgate (South Mumbai). Virar City is governed by Municipal Corporation and is situated in Maharashtra State, India. Virar is connected by roads to [[[Mumbai- Ahmedabad Express Highway]]] at Virar Phata(An exit node of highway towards Virar). Virar is famous for Jivdani Temple (Virar East) and Arnala Fort and Arnala Beach in the west in the northern coastal area of konkan region. As per provisional reports if Census of India, population of Virar in 2011 is 1,222,390; of which male and female are 648,172 and 574,218 respectively. Geography Virar lies on the western coast of Maharashtra, to the north of Mumbai and experiences warm, humid climate throughout the year. The average annual temperature in the city hovers around . July is the wettest month while January is the driest. The closest airports to Vasai-Virar are Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM) Pune Airport (PNQ) Surat Airport (STV) History and culture The name Virar, as some believe, comes from the Hindu Goddess Ekvira, mother of the immortal sage Parshuram. Just as Tunga Parvat becomes "Tunga-ar", similarly "Vira" becomes "Vira-ar". Virar is also home to the ruins of a grand temple of Goddess Ekvira Devi on the banks of Vaitarna River at the foothills Tunga Parvat which according to folklore was gradually destroyed amidst the raiding and looting by Mohamedeans and the subsequent rule by Portuguese. Local legend describes this site as the final destination of the Shurparaka Yatra. A massive Kund dedicated to Goddess Ekvira stands in this city even today under the banner of Ekvira Theerth or Virar Theerth, west of which stone carvings about 3 feet long and 9 inch broad in size can be found. Female figurines of Yoginis of Ekvira devi can be found in the same vicinity alongside roughly cut stone statues