Maharashtra - Tourism - Nashik @ whatisindia.com

NASHIK
Proximity to many holy temples and sites including the famous pilgrimage centre of Shirdi and a long tryst with India’s sacred past, has made Nashik a confluence for the spiritually enlightened. Mythology has it that Rama, the king of Ayodhya, made Nashik his temporary abode during the 14 years of his exile. The poets Rishi Valmiki, Mahakavi Kalidas and Bhavabhooti have paid rich tributes to Nashik in many of their works. In addition, Nashik has always been the epicentre of commerce and trade. Ptolemy, the famous philosopher made a mention of Nashik in 150 BC, leading researchers to believe that it was probably the country's largest market place.

Today, Nashik is a bustling township with a blend of the ancient and the modern. Scattered across the city are numerous forts and majestic temples. But it is also the home to many industries. The Security Printing Press of the government, which prints the nation's currency, is located here. It is part of the green belt and is renowned for the various fruits and vegetables it produces. In fact the yield of grapes, strawberries and onions in Nashik is amongst the highest in the country.

How to Get There
Rail: Nashik is one the major stations on the Central Railway and there are a number of convenient trains that connect Nashik to other cities and towns.
Road: Nashik is 185 kms from Mumbai and can be reached by motoring on the NH-3 via Thane-Kasar-Igatpuri. Pune-Nashik is 220 kms. There are several private and state buses available between Mumbai/Thane and Nashik.

Ramkund
This holy tank is 27 m by 12 m and was built in 1696 by Chitrarao Khatarkar. It is believed that Rama and Sita used to bathe in this tank during their exile. It is in this tank of holy water or kund that religious Hindus even today, immerse a dead person's ashes so that the soul of the dead person can attain moksha or liberation. The ashes of numerous personalities such as Pandit Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Y B Chavan and others have been immersed at Ramkund.

Muktidham Temple
This famous temple is located near Nashik station, just 7 kms from the city. The Muktidham Temple is pure white, the colour signifying holiness and peace. White Makrana marble was used to build this temple which has very unusual architecture. Unique to this temple are the 18 chapters of the Gita written on the walls. A visit to this temple by Hindus is considered as a visit to the 4 dhams or holy centres.

Kalaram Temple
This temple was built in 1794 and is similar in its architectural design to the nearby Trimbakeshwar Temple. The temple is 70 feet in height and was the brainchild of Gopikabai Peshwa. It was built with black stone from the mines of Ramsej Hill. There is a beautiful gold-plated copper peak on the temple. There are icons of Rama, Sita and Laxman lavishly adorned with adornments. The temple is surrounded by several smaller temples such as the Vithal Temple, Ganapati Temple and Maruti Temple.

Coin Museum
The Indian Institute of Research in Numismatic Studies was established here in 1980. Located in the scenic surroundings of Anjneri Hill, the institute is the only one of its kind in Asia. The museum has a well-documented record of the history of Indian numismatics. Through photographs, articles, line drawings, replicas and real coins, one can study the various currency systems that existed in India down the ages. It has an extensive archive with nearly one hundred thousand cardexes preserved for easy reference. It also holds workshops to promote coin collecting in India. Anjneri itself has had a glorious historical past. Its tryst with destiny has resulted in many ups and downs, under many great rulers including the Bahmanis, Marathas, Mughals and Kolis.

Pandavleni Caves
The Pandavleni Caves are located on a tableland on Trivashmi Hill. Built by Jain kings these Caves are around 2000 years old. There are some 24 Caves that were home to Jain saints such as Tirthankara Vrishabdeo, Veer Manibhadraji, and Ambikadevi. There are sculptures of the Buddha and bodhisattvas as well. The cave complex consists of large Caves, which were probably the meeting place of disciples and areas of preaching sermons. There are several water tanks chiseled into the rock.

Around Nashik
Shirdi
122 kms from Nashik is the abode of one of Maharashtra's most revered saint - Sai Baba of Shirdi. Popularly known as the 'Child of God', Sai Baba preached tolerance towards all religions and the message of universal brotherhood.

Every activity at Shirdi revolves around the vast temple complex dedicated to Sai Baba. Devotees start queuing up in the early hours of dawn to catch a glimpse and seek the blessings of the life-size statue of Sai Baba. Thursday is marked by special pujas and darshan of the Sai Baba statue.
There are other places of interest that devotees can visit as well including Dwarkamani Mosque where the Baba meditated and slept on alternate nights. Near the mosque, in a corridor is the dhani or eternal flame that burns day and night. Other places of importance are the Gurusthan, the Kandoba Temple, Shani Mandir, Narsimha Mandir, Changdev Maharaj Samadhi and the Sakori Ashram.

Trimbakeshwar
The village of Trimbak, 36 kms from Nashik, is famous for the Trimbakeshwar Temple and as the source of the Godavari River. Trimbakeshwar enshrines one of the 12 jyotirlingas dedicated to Shiva and this one is considered to be the main jyotirlinga. Legend has it that Guatam Rishi performed a rigorous ritual of prayer and penance or tapasya to Shiva on Brahmagiri Hill which rises above the present-day temple. Pleased with this devotion, Shiva is said to have blessed him and brought down to earth from heaven the sacred rivers of Ganga, Gautami and Godavari.

Dudhasagar Waterfalls
This is one of the more picturesque spots around Nashik. Cascading 10 m into the valley at Someshwar are the Dudhasagar Waterfalls. The spumes from the waterfall appear milky white and hence the name dudha or milk. You can reach the waterfall easily as there are steps cut into the rock. This spot is particularly beautiful just after the rains.

Saptashringi Devi Temple
The temple of goddess Saptashringi resides 55 kms from Nashik at Wani. As you approach the temple a large rocky hill greets you. This is Saptashringi Hill. The goddess is known to have possessed 18 weapons in 18 hands and is positioned ready to fight the demons. The journey to the temple also has some interesting sights to offer. On the way, you can stop at the Maharashtra Engineering Research Institute (MERI) or at Sitakund at Mhasrul village. This is the site where Sita the wife of Rama used to bathe. This destination is filled with stories and legends connected to the Ramayana.

Nandurmadhmeshwar
Situated 60 kms from Nashik is a bird-lover's paradise. Aptly called Maharashtra's Bharatpur, a wonderful bird sanctuary has been developed here since 1950. Today, Nandurmadhmeshwar is haven to thousands of beautiful migratory birds. The ideal season to bird watch is from October to March.

Bhandardara
Bhandardara is a place which is particularly beautiful after the rains. Located around 70 kms from Nashik, a picturesque and quiet drive will get you there. Built in 1926, the Bhandardara Dam is one of the oldest dams in Asia and is known for its Umbrella Falls – an arresting sight. There is another waterfall known as the Randha Falls which is about 11 kms from the dam. Scaling the well-known Kalsubai Peak, the highest peak of Maharashtra state on the Sahyadri range, standing 1,646 metres above sea level, is a good trek.

Jawhar
One of the few tribal kingdoms in Maharashtra, Jawhar, at 518 m, is famous for its vibrant Warli paintings. It invites you to forget your daily grind and all the turmoils that go with it. Jawhar is blessed with exotic dales, rich forests and a wonderful climate. Jai Vilas, the palace of the tribal lords, and the relics of Bhupatgad are worth a visit. The scenic beauty of the Dadar Kopra Falls, the enchanting Hanuman and Sunset Points …all explain why Jawhar is known as the 'Mahabaleshwar of Thane District'. Nearby is Shirpamal, where Shivaji camped on his way to Surat.
Getting there: Nasik is the nearest airport. Three convenient railheads are Nasik, Igatpuri and Dahanu. From Mumbai it is 180 kms by road, 80 kms from Nasik, 39 kms from Kasa and 56 kms from Tribakeshwar.

Reference:
http://www.maharashtratourism.gov.in/

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