Nashik is located in the north-west part of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the third largest city in the state and along with Mumbai and Pune form golden triangle in Maharashtra. Offering a unique blend of ancient civilization and modernization, Nashik’s history dates back to the time of legendary Lord Rama who is known to same time of his exile here.
Nashik is also known as the City of Temples and it is one of the holiest cities in entire India annually visited by thousands of Hindu devotees from all over the land. Nashik also offer an exceptional scenic beauty with of the Sahyadri range of mountains covered by dense green forests and lush vineyards and agricultural lands at the foothills.
With historical temples and caves, holy rituals, museums, wetlands and picturesque natural beauty Nashik is nothing less than a paradise for tourists and you are welcome to visit any time of the year to soak yourself in the warmth of ancient history and modern urban civilization those combine to give it present shape.
Top Places to Visit in Nashik
From Temples to Vineyards, Hills, Museums and Amusement Park – Nashik Amazes Every Tourist
On one hand, Nashik is known as the City of Temples. On the other hand, Nashik is known as the Wine Capital of India. Do you want to explore this diversity? Then visit the following places during your next trip.
Picturesque Nature in Nashik
1. Brahamgiri Hill
Do you like to trek along adventurous hilly routes? Then, the undulated terrain of this hill may give a challenge to your skills. Amidst the woody terrain of Brahamgiri Hill, you may find various trekking routes. You may even scale this hill using the 500 steps of stone that were built by Seth Ganeshdas and Seth Lalchand. The lush and dense forest of this hill can mesmerize all tourists.
2. Igatpuri
Located 50-km short of Nashik, the picturesque Igatpuri hill station is another trekking spot. This hill-station is in the Sahyadri/Western Ghats mountain ranges. On the rapids flowing through the forest, you may test your pulse while kayaking or river rafting. With cascading waterfalls, Igatpuri hill-station can instantly rejuvenate your mood during the daytrip.
3. Bhandardara
Located at a little distance from Nashik at Ahmednagar district, Bhandardara is a quaint hill-station nestling in Sahyadri mountain ranges. It is a perfect spot for picnic, trekking or relaxing, as it is surrounded by the lush greenery or towering mountains and is dotted with blissful waterfalls.
4. Pandavleni Caves
For an enthralling and amusing experience, you may visit the Pandavleni Caves located at a height of 300-feet. The beautiful decorations of these caves never failed to amaze the tourists. On the other hand, the trekking routes through the dense forest can refresh the mood of visitors.
5. Anjaneri Fort
Located about 20-km away from Nasik, Anjaneri hills house this fort that is believed to be the birthplace of Lord Hanuman. Having been surrounded by forest, mountain ranges and lush landscapes, Anjaneri Fort can offer a spectacular view once you trek to this point. This fort has a temple to pay homage to Anjani Mata who is the mother of Lord Hanuman.
6. Tringalwadi Fort
Located at an altitude of 3000 feet, Tringalwadi fort is another major trekking location of Nashik. This fort is located in Igatpuri and it towers over the Tringalwadi Lake which lies at the foot of the hill. The top of Tringalwadi Fort looks like a turban. From the design of this fort and presence of numerous caves, it seems like this fort was built around 10th century.
7. Sula Vineyards
Want a change in scenery? The Sula vineyards of Nashik welcome you with a collection of premium quality wines. This 1800-acre property houses sixty wineries along with the first winery of India. If you visit this place in January, then you may participate in wine-stomping activity.
Religious Locations
8. Sita Gufa/Gumpha
Located close to the Panchvati, Sita Gumpha is believed to be the place wherefrom King Ravana kidnapped Devi Sita. A narrow staircase may take you to a cave where the idols of Lord Ram, Devi Sita and Lakshmana are worshipped along with an ancient Shivlinga.
9. Someshwar Temple
Located on the banks of Godavari River, it is one of the oldest temples dedicated to Lord Shiva in Nashik. A serene surrounding that is set amidst the greenery creates a relaxing ambiance. You may boat in the Godavari River and the children can enjoy in a nearby park during a visit to this temple.
10. Trimbakeshwar Temple
This temple is located at the foot of Brahmagiri Hills near the source of Godavari River and houses one of the 12 ‘Jyotirlingas’ that represent Lord Shiva. Peshwa Nana Saheb built this temple in 18th Century. With outstanding carved designs on stony surfaces, this temple is an epitome of classic Indian architecture.
11. Saptashrungi Temple
The Saptashrungi hills with seven peaks have 108 ‘Kundas’ or holy water-bodies. This temple rests amidst these hills and is believed to be the home of goddess Saptashrungi Nivasini. An 8-feet tall image of Goddess Saptashrungi stands atop a two-leveled shrine inside this temple.
12. Panchavati
Located near Nashik, Panchavati is a serene town which has strong ties to the Epic Ramayana. The auspicious Kumbh Mela takes place on the bank of Godavari River in Panchavati.
13. Muktidham Temple
Made from Rajasthani marble, the beautiful Muktidham Temple houses the replicas of 12 Jyotirlingams anointed by the original shrines. There are separate temples for Devi Durga, Devi Laxmi, Lord Hanuman, Lord Ganesh and Lord Krishna within the premise.
14. Ramkund
In the center of Nashik City, Ramkund Ghat attracts many tourists, as it is believed that Lord Rama performed the death rituals of his father. Many devotees also come here to immerse the ashes of departed family members.
15. Navshya Ganapati Temple
Located at Anandvalli on the banks of Godavari River, this temple is 300-400 years old. It houses a red colored idol of Lord Ganesha who is believed to fulfill the prayers (Navas) of devotees; hence, the name Navshya. Raghoba Peshava and his wife, Anandibai, built this temple in 1774.
16. Kapaleshwar Temple
Located near the Ramkund, Shree Kapaleshwar Mahadev Mandir is a place where Lord Shiva is worshipped. According to the legends, Lord Shiva meditated at this place after killing a cow as an act of performing penance. It is also believed that Lord Shiva bathed in Ramkund before meditation.
17. Swami Samarth Ashram
Located near the Trimbakeshwar Temple, this ashram is dedicated to Swami Samarth who was a saint in 19th century. From this ashram, you can have a spectacular view of Sahyadri mountain range.
18. Dhamma Giri
Mr. S. N. Goenka founded the Dhamma Giri (Hill of Dhamma) which is one of the largest Vipassana meditation center in world. Inside the Golden Pagoda, there are more than 400 cells for individual meditation. A peaceful and beautiful ambiance always surrounds Dhamma Giri.
Additional Attractions
19. Coin Museum
With an extensive collection of coins made from various materials and belonging to different ages, Coin Museum never fails to amaze the tourists. This museum has been a part of Indian Institute of Research in Numismatic Studies since 1980. You can witness the evolution of India’s currency system (from the ancient times to modern days) during your visit to the Coin Museum.
20. Shubham Water World
It is never too late to have fun. Located on Anjeneri Hills, Shubham Water World let you have fun on swings, slides and roller coasters. Whether you are a kid or adult, you can spend a fun-filled time in this water-world.
Reaching Nashik
Nashik is easily accessible from all neighboring states and there are also a number of state highways those provide with excellent connectivity. There is the Nashik City Bus Service and buses run by Rajasthan, Gujarat and Karnataka state transport corporation are also available.
Apart from that Nashik is also one of the few Indian cities with a tram service still running since pre – independence time and this is as excellent and also comfortable mode of transport for travelling to different parts of Nashik. Nashik is also well connected by railways with most major cities in the country and with the proposed Greater Nashik Metro Railway project it will offer much better city transport for the visitors and also the city residents within a few years of time.
Being the host of one of the largest religious gatherings in the world – the Maha Kumbh, Nashik occupy a very prominent position among religious tourism destination in the country.
As a Hindu pilgrimage city Nashik boast of a culture that is predominantly Hindu and is a perfect combination of ancient and modern beliefs and lifestyle. It is also one of the best known cities in the country for the art of drama and there is a number of drama theatres in and around Nashik where regular performances take place. There are also a number of multiplexes those have come up during the last few years or so and if you are looking for commercial entertainment there will also be no dearth of that.
Weather in Nashik
Due to its location towards the central part of Indian peninsula Nashik have an extreme type climate that is extremely hot summer and chilling cold winters and also receive medium to heavy rainfall during the monsoon. It is between October to March during which the temperature stays moderate and perfect for all types of tourism activities and that is also the peak tourist season here.