District Nashik has a dignified place in terms of Tourism and various tourist visits regularly here.
One of the most popular destinations for the pious Hindus, Jains and Buddhists and also known for its association with the epic ‘Ramayana’, Nashik not only has an ethereal and spiritual quality about it but is also a touch point for tourists who wish to explore its interesting forts and a unique centre that offers courses in ‘vipassana’. It’s also one of the most up-and-coming cities in Maharashtra with a vibrant culture and entertainment ethos.
Located in north-west Maharashtra, 171 kilometers from Mumbai and 210 kilometers from Pune, Nashik is the third-largest city in the state after Mumbai and Pune. It is also a city that has lured people from distant regions for hundreds of years. In fact, the antiquity of the city goes back to prehistoric times and archaeological excavations carried out here on the banks of river Godavari have revealed the evidence of habitation from the Chalcolithic age dating back to approximately 1,400 – 1,300 BCE. Above all, it is the link that Nashik provides with the epic Ramayana that makes it so very important to both, the faithful and the historians.
According to the legends, Rama, Seeta and Lakshman had stayed in the forests near this place, then known as Janasthana. The nose-cutting episode (Sanskrit Nasika) of Shurpanakha at the hands of Lakshmana is believed to be the etymological explanation for the name of the city. Alternatively, the city has also preserved a tradition of a proverb in Marathi which, translated, states that it was settled on nine peaks. According to many scholars, this is a more plausible explanation for the origin of the name.
Nashik is famous for its numerous temples constructed during the reigns of different rulers. These include the magnificent ones at Sinnar, Anjaneri, Trimbakeshwar and those in the city itself. Out of these, the temples at Sinnar and Anjaneri were constructed in around 11th – 12th century CE by the Yadava kings and their feudatories. Out of these the Aishwaryeshwar Mandir and the Gondeshwar Mandir at Sinnar are the most impressive with their beautiful sculptures. The temple complex at Anjaneri consists of Jain and a few Hindu temples at the foot of the fort and the legends identify the hill as the birthplace of Hanuman.
The small town of Anjaneri is also famous for the internationally acclaimed Indian Institute of Research in Numismatic Studies. It has a very informative money museum explaining the development of currency in India through the ages. The temple at Trimbakeshwar, one of the 12 ‘Jyotirlingas’ (the phallic emblem of Shiva with fire), is considered the most sacred of all such places. The town of Trimbakeshwar is located at the origin of the river Godavari, considered the Ganga of the Deccan.
The archives of the Brahmin priests in this town are remarkable for preserving the records of the families for whom they have been conducting the rituals for generations together. The Kumbh Mela is celebrated here during Simhastha (i.e. when Jupiter and Sun are in the zodiac sign Leo) which comes after every 12 years. At this time, millions of Hindus – both ascetics and other devotees – gather and bathe in the river. Trimbakeshwar is also associated with Nivruttinath, brother of Sant Jnaneshwar and is therefore considered a special seat of the Naath Sampradaya.