State : Maharashtra
A delightful town, usually bustling with fervent crowds, Nasik is a classic mélange of the past and the present. It paves way to many fascinating forts and royally graceful temples that possess an aura of exuberance. This part of the terra firma is more than a dream destination for zealous lovers of glorious travel. It plays abode to m ost of the industries located in Maharashtra, including the Security Printing Press of the government, the nation's currency printer. The core of commerce and trade, it was earlier the country's largest market arena.


Place to See
Nasik Kumbh Fair
Nasik, a prominent city in the north of Maharashtra, is situated 200 kms from Mumbai and Pune. The city has gained immense popularity owing to its pleasant climatic conditions, beautiful architecture, temples and caves. The famous temples of note are: Sundranarayan temple, Kampaleshwar temple, Balaji temple, Kalaram Mandir, the Goraram Mandir and the Rameshwar or Bell temple. Nasik has thus, rightfully been called the Benares of South India and the Godavari, the Ganges of the South.

The Site For The Kumbh Mela
Trimbakeshwar is a holy town that houses one of the twelve Jyotirlingas in India. It also is the origin of the river Godavari and is situated 38 kms away from Nasik. The Sinhasta Kumbh Mela is held once in 12 years in Nashik and Trimbakeshwar.

According to historical records, Nasik is one of four places where the elixir of immortality, the 'amrit', fell to earth from a pitcher as gods and demons were engaged in the tussle to gain the ownership of the jar full of 'amrit'. The Kumbh Mela rotates among the four holy sites every three years.

The Kumbh Mela is marked by millions of devotees' plunge into the river Godavari that is believed would cleanse their souls leading to salvation. A ritual bath at a predetermined time and place is the major event of the festival. The annual festival of Shivratri is also celebrated with great pomp and show inviting thousands of pilgrims.

Trimbakeshwar Temple
This temple situated in Trimbak, 30 km West of Nasik, contains one of the twelve Jyotirlingas (naturally occuring Lingas) in India. The temple has beautiful carvings. There is a belief that anybody who visits Trimbakeshwar attains salvation. It is considered to be the holiest place to perform Shraddha ceremony as mentioned in 'Nirnaya Sindhu' - a religious book of Hindus. Non Hindus are not allowed inside the temple but one can get a clear view from outside.
The river Godavari rises here from a hill called Brahmagiri. Nearby there is the 'Gangasagar bathing tank' into which the Godavari river dribbles in, from its source. A bath in these waters is supposed to wash away sins.

Deolali Camp
Deolali Camp is an important Indian military center. Deolali camp which is one of the oldest in India, is located 16 km away from Nasik. The center was set up by the British in 1861. An officer of the rank of Major General holds the position of the head of the Artillery school here. In the days of the British Raj, soldiers who cracked up under the stresses and strains of life in British India were invariably packed off to a military psychiatric hospital here to recover. Its name became synonymous with nervous breakdown; hence the English idiom "to go doolally", meaning to become insane or eccentric. Deolali market is famous for shopping. In the Temple Hill nearby, there is a famous temple of Lord Khandoba.

Kalaram Mandir
This simple, large temple was built in 1782 by Sardar Odhekar of Peshwa. The idol of lord Ram here, is of black colour, hence the name Kala Ram Mandir. The building stands in the middle of a walled enclosure with 96 pillars and entered on the east through an arched portal. The temple is made of black stones, and has a 25 m high 'Sikhara'. The stones were brought from Ramshej 200 years ago. There are great processions and festivities during Ramnavami, Dushera and Chaitra Padwa. Nearby is the Sita Gupha cave where Sita, wife of Rama is said to have hidden from the Demon Ravana. There is a grove of large Banyan trees near the cave.


How to Reach
Air: Nearest airport from Nashik is at Mumbai , which is 185-km away from the city

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. The fastest train to Mumbai is the Panchavati Express, which does the trip in 4 ½ hours.

By Road: Nashik is 185-kms from Mumbai and is well connected by road. Pune-Nashik highway is 220-kms away from the city. There are also several private and state buses available between Mumbai/Thane and Nashik.