Nashik is a religiously rich Hindu city that hosts Maha Kumbh Mela every 12 years. It is also one of the best wine-tasting destinations.
Nashik or Nasik, named after a relic featured in the great epic Ramayana, is a city in Maharashtra nestled on the banks of the Godavari River. Nashik hosts the famous and the largest gathering in the world, Maha Kumbh Mela every 12 years. The city is known in Hindu mythology as the place where Surpanakha, Ravana's sister, tried to seduce Lord Rama and got her nose cut off by Lord Lakshmana in the process. Its religious significance doesn't end there. It is also a pit stop to the thousands of devotees visiting Trimbakeshwar and Shirdi. Apart from its exotic temples, Nashik also has vineyards, waterfalls, and forts to look out for. With several vineyards available in Nashik, the most famous of being Sula, the wine-tourism is blooming in this part of Maharashtra. Nashik offers you the chance to explore a fabulous mix of experiences - from waterfalls to vineyards, hills to temples, this place has a lot to see.
Best Time To Visit Nashik
Famous for its historical and religious importance, Nashik is best visited during the winter season, between the months of October and February. In a nutshell, this place has extreme weather conditions. So the winters are really chilly, and summers are extremely hot. The temperature during summer can go beyond 39°C whereas as it drops drastically during the peak winters; going as low as 5°C. Thus, making the winter season the best time period to explore the cityscape uninterruptedly. During the months of July and September, Nashik receives the right amount of precipitation that transforms the city as the surrounding greenery flourishes, making it a treat to visit, especially for offbeat travelers and monsoon lovers.
History of Nashik
Before the period of Ramayana, Nashik was known as Panchavati. It has historical, mythological, cultural, and social importance. As the mythology has it that the King of Ayodhya, Lord Rama, came to Nashik and made it his abode during his 14 years in exile. At the same place, Lord Laxmana cut the nose of Shurpnakha, sister of Ravana, and thus this city was named “Nashik”.
Best Places To Visit In Nashik
1. Panchavati
This site gets a lot of visitors in the form of devotees and pilgrim travelers and for them, it is nothing short of holy. It is a serene town situated near Nashik which offers small sightings and would provide you with a glimpse into the ancient world of where the exile of Lord Rama, Goddess Sita, and Lord Laxmana took place, with an air of spirituality and banyan trees all around.
2. Sula Vineyard
Located in Nashik in the state of Maharashtra, Sula Vineyards is an Indian winery. Valley’s first commercial winery, Sula was awarded a silver medal in 2012 Sauvignon Blanc for being the biggest winemaker in India.
Spread over 160 acres of land in Nashik, this vineyard also has a resort to accommodate the visitors amid the winery and a tasting room in which wine lovers can taste different varieties and samples of wines produced here.
3. Dudhsagar Falls
Dhudsagar falls is also knows as Someshwar Water Fall. Dudhsagar Falls offers a panoramic view with spectacular scenery and is regarded as one of the best falls in view. Quite a sight to behold, the Dudhsagar cascade is in full verve during the monsoon season.
4. Saptashrungi
Consisting of seven hills and situated on a hill range, Saptashrungi is a religious site that holds spiritual significance for Hindus. During the monsoon season, the drive to the temple is quite scenic.
5. Trimbakeshwar
About 38 km away from Nashik, Trimbakeshwar is situated at the source of the Godavari River. Trimbakeshwar enshrines one of the 12 Jyotirlingas and is perched on top of Brahmagiri hills.
6. Nasik Caves
Also known as Trirashmi Caves, Pandu Leni, are a group of 24 caves. Representing the Hinayana Buddhist beliefs, these caves were carved between the 3rd century BC and the 2nd century AD. Only two caves out of the twenty-four are the major center of attraction. The several inscriptions on the cave walls give us information about all the 3 kings, that ruled Nasik over time, namely, the Satavahanas, the Abhirs, and the Kshatrapas fully supported Buddhism, though they did not follow the religion.
How To Reach Nashik
The city of Nashik is very well connected to the rest of Indian cities via a wide network of rail and road. Regular buses and trains ply to and fro Nashik. There is, however, no dedicated airport in Nashik.
- Nearest metropolitan city. Mumbai
- Nearest airport. Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport
- Nearest railway station. Nashik Railway Station
- Distance from Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport. 167 Kms
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By Air
The nearest airbase is Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport. From there, you can choose any of the three options of a train, bus, or cab depending on your budget and time at hand.
- Distance from Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport - 167 km from Nashik
Here is a list of Indian cities from where flights are available to Nashik
By Road
Frequent private or government buses run between Pune, Mumbai, other major cities in Maharashtra, and Nashik. Various AC, non-AC and Volvo buses run from Pune and Mumbai.
- Distance from Pune. 212 Kms
By Train
The city of Nashik has a dedicated railway station that has good connectivity, especially with cities like Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Hyderabad. From the Nashik Railway station, you can hire taxis to get to the main city.
- Distance from Nashik Railway station. 8 Kms
Frequently Asked Questions about Nashik
Q. What are the popular tourist destinations in Nashik?
A. Some of the popular tourist destinations in Nashik include: Panchavati, Sita Gufa, Trimbakeshwar Temple, Saptashrungi Temple, Muktidham Temple, and the Pandavleni Caves.
Travel Tip
To enjoy the city of Nashik to the fullest, including everything there is to offer in your itinerary, from temples to caves and waterfalls to vineyards.
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