Nashik

Nashik is well known in India as a gateway city to travel to Shirdi and Trambakeshwar which hosts one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva.

It is believed that in antiquity, during transport, the drops of Amrit fell into the Brahma-Kund at Trambakeshwar. This makes it one of the most popular religious travel destinations of India. Nashik is also known as a transit station for devotees going to Shirdi, the residence of Sai Baba (90 km (56 mi) from Nashik).

Nashik is fairly cosmopolitan city. Marathi is the official language of the city. This is the most common language spoken on the streets, most people may partial understand Hindi and English.

Attitudes in Nashik are liberal. The city used to be very traditional and conservative, but now is an open-minded culture and is gradually developing city.

Nashik is known for its art and literature contribution. Nashik has one of the biggest public libraries.

• Shri Dadasaheb Phalke - the founder of the Indian film industry comes from Nashik. He started movie making in India with the mythological character “Raja Harishchandra” in 1913. This was the first movie in India. He made 95 movies and 26 short films in the span of 19 years, till 1932 in Nashik.

• Pt. Vishnu Digambar Paluskar was from Nashik, wrote books on classical Indian music. He reinvented notation system suitable to Indian classical music. He also composed notations for the national song of India, Vande Mataram.

• Bahinabai Chaudhary was a poetess who made poems in spoken Marathi. It was a flawless creation in ample. Once her son realised the value of her poems he started writing it down. Her poems is an invaluable treasure of Marathi literature. The poems reflect real day-to-day life in a rural setting describing the beautiful effects of nature on her life. She also state the philosophy of life in simple humble words.
• V V Shirwadkar alias “Kusumagraj” in a career spanning five decades starting in pre-independence era, he wrote 16 volumes of poems, three novels, eight volumes of short stories, seven volumes of essays, 18 plays and six one-act plays.
• Vasant Kanetkar was a stage drama writer in Marathi language. He wrote 40 three-act plays, all of which were performed on the professional stage. Many of his plays became commercial successes. He has been credited with rejuvenating the Marathi theatre when it was in decline, the age of Sangeet Natak --stage musicals—having had come to an end.
• Vinayak Damodar Savarkar re-wrote Indian history from a patriotic point of view. His works are in Marathi language, Saha Soneri Pane (Six golden pages in the History of Hindu Nation) - explaining six Indian empires and their extent. He wrote two books in English named "Hindutwa" and "Hindupadapadshahi" on the history of Marathas. Two of his poems famous are Sagara Pran Talamalala and Jayostute sung by Lata Mangeshkar.

The climate of Nashik is very pleasant. Nashik has three distinct seasons: summer, monsoon and winter. Summers are typically hot with maximum temperatures ranging from 35 to 42°C. The warmest month in Nashik is generally April as compared to the rest of the Deccan Plateau where it is May. November is normally a very pleasant month.

Nashik does not get very hot. Even during the peak of summer, the air is cool and standing under a tree can give respite form the heat. However, as sunlight can be intense leading to skin tan and sun-burn, be sure to carry and use sunscreens (above SPF-30).

The nights in Nashik are significantly cooler than most other parts in this region owing to its high altitude.

The average rainfall is approx 550 mm. The city often receives local and heavy thunder showers with heavy downpours in June, which brings down the temperature. The rainy season can sometimes be gloomy, with cloud cover for days together.

Winters are generally dry and day temperatures can be as low as 24°C and temperatures at night as low as 5°C.

• 🌍 Nashik Airport (ISK  ^IATA). (updated Jun 2023)

Nashik is 180 km (110 mi) from Mumbai (Bombay). There are frequent buses to Nashik from Dadar in Mumbai. It takes 4 to 5 hours by road. If you are not around Dadar, you can still take buses from Borivali (a key place on Western Railway Line) or Thane (a key place on Central Railway Line). Also, a suburban railway (CR) to Kasara can be taken from few suburban railway stations beyond Dadar (like Kurla, Thane or even beyond). Once at Kasara, there are loads of connecting buses to Nashik and many other places, along with ample number of share-taxis (₹50-60 per adult passenger, but with cramped sitting). (There is no taxi service available in the late night. You can get held up after reaching Kasara Railway Station till the next morning.)

🌍 Nashik New C B S Bus Stand (at Trimbak/Old Agra Roads crossing). 

Trains called 'Panchavati Express' and 'Godavari Express' also ply daily between Mumbai and Nashik. Nashik is on Central Railway line and Dadar Station is a sort of junction place for Central Railway and Western Railway, so make sure that you are at right side of the station (that is, east-side for Central Railway). There is also a daily train service between Pune and Nashik.

• 🌍 Nasik Road Railway Station (about 10 km (6.2 mi) away from the main city). )

There are sufficiently frequent services of buses, auto-rickshaws, shared-taxis etc. are available at fairly low fares.

You can also go by local from Kasara.

You can reach Nashik by road through Mumbai-Nashik Expressway (NH 3) , 167 km (104 mi) approx.

• 🌍 Bhaktidham. A temple on Peth Naka. 
• 🌍 Chambhar Leni, Dindori Road. Temple of Bhagwan Mahavir on a hillock inside a cave. 
• Dharmachakra Jain Mandir. It has a 12 ton Panchdhatu idol of Bhagwan Mahavir. It's at Vilholi on Nashik- Mumbai highway. 
• 🌍 Ganga Ghat. Ramkunda, Panchavati 
• Goda Ghat (Godavari river edge). A popular place to visit. 
• 🌍 Kalaram Temple. An important temple and landmark in Panchavati area. 
• 🌍 Muktidham, Mahatma Gandhi Rd, Gayakhe Colony, Nashik Road. A big marble temple and picnic spot at Nashik Road. 
• 🌍 Nashik Caves (Pandav Leni). Buddhist and Jain Caves dating back to 2nd century BCE on Nashik- Mumbai highway near Pathardi phata. They are on top of a hill. The view of the surrounding countryside including the city of Nashik is worth climbing up for. 
• 🌍 Shree Navashya Ganpati Mandir, Peshwe Colony, Anandwalli. A temple on banks of Godavari River, very scenic views. 
• 🌍 Sita Gufaa. Caves where Lord Ram and Sita worshipped Lord Shiva during their exile. The shivlinga is still present at that same spot. It is believed that Ravana kidnapped Sita from this place. It is always visited by devotees and tourists. 
• 🌍 Someshwar. Temples, picnic spot, boating, and waterfall on Gangapur road. 
• 🌍 Sundarnarayan Temple. 
• 🌍 Tapovan. Tapobhumi, Shurpanakha's nose fell here, Tasty Guavas, try them out. Once upon a time, it was a part of the sacred Dandakaranya forest. Tapovan is a picturesque place, also contains a close connection with the epic Ramayana. 
• 🌍 Shri Tryambakeshwar Jyotirlinga Temple (श्री त्र्यंबकेश्वर ज्योतिर्लिंग मंदिर). One of the 12 Jyotirlingas in India and is the most sacred place in Nashik. Nearby is also Brahma giri where lord Shiva performed the tandava dance. 
• Veda Mandir, Trimbak road. 

• 🌍 Mineral Museum (Gargoti Sangrahalaya), MIDC, Malegaon, Sinnar, ☏ +91 98906 55592. It displays very precious stones. 
• 🌍 Tarangan (Trimbak Road). This planetarium is named after late shri Yashwantrao Chavan and was inaugurated by President Mrs Pratibha Patil. Daily 3 shows are conducted at 1:30PM in English, 3:30PM in Hindi and 5:30PM in Marathi. 

• 🌍 Big Bazaar, College Road, ☏ +91 253 661 0900. 
• Crosswords , Untwadi
• Nashik Central , Trimbak Naka
• 🌍 Nashik City Centre Mall, Banyan Square, Untwadi, ☏ +91 253 231 9787. 
• Pantaloons , Untwadi
• Pinnacle Mall , Golf Club
• Reliance Footprints , Untwadi
• Reliance Living Home , Untwadi
• Reliance Trends , Untwadi
• Westside , Untwadi

And chain stores like Reliance Fresh, Spencer's, Spinach, Subhiksha, more are present all over the city.

• Adgaonkar Saraf, Saraf Bazar, Nashik
• A K Gems - Agni, Nashik Road
• Bafna Jewellers, Tilakwadi, Nashik
• Chnaya Jewellers Prop. Jitendra Mutha, Mob. 9850046531, Old agra road, pimpalgaon baswant.
• Diamond Galaxy - Tanishq, Canada Corner, Nashik
• Govind Dande & Sons, Nashik Road
• Maind Saraf, Saraf Bajar Nashik.
• Mayur Alankar, Saraf Bazar, Gangapur Road, Nashik.
• Mirajkar Jwellers, Saraf Bazar, Trimurti Chowk, Madhli holi Nashik.
• Parekh Jewels, College Road, Nashik
• P.R. Vaishampayan & Sons working under the brand name Sonchafa.
• Rajmal Lakhichand Jewllers, Nashik
• Significant Moments, Nashik
• Surana Jewellers, Canada Corner, Nashik.
• Takle Bandhu, Saraf Bazar, Nashik
• Tanishq Showroom, Samarth Nagar, Nashik.
• Waman Vishnu Throat, Saraf Bazar, Nashik.

• Cinemax, City Centre Mall
• PVR Cinemas, College Road
• Cinemax Regimental, Nashik Road
• Big Cinemas, New Nashik (Cidco)
• INOX, Nashik Road
• SRS Cinemas, Nashik Road

• Chinese : Seble Hotel , Trimbak road, Carnival College Road, 21st century, Sharanpur Road
• One Should not miss the famous Krushnai Vada Pav (an Indian burger served with chillies) at the Circle Cinema, The Shop located at Ashok Stumbh
• Other Family Dining: Patang, and Purohit.
• Missal: Vihar at Gangapur naka, A tapri near Raviwar Karanja (next to Pethe High School),Tushar on college road, Ambika near Panchvati Karanja, Sham-sundar Satpur MIDC (see below)
• Other Thali Hotels: Purohit, Rajdhani
• Traditional Marathi Cuisine: Saheba, Mumbai Naka

Missal is a hot and tasty curry dish from Maharashtra. Missal literally means 'Mix'. It is served with Pav (Indian name for baked bread). There are lots of variations to the cooking and the way it is served. It is mostly hot in taste.

• Sadhana Restaurant - Chulivarachi Misal, Survey No 71, Gangapur-Satpur Link Road, Bardan Phata, Nashik,
• 🌍 Ambica Missal, Panchavati. a distinct taste of Black garam Masala made in a very traditional way. 
• Hotel Bhagwati, Panchawati Karanja
• Hotel Shamsunder, B Road, Satpur MIDC
• Hotel Sheetal, Old taxi Stand, CBS
• Hotel Sudarshan, Makhamalabad, Nashik.
• Hotel Tuljai, Opp college, College Road.
• Hotel Tushar, Malaria Stop, College Road.
• Hotel Vihar, Near K.V.N.Naik College, Gangapur Naka.
• Maharashtra Hotel, Bytco Point, Nashik Road.
• Nehru Garden, Near Sarda School.
• Om Tea House, Near Bhadrakali Karanja, Bhadrakali.
• Raswanti Missal, Panchavati Karanja
• Shelke Missal, Ravivar Karanja, opp Chandi Ganpati Mandir.
• Pravin missal Panchvati Nashik.

• Cream Zone, College Road
• 🌍 Dairy Don, 1/3, College Road, Patil Colony, Canada Corner, ☏ +91 253 230 6843, +91 253 230 6844. 
• 🌍 Dinshaw's Ice Cream Shop, College Road, D'souza Colony. 
• Eskimozs Pot Ice Cream, Canada corner
• Pastongi, MG Road
• Razzmatazz, College Road
• S K Ice cream Parlour, nashik road

(Inspect the room before you book)

• 🌍 Hotel Royale Heritage, GPO Rd, ☏ +91 253 250 4080, +91 982 204 0200, info@royaleheritage.com. Cheap hotel in a bad, very noisy neighbourhood. 
• 🌍 Hotel Saffron, Plant No.291, Beside Wadala Naka, Renuka Nagar Corner, ☏ +91 253 695 6390, +91 253 259 4004, fax: +91 253 250 4944. A budget hotel in the heart of the city. Attached bathrooms. Lift available. Air-con & fan rooms ₹500-995. 
• 🌍 Wasan's Inn, Old Agra Rd (near Kalika mandir), ☏ +91 253 257 7881, fax: +91 253 257 8711, santoshs@bom6.vsnl.net.in. Reasonable prices for decent rooms. This hotel has 3 restaurants. Good but somewhat pricey food. 

• 🌍 Rama Heritage Hotel, Old Mumbai - Agra Road (near Mumbai naka, next to Kalika Mandir), ☏ +91 253 258 2888, +91 95451 69777, fax: +91 253 258 2887, hotelramaheritage@gmail.com. From ₹2,700.