The wine capital of India, Nasik is a picturesque town located on the banks of Godavari river. It is dotted with orchards and wineries, a must-see by nature lovers and wine aficionados.
It is believed that Lord Ram spent many of his exile years here. Nashik is one of the world’s holiest cities in India. It also happens to be one of the four Indian cities where the legendary Kumbh Mela is held once in every twelve years. In the 16th century, the city was conquered by the Mughals and renamed Gulshanabad.
Today, Nasik is the fastest growing city in Maharashtra with the last twenty years witnessing rapid strides in development. It is the third most industrialized city in Maharashtra, right behind Mumbai and Pune. Due to these advances, Nasik’s populatin grew exponentially and is pegged to be between 10 and 11 lakhs.
Nashik has a mild climate around the year, which makes it ideal for vacationing! On occasion, the temperatures do soar in summer but nights are cool and pleasant. Its winters are dry and mild as well.
Nasik has many places of tourist interest:
Pandav Leni Caves – 8 kms away from Nasik, these caves are a holy Buddhist site. Also known as Pandavleni Caves and Trirashmi Caves, these are a group of about thirty caves. They are about1200 years old and were built by various Buddhist kings as monasteries for the saints.
Wineries – Nasik is famous for its grapes. Not surprisingly, it is home to a large number of wineries. You can undertake wine tasting trips in any of them or spend a good day relaxing in their peaceful and lush environs.
Muktidham Temple – 7 kms away from the city, this temple is a popular religious site. Built in white marble with an unusual architecture, it has all the chapters from the holy epic, Bhagwad Gita, inscribed on its walls.
Coin Museum – Don’t forget to make a trip to Nasik’s Coin Museum. A one of a kind museum, it has a rich collection of photographs, articles, line drawings, replicas and real coins. It also has a detailed analysis of the various currency systems that existed in India since ancient times. A must for history buffs!
