Mumbai To Nashik One Day Tour – Visit Famous Holy City

Start your journey early in the morning and drive to Nashik, which is about 170 km from Mumbai. It will take you around 3 to 4 hours to reach Nashik, depending on the traffic and road conditions.

Visit the Kalaram Temple, one of the major attractions of Nashik city, situated in the Panchavati area. It is a temple dedicated to Lord Rama, who has been enshrined inside the sanctum sanctorum in the form of a black stone idol. The temple was built in 1788 by Sardar Rangarao Odhekar and is known for its magnificent architecture and intricate carvings. The temple also has a statue of Sardar Odhekar and paintings depicting scenes from the Ramayana on the walls.

Next, head to the Muktidham Temple, a marble temple complex honouring various Hindu gods. It is a popular tourist attraction located in the Nashik Road suburb of the city. It was built in 1971 by the late Mr. J.D. Chauhan-Bytco, a local industrialist. The temple has replicas of 12 Jyotirlingas, which have been sanctified by sending them to their respective pilgrimage centers. There is also a temple dedicated to Lord Krishna, which has paintings of his life and the Mahabharata on the walls. The temple is made with marble from Makrana in Rajasthan and has a beautiful dome with intricate designs.

After lunch, visit the Sita Gufa, also known as Sita Gumpha or Sita Gupha, a cave where Sita worshipped Lord Shiva during their exile. The cave can be accessed only through a narrow staircase and contains the idols of Lord Rama, Sita and Lakshmana. There is also an ancient Shivlinga inside the cave. The cave is believed to be the place where Ravana, the demon king of Lanka, abducted Sita. Outside the cave is a large grove of five very old banyan trees, after which the area is named Panchavati. These trees are said to have been there during the exile of Lord Rama.

Next, visit the Ganga Ghat, one of the ghats on the banks of the Godavari river in Nashik. The ghat is a holy place for Hindus and is used for bathing and performing rituals. The ghat also offers a scenic view of the river and the surrounding hills. You can witness the evening aarti at the ghat and enjoy the spiritual atmosphere.

Finally, visit the Pandav Caves, also known as Trirashmi Caves or Nasik Caves, a group of 23 caves carved between the 1st century BCE and the 3rd century CE by Buddhist monks. The caves are located on a hill about 8 km south of the city center and are known for their rock-cut architecture and sculptures. Most of the caves are viharas or monasteries, except for Cave 18 which is a chaitya or worship hall. The caves have interesting carvings of Buddha, Jain Tirthankaras and other deities. The caves also have water tanks that have been skillfully chiseled out of the solid rock. The caves offer a panoramic view of the city and are a must-see for history and art lovers.

After exploring the caves, drive back to Mumbai and end your tour with some wonderful memories.