The Godavari River flows near Trimbak. After the rainy season, there isn’t much water here. Godavari has many bridges built over it.
In Godavari, there are several sacred places such as Ramkund, Sitakund, Laxmankund, and Dhanushkund. The main bathing place is Ramkund.
Myths and Legends Surrounding Godavari
In the Brahmapurana, the greatness of Godavari is explained. Maharishi Gautam brought Godavari to Earth with Lord Shiva’s grace.
According to another Purana, a Brahmani practiced yoga here and transformed into the Godavari river. It originates from the Trimbak hills and meets the Bay of Bengal.
Its water is considered medicinal in Ayurveda. Brahmapurana mentions that every four fingers apart on Godavari’s banks, there’s a sacred place.
Godavari has seven tributaries, namely Vashishta, Kaushiki, Bridh, Gautami, Bharadwaji, Atrayi, and Tulya.
The Significance of Nasik on the Godavari
The Nasik region holds great significance along the Godavari. It is counted among the twelve Jyotirlingas as Trimbakeshwar.
Lord Rama spent many years in exile here and Sita was abducted nearby. Every twelve years, when Jupiter is in the Leo sign, the Kumbh Mela festival is celebrated in Nasik.
Nasik Road is a prominent station on the Mumbai-Delhi route. Nasik and Panchavati are essentially the same town divided by the Godavari river. Both banks are rich in sacred sites.
Various Temples and Sites along Godavari
Godavari flows from near Trimbak. After the rains, there is less water here. Several bridges span the Godavari.
In Godavari, you’ll find many sacred places like Ramkund, Sitakund, Laxmankund, and Dhanushkund. Ramkund is the primary bathing spot.
A short distance from Ramkund, the Aruna stream joins the Godavari, known as Aruna Sangam.
It’s home to Surya, Chandra, and Ashwini Tirthas, where people bathe in traditional attire. Behind Ramkund, there’s Sitakund, and nearby, you’ll find Hanuman Kund,
Dashashwamedh Tirtha, and the Naroshankar Temple. Further down, you have Peshwa Kund, Khandooba Kund, Oak Kund, Vaishampayan Kund, Indra Kund, and Mukteshwar Kund.
In this same Godavari, there’s the Ahilya Sangam Tirtha. People perform rituals, meditation, and offer oblations at these Kundas.
Above Ramkund is the Gangajee temple, and nearby is the Godavari temple, which opens only once a year. In front of the temple, there’s the Baneshwar Shiva Linga.
Nearby, you’ll find the Ram temple established by Ahilyabai Holkar. Just a few steps up from there, there’s the Kapaleshwar Shiva temple.
Kapaleshwar is a massive temple built of black stone. Panchavati, where the five banyan trees are, is a significant site.
Near the banyan trees, there’s Sita Gufa (Sita’s cave). Close by, there’s a sculpture of Nataraja, and at Panchavati, there’s the Ram Ghat Tirtha.
Near Panchavati’s bridge, there’s a statue of Lord Sundaranarayan. Other famous temples in the area include Uma Maheshwar, Neelkantheshwar, Panchratneshwar, Goraram temple,
Murli Dhar temple, Tilbhandeshwar temple, Bhadrakali temple, Ekamukhdant temple, and Mukteshwar temple.
Tirthas and Temples Beyond Nasik
Where the Kapila river joins Godavari, there is a place called Tapovan. This is where Lakshmana cut off Surpanakha’s nose.
Here, there are eight Tirthas, including Brahma Tirtha, Shiva Tirtha, Vishnu Tirtha, Agni Tirtha, Mukti Tirtha, Kapila Tirtha, and Sangam Tirtha. These Tirthas have many temples nearby.
Gangapur waterfall used to be near Nasik, but it has now disappeared. Nevertheless, there are several small Tirthas in the surrounding areas.
A little distance away in Harsuli village, there’s a statue of Hanuman Ji established by Saint Samarth Ramdas.
A short distance away, there’s Ramshaiyya on a hill with two or three caves. Pandava Gufa (cave) is located not far from Nasik, with a total of 23 caves, each containing a statue of Lord Buddha.
In the Tahasil of Trimbak, there’s Mrugvyadhareshwar Shiva temple, where it is said that Lord Rama killed Maricha. About 40 km from Nasik, there’s Jatayu Kshetra, where Jatayu’s final rites were performed.
