Last Updated on March 5, 2024 by admin
Oh the array of Nashik Tourist Places! From temples to vineyards to waterfalls, there are amazing places to visit in Nashik and every traveller must visit it!
Nashik – the humble grape capital of India has a lot to offer. Majorly popular for Sula Vineyards, it is also the Trimbakeshwar temple nearby that steals the show.
On my staycation with Holiday Inn Express Nashik, I had the opportunity to explore Nashik over an extended weekend. These are some of the lovely places to visit in Nashik.
Table of Contents
Nashik tourist places for devotees/pilgrimage
Trimbakeshwar Temple
A well-known pilgrimage town of Trimbak is the host to an ancient Hindu temple – Trimbakeshwar. It is one of the holy 12 Jyotirlinga temples of Lord Shiva. It is one of the most popular temples in Maharashtra as well as India.
Please keep in mind that you will require over half a day just to visit this temple as you will be standing in queue for 3-4 hours to reach the main temple and pay your respects. An express queue (paid) will take you in less than half the time.
Thankfully, photography is now allowed in Trimbakeshwar temple. Yes, mobile phones are allowed inside. You can click the architecture but clicking photos of the idol is still not allowed.
Read about other Shiva Temples in India: Mahakuta temples of Karnataka, Bhojeshwar Shiva temple, Bhopal
Time: 5:30 am to 9 pm
Entry Fees: Free, VIP pass: Rs. 200 per person
Kalaram temple
Kalaram temple situated in the city is popular amongst the locals and tourists alike and that is why it features in the top Nashik tourist places to visit. The significance of the temple is that it was built at the place where Lord Rama had stayed once. The root source of these idols can be traced back to the 15th century.
There are three idols in the temple that are known to be the creation of nature. The idols are made of black sand and hence the temple is known as ‘Kalaram (black ram) temple’. If you are an architecture lover, this is a must-visit place.
Sita Gufa
About 500 meters from Kalaram temple is a cave called Sita Gufa. It was the resting place of goddess Sita. Worshippers have to go down a narrow pathway in a cave-like pattern and then climb up the stairs. It is an adventure of a kind as there are instances when you feel you will get stuck. It definitely reminded me of my Cu-Chi tunnel experience from Ho Chi Minh city.
Tip: keep your backpack/tote bags in the care as lugging them in these narrow caves will be super difficult.
Panchavati ghat/ Ram Kund
Again a few hundred meters ahead is the venue where Kumbh Mela takes place. It is the holy place where the Godavari river flows through the city.
Honestly, there is not much to do at this place other than dipping your feet in the water and watching people pay respects to the river.
Tip: Go around sunset.
Nashik tourist places for hiking/ Nature lovers
Pandavleni (Pandav caves)
Pandavleni is known to be the oldest range of caves in the state of Maharashtra. Also known as the Nashik Caves, or sometimes Pandavleni Caves are built on Trirashmi hills which are 8km from the city of Nashik and an easy drive to the foothills.
After climbing almost 250 steps (some of which are a bit steep) you come across a group of 24 caves. Most caves have sculptures or carvings outside the cave and are blank or have very indistinct inscriptions on the inside. All the caves are marked with numbers from outside. The trek to the caves reminded me of Bhaja caves while climbing Lohagad Fort and Achalgarh in Mount Abu.
Even though the name is Pandav, the caves bear no resemblance to the Pandavas but were a place of worship for Buddhist monks or for disciples to meet and hear sermons.
Pros: a small hike to an utterly beautiful place. The view of Nashik city from the top is lovely which makes it one of the best places to visit in Nashik.
Read About such Cave Temple in India: Badami Cave Temples
Cons: though shoes are recommended to hike this hillock, most caves demand you to remove footwear. So wear something quick is comfortable yet quick to remove and wear.
Entry fee: Rs. 25
Timing: 8:30 am to 5:30 pm
Anjaneri Hills and Fort
There are many treks near Nashik to choose from out of which, Anjaneri is a popular trekking place for the locals, especially during monsoons.
Anjaneri is only 25km from Nashik city. Anjaneri has one of the famous forts in the Nashik-Trimbakeshwar mountain range. The views during the trek and from the top are breathtaking and hence this is an absolute must-do attraction in Nashik. However, it needs a full day.
In order to reach the Anjaneri fort, hire a car/bike and get down at Anjaneri village. There are some steps next to the village entrance, through which one can reach the plateau of Anjaneri. From Anjaneri village, it is an hour and a half hike to reach the plateau of Anjaneri.
The trekkers can also pay their respects in a temple. There is a cave about 10 min away from here with beautiful carvings. The fort has a huge perimeter and commands splendid views of the Trimbakeshwar Peak, Vaitarna back waters and Brahmagiri. This fort and the trek reminded me of climbing Kumbhalgarh Fort.
Someshwar Waterfalls
A small detour before going to Sula Vineyards can get you to the Someshwar waterfalls.
About 10 km from the city, the falls are in full splendour in monsoon but not so much in other seasons. When I visited it was a meagre stream with a lot of waste thrown in and some local boys trying to catch some fish.
Dugarwadi Waterfalls
On the way to Trimbakeshwar, about 40km from Nashik lies the beautiful and weirdly shaped mountains. These are home to many of the waterfalls. Dugarwadi waterfall is one of them as it is on the way and only a short hike will give you an outstanding view.
As usual, its beauty can best be enjoyed during monsoons. This is one of the favourite Nashik Tourist places.
Drive to Sapgon on NH-848, which is around 4 km from Trimbakeshwar. From Sapgon the waterfall is 4 km. It will take close to 45 minutes to reach the viewpoint as there are slopes to climb and it can get slippery. A word of caution: follow the signs! If you want to trek to the bottom of the waterfall, it will take more time.
Nashik tourist places for Wine Lovers
Sula Vineyards
Sula Vineyards is one of the most popular tourist places in Nashik. While people from across the world throng Sula during the Sula Fest, it is open across the year for tourists to see the vineyards, watch the making of mine, taste the wine or just dine overlooking the vineyards. If you even think that Sula Vineyard is worth visiting then let me tell you that the entry is practically free (Rs. 200 per person but redeemable against any paid activity or purchase in their shop).
Since I went in the month of February, the grape season was in full ripe mode with harvesting just about to start. I had a good half-day at Sula where I did the wine tour and tasting. It is a 45-minute tour where they take the tourists around the production and show how the wine is manufactured. After the tour, you get to taste 6 of their wines – 4 whites and 2 reds served with a cracker.
There is a wine shop and a souvenir shop where you can purchase wines and T-shirts.
Time: 11:30 am to 10:30pm
Entry fee: Rs. 200 per person
Wine tour and tasting: Rs. 400 per person
Nashik tourist places for city tourism/ museum lovers
Nashik Flower park
Loved by the locals this is one of the beautiful places to visit in Nashik.
Nashik flower garden is made utilizing spaces of a local water park – Shubham waterpark which becomes idle during winters due to the cold water. Hence the flower park is open only in winter – January to April. Currently, the flower park hosts about 1 million flowers on water slides of the water park
Time: 11 am to 7 pm
Entry fee: Rs.300 on weekdays, Rs. 400 on weekends
Gargoti Mineral Museum
Known as the epicentre of Indian Zeolite Minerals, Gargoti museum is one of the top Nasik tourist places.
Gargoti Museum is India’s only gem & mineral museum and is the world’s biggest “Private” gem & mineral museum. Gargoti Museum houses the largest & the finest collection of Indian Zeolite Minerals & Crystals in the world.
The museum is divided into Deccan Plateau Gallery and Prestige galley. The former contains Zeolite Minerals & Crystals excavated from the Deccan region of India while the latter section displays the exclusive and rarest finds from India and around the world.
Time: 9am to 6:30pm
Entry fees: Rs. 100 per person
Coin Museum
Coin Museum of Nasik, one of its kind in India, gives tourists a glimpse of Indian currency evolution over years. I tried to collect coins in my growing years but I lost interest. Now that I have coins from various countries I have started growing my interest again and so this museum was really a good visit. In the museum, one can see exhibits like moulds, dyes, replicas, and photographs of coins from ancient time.
Time: 9:30 am to 5.30 pm
Entry fees: Free
Nashik tourist places for Wildlife lovers/ Birdwatchers
Nandur Madhmeshwar Bird Sanctuary
Nandur Madhmeshwar Bird Sanctuary is situated 40km east of Nashik city in Niphad town. This small wetland is known as the Bharatpur of Maharashtra. Water released from two nearby reservoirs has formed this wetland, rich in organic and mineral content and giving rise to biodiversity in the area.
The sanctuary boasts of having recorded over 260 species of birds, over 70 of them being migratory in winters.
Read about other Bird Sanctuaries in India: Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary, Birdwatching in Kumaon
Time: 6:00am to 7:00pm
Entry fee: Rs 20
Where to stay in Nashik: Nashik Accommodation
Luxury: Express Inn, Grape county eco-resort
Mid-range: Holiday Inn Express, Grand rio
Homestay: Utopia farm stay, Vihang farm stay
Sustainable tips for Nashik tourist places
- This is a unique city having environmental as well as pilgrimage importance, so please respect it in all ways.
- Respect the ancient structures of temples by not sitting on them or by carving or writing on them.
- Observe peace and silence in temples. Do not use mobile phones in temples.
- Do not litter any of the tourist areas, especially while hiking or near waterfalls.
Read more Maharashtra posts here
- One day trip to Alibaug from Mumbai
- Diveagar – The Konkan paradise
- Junnar Tourism
- Tadoba National Park
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17 comments
Looks like an amazing place; I hadn’t heard much of it before so thanks for sharing! Definitely will come back to this when I plan my India trip!
Oh you must visit for a weekend atleast if you are in Mumbai. I’ll recommend going in February.
Thanks for all the tips!!! It looks amazing!! Beautiful photos!
Thank you for going through the blog and taking time to leave a comment 🙂
So interesting to read this! I have never been before but would love to go now.
Oh you must. I was surprised myself to find so many places to visit in Nashik.
Right when I read it was the wine capital of India I was ready for the wine making part! I’ve never thought of India as a wine-producing country but it is so interesting to know it is. Visiting the beautiful surroundings and then going to a winery sound amazing!
Ya India surprises everyone with the kind of places and things on offer! 🙂
I lived in Pune for years and never made it to Nashik once! I can see what I’ve missed! Dugarwadi waterfalls look so amazing! As do the temples. Sula vineyards are also a place I wanted to visit – maybe the next time I’m in India.
I know! Nashik is unfortunately never considered a tourist place actually. But it has so much to offer!
I am so intrigued that this is known as wine lover county. I didn’t know that and would love to try some of their blends. Oh my, Kalaram temple is stunning architecture, I would love to visit.
Well India wasn’t a wine country till 2 decades ago but this local vineyard changed the scene and now the wines are even exported.
This isn’t the first time that I’ve read a lot of the waterfalls in India are best viewed during monsoon season. Why is that out of curiosity? I would love to see the Dugarwadi waterfall. That is a stunning view! But, I must say what thoroughly captured my attention is the Nashik Flower Park. How creative to turn a waterpark for the summer into a flower park for the winter. I love that idea!
Well due to the rains, the water level is better in monsoon. In other seasons the flow is less so the grandeur of a waterfall is less. That’s the only reason to visit in monsoon.
Nashik is such a gem! Besides loving it for being the wine capital of India, I loved the temples. Kalaram temple has stunning architecture, and you have photographed it so well! It looks so much like Grishneshwar Temple, only it is black. Coin museum and Dugarwadi waterfalls will definitely be in my list to visit.
I am glad this post makes you want to visit Nashik. It is a surprise package for sure 🙂
[…] caves feature as one of the best Nashik Tourist places but surprisingly they are not very popular with the locals. They are a group of 24 caves which have […]