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Nasik ~ Mahabaleshwar ~ Shirdi ~ Aurangabad ~ Lonavala ~ Goa
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Nashik is one of the most important cities of Northern Maharashtra. Nashik, in Maharashtra, is situated at a distance of 200 km from Mumbai (Bombay) as well as Pune. The city has become the center of attraction because of its beautiful surroundings and cool and pleasant climate. Nashik has a personality of its own due to its mythological, historical, social and cultural importance. The city, vibrant and active on the industrial, political, social and cultural fronts, has influenced the lives of many a great personalities. The river Godavari flows through the city. Temples and ghats on the banks of Godavari have made Nashik one of the holiest places for Hindus all over the World.
Ramayana Period: No one knows when the city of Nashik came into existence. It is stated to have been present even in the stone age. Lord Ramchandra along with wife Sita and brother Laxman settled down in Nashik for the major time of their "Vanwasa". According to the mythology, Laxman cut the nose ("Nasika" in Sanskrita) of "Shurpanakha" and hence the city got the name 'Nashik'. Long ago, Brahmadeva had meditated in "Padmasana" here, so the city was also called "Padma-Aasana" for some time. It is also believed that, Lord Vishnu had defeated the three demons and thus city also had the name "Tri-Kantak" (Tri = Three).
During Peshwa's period: In the recent past, the Moguls were fascinated by the beauty of the city and renamed it as "Gulshanabad" meaning the city of gardens. Beautiful fresh flowers were sent to Aurangazeb from Gulshanabad i.e. Nashik. But it was during the rule of the Peshwas, when the place was finally renamed as Nashik. During the Peshwas period, Raghobadada and his wife Anandibai settled down at 'Anandwalli' in Nashik. There re some remains of Anandibai's fort. There is also a temple called 'Navasha Ganapati' built by Anandibai. It was during the British rule in April 1818, when Nashik once again regained its importance. The British fell in love with the beauty of the city and developed it in various fields. The Golf course, developed by the British, was one of the largest in Asia. Nashik is surrounded by nine hills, namely: Durga, Ganesh, Chitraghanta, Pandav, DingerAli, Mhasarul, Jogwada, Pathanpura and Konkani. This beautiful city with hills surrounding it has lakes, adding to its beauty.
Rise & Growth Of National Movement: In 1869 the region came to enjoy unbroken peace. In 1869 Nashik was made a full-fledged district with its present talukas. With the return of peace Nashik flourished into prosperity. Reasons, political, religious, as well as commercial led to its rapid development. With the construction of the railway, going from Bombay to north-east, from very near the city, religious minded devotees came to be attracted to The town in ever increasing numbers where they made their purchases of various artistic & useful articles. This made Nashik a great trade centre where artisans skilled in manufacturing utensils & smiths excelling in workmanship in silver & gold crowded to ply their trade. Already Nashik was a highly flourishing town even under later Maratha rule & some time during that period the sow car families like barves, Vaishampayans & Gadres of the locality started their financial activity. Under Maratha rule they advanced sums to finance military campaigns of feudal Sardars & in their later times their Pedhi’s gradually began to finance the flourishing trade in metalware & fabrics as well as grapes & onions. By the middle of 19th century the British Rule was firmly established & the public life of Nashik began to pulsating with activities suited to the times. In 1840 was established a ‘ Native Library Nashik’ . In 1861 an Anglo-vernacular school was started & 1864, The town came to have a municipality of its own.
During these days there lived in Nashik a saintly person, known as Dev Mamaledar. His name was Yeshvant Mahadev Bhosekar. He began his career as an humble clerk in the revenue department & gradually rose to the position of Mamaledar. He always had a feeling for the poor & the suffering. During the period of his service as a Mamlatdar in Baglan Taluka which has its head quarter at Satana , A severe famine affected the area & Bhosekar generously helped the people to alleviate their sufferings. He always led a virtuous life & spent his spare moments in devout religious practices. In course of time he became so famous that princes & people began to respect him as a saint & called him Yeshvantrav Maharaj. Upon his death in 1887 people raised a small beautiful temple for his Samadhi on the bank of the river where his last funeral rites were performed. The paved floor around came to be known as Yeshvant Patangana which has now become a great centre of public assemblage & activity.
Climate: Nashik has a pleasant climate, warm in summer and slightly humid during the rainy season. Igatpuri, Surgana and Peth talukas in the western part of the district receive more rainfall. The rainfall decreases as we move towards the east. Winter is severe in the eastern parts of the district. Igatpuri, Saptashringi and Trimbakeshwar are cool even during summer.
Natural Wealth
Nashik abounds in forest wealth. The forests lie in the western part of the district. Surgana, Kalvan, Peth, Dindori, Nashik and Igatpuri talukas have a number of forests. Teak and sissoo trees are found in large numbers in these forests. Besides these, trees and shrubs like anjan, agave and bamboo are also found here. The jungles are inhabited by animals such as wolves, hyenas, sambars, foxes and birds like koels, kingfishers and peacocks.
Water supply: Nashik gets its water supply from wells, lakes, rivers and percolation tanks. The Darna, Gangapur, Chanakapur and Waghad lakes have been formed by constructing dams across rivers. The Gangapur and Nandur Madhyameshwar dams have been built across the river Godavari. Similarly there are two dams across the Girna - one at Chanakapur and the other at Panzan. Sinnar, Chandawad, Yeola, Malegaon and Nandgaon talukas of the district.
Gangapur Dam: Built on river Godavari, it is the biggest earthen dam, (13 kms. N. W. of Nashik) built in 1954. There is a garden nearby which serves as a good picnic spot, ubject to prior permission of the Chief Executive Engineer, P.W.D. Trimbak Road, Nashik. The dam is 12500 ft long, 123 ft tall and 30 ft wide. Its capacity is 7200 Million Cubic Ft and area irrigated is 64000 acres.
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