Holy Places : Panchvati, Nashik

Panchvati is a place of religious significance and a pilgrimage spot, near the city of Nashik in Maharashtra, western India. In Hindu mythology and epic Ramayana, Panchavati was the place in the forest of Dandakaranya, where Rama built his home along with his wife Sita and brother Lakshman during their exile period. It has been proposed to identify it with the modern Nasik, because Lakshmana cut off Surpanakha's nose at Panchavati. In Panchavati today, there are five trees marked, one of which is an Ashoka tree. There is also a cave here called Sita Gupha. Sita, Ram and Lakshman prayed here to Lord Shiva. The ancient Shivalinga still exists in the small temple in the cave and is visited by devotees. According to Hindu legends and Ramayana Rama, along with his wife Sita and brother Lakshmana, stayed in Panchavati during their Vanvasa period. The Laxman Rekha is located in Panchavati about a kilometre away from Sita Gupha. It was from here that Ravana abducted Goddess Sita. Today this area is a major pilgrimage and tourist attraction. Panchvati has many temples like Kalaram Temple, Goraram Temple, Sita Gumpha. There are also many temples in Tapovan which is very close to Panchvati. Its people are proud of its culture and its five thousand year old tradition. On auspicious occasions like Mahashivratri, Rangapanchami, Makar Sankranti people take baths in river Godavari at Ramkund which is considered to be one of the most important places in Indian theology. According to Hindu theology, it is believed to be the place where a few drops of 'amrut' fell while the kalash was carried to the devatas. There are other holly places like Ramkunda, Muktidham temple, Pandavleni caves and Trimbakeshwar.