3 DAY TRIP FROM MUMBAI | NASHIK - BHANDARDARA - IGATPURI

At a distance of 2 km from Nashik Central Bus Station, Ramkund is the most important sacred bathing tank in Panchavati area of Nashik City. This is one of the popular Nashik tourist places to visit during Kumbh Mela.

Ram Kund, measuring 27 x 12 sq. m was built by Chitrarao Khatarkar in 1696 AD. According to the legend, this sacred bathing tank on the bank of river Godavari is believed to be the spot where lord Rama had taken his bath during their exile. It is also said that the Lord Rama have performed his father's funeral rites in this Kund and hence Ram Kund is also known as Asthi Vilaya Tirtha (Bone Immersion Tank).

Ram Kund is a holy place for Hindus. Devotees believe that a dip in this tank will fulfill their wishes and also free from their sins. There is a popular belief that salvation to the soul of the dead person is easily achieved by immersing their ashes in the holy waters of this tank. Ashes of prominent personalities like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira .....

At a distance of 2.5 km from Nashik Central Bus Station, Sri Kalaram Temple is an old Hindu shrine situated in the Panchavati area of Nashik city in Maharashtra. It is probably the most important Hindu shrine in Nasik.

The temple is dedicated to Lord Rama, who has been enshrined inside the sanctum sanctorum in the form of a black stone idol. The temple was built by Sardar Rangarao Odhekar in 1790 AD. It was said that Odhekar had a dream that the statue of Rama in black colour was in the Godavari River. Odhekar took the statue from the river and built the temple. The temple formed a pivotal role in the Dalit Movement in India. Dr. Ambedkar led a protest outside the temple on 2nd March 1930, in order to allowing Dalits into the temple.

The architectural design of this temple is similar to the temple of Trimbakeshwar. The temple has been constructed completely out of black stones and four entrance doors, one each facing East, West, South and North. The temple is surrounded by .....

At a distance of 2.7 km from Nashik Central Bus Station, Sita Gumpha or Sita Gufaa is situated near Kalaram Temple in Panchavati area of Nashik. It is one of the top pilgrimage places to visit in Nashik.

Sita Gumpha is believed to be the place where Sita worshipped Lord Shiva during their exile. The cave, containing the idols of Lord Ram, Sita and Lakshmana, can be accessible only through the help of a narrow staircase. The ancient Shivlinga still exists in the cave and is visited by large number of devotees every day. Devotees believed to be the place where Ravana, the demon king of Lanka, abducted Sita.

Outside the cave is a large grove of 5 very old Banyan trees, after which the area is named, Panchavati means 'a garden of five banyan trees'. These trees are said to have been there during the exile of Lord Rama. There is a place called Tapovan where Lakshmana, the brother of Rama, cut off the nose of Surpanakha, the sister of Ravana. The entire Aranya Kanda of Ramayana is .....

At a distance of 28 km from Nashik, Trimbakeshwar or Tryambakeswar is a small pilgrimage town located on the banks of River Godavari at the foothills of Brahmagiri Mountains in Nasik district of Maharashtra. Trimbakeshwar is famous for Trimbakeshwar Temple which is one among the 12 Jyotirlinga temples of Lord Shiva and is also one of the most popular places to visit near Mumbai.

Trimbakeshwar Temple is built by Sri Nana Saheb Peshwa in 1755-1786 AD. The presiding deity of the temple is Lord Shiva as Trimbakeshwar. The extraordinary feature of the Jyotirlinga located here is its three faces embodying Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Rudra. A crown studded with precious stones rests on top of this Linga, which is said to be from the age of Pandavas. This crown is decorated with various precious stones like emeralds, diamonds and many other varieties. The crown is displayed every Monday from 4 PM - 5 PM.

The temple is built of black .....

At a distance of 8 km from Nashik Central Bus Station, Pandavleni Caves or Trirashmi Caves are the ancient rock cut caves situated on Trirashmi Hills to the south of Nashik. The location of the caves is a holy Buddhist site in Maharashtra and also one of the popular places to visit in Nashik.

Pandavleni Caves are a group of 24 caves carved between the 3rd century BC and the 2nd century AD, representing the Hinayana Buddhism and has nothing to do with the characters of Mahabharata (the Pandavas).These caves were built by the rulers of that time like Satavahanas and Kshaharatas for Hinayana Buddhist monks. More ancient name of caves is Trirashmi Caves where the root 'Trirashmi' means 'triple royal'.

Most of the caves are Viharas except for the 18th cave which is a Chaitya. Caves 3, 10, 18 and 20 are the most significant and fascinating caves among the 24 caves which are noted for their magnificent sculptures. Cave 3 has a large Vihara with fascinating sculptures. Cave 10 is also .....

At a distance of 500 m from Bhandardara Bus Stop, Arthur Lake is formed due to the construction of Wilson Dam and is fed by Pravara River. This lake is also known as Lake Arthur Hill or Bhandardara Lake. It is one of the top places to visit in Bhandardara hill station.

The clear and placid lake is bounded by thick forests of the Sahyadri hills. This lake is around 34 km long and the stream features a wonderful waterfall, named Randha Falls that come down from over 45 m height. This lake also holds religious importance, as Agastya Rishi meditated at this place.

Arthur Lake acts as a reservoir for the Bhandardara Dam or Wilson Dam. The construction work of the dam was started in 1910 AD and was completed in 1926 AD by the British. The dam is one of the oldest dams in India at a height of 492 feet and is famous for the nearby Umbrella Falls. When the gates opened, the outflow creates two huge cascades of water creating a spectacular sight. The dam was inaugurated by Lt. Col. .....

At a distance of 500 m from Bhandardara Bus Stop, Umbrella Falls is a beautiful seasonal waterfalls situated at the Bhandardara Dam in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra. It is one of the top places to visit in Bhandardara and also one of the best waterfalls in Maharashtra.

When the Wilson dam overflows during monsoon, water gushes out from a small opening in its northern end over a semicircular rock, forming the picturesque Umbrella Falls. The water body is also used for hydro­electric power generation. There is a bridge right below the waterfall, tourists can get a full view of the waterfalls standing on the bridge. The waterfalls can be enjoyed only during the monsoon season, when the dam reaches full capacity.

The falls can be easily reached by walk from Bhandardara Bus Station which is around 500 m.

At a distance of 10 km from Bhandardara Bus Stop, 156 km from Pune & 177 km from Mumbai, Randha Falls is a beautiful waterfall located on the Rajur - Bhandardara road in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra.

The waterfall is formed over Pravara River and cascades down from a height of 170 feet into a beautiful gorge. Considered as one of the prominent waterfalls in India, the jaw-dropping Randha Falls is a must visit place during monsoon and also one of the popular places to visit in Bhandardara. It is the chief source of hydro power in the Bhandardara region. There is a temple on the banks of the river and a viewpoint just above the falls provides a great view of the waterfalls. The rocky sides of the gorge are home to colonies of bees and one can see huge hanging hives under the rocky ledges.

At a distance of 2 km from Igatpuri Railway Station, the Vipassana International Academy is a renowned meditation center located in Igatpuri, Maharashtra. Also known as Dhammagiri Meditation Centre, it is considered as the world's largest meditation center and among the prime places to visit in Igatpuri.

Founded in 1976 AD by S. N. Goenka, Dhammagiri Meditation Centre is known to offer various courses on Vipassana, an ancient meditation technique which was rediscovered by Gautama Buddha around 2,500 years ago as a treatment for general illness. The founder of Vipassana International Academy, S N Goenka used to teach Vipassana meditation, which was taught by his teacher U Ba Khin, at this centre. The Vipassana meditation is the self-purification process, which starts with by concentrating your mind by observing your breathing pattern. The meditation will benefit your mind and body and you will start experiencing egolessness, mental purification and the truth of impermanence. The technique .....

At a distance of 5 km from Igatpuri Railway Station, Ghatandevi Temple is a Hindu temple situated in the outskirts of Igatpuri town in Nashik district of Maharashtra. It is one of the popular places of pilgrimage in Igatpuri and among the must include places in Igatpuri Tour Packages.

The temple is devoted to Ghatandevi, who is believed to be the protector of the Ghats by the locals. Located in a gorgeous valley, the temple presents an eye-catching spectacle to the devotees. The majestic peaks of Harihar, Durvar Utvad and Trimak form an imposing backdrop to this elegant shrine.

A pretty shrine in a serene, tranquil atmosphere is definitely wakes up the faith in divinity to anyone. People visit this temple to calm their mind and forget about the noise, pollution and hustle bustle of the city. For trekking enthusiasts and history buffs, behind the temple lies the Tringalwadi Fort which can also be visited on the same day.

Timings: 6 AM - 6 PM

Entry: Free

At a distance of 1 km from Bhatsa River Valley Point and 4 km from Igatpuri Railway Station, Camel Valley Viewpoint is a vantage point situated in Igatpuri. Located on Mumbai - Agra National Highway, it is one of the splendid viewpoints in Igatpuri and among the must include places during Igatpuri Tour.

Camel Valley is actually a deep valley and is one of the best kept secrets of the town. Situated near the picturesque Bhatsa River Valley, the valley got its name from the rocky cliff that looks like the head of a camel. From the view point, one can witness the breathtaking panorama of the valley and its surroundings. The major attraction of the valley is the roaring waterfall which cascades down from a height of about 1,000 feet.

Monsoon is the most preferable time to visit Camel Valley as the valley becomes greener and comes alive with many waterfalls. The lush green valley covered in the misty blanket is a sight to behold. It is an ideal place for photographers and nature .....

At a distance of 5 km from Igatpuri Railway Station, Bhatsa River Valley Viewpoint is a beautiful valley viewpoint situated at Igatpuri town in Nashik district of Maharashtra. Located on Mumbai - Nashik Highway, it is one of the popular viewpoints in Igatpuri and among the must visit Igatpuri Tourist Places.

Bhatsa River Valley Viewpoint is situated just ahead of famous Camel Valley Vantage point. This viewpoint offers a panoramic view of Bhatsa River winding through the valley, surrounding plains and hills. The location is a paradise during monsoon and almost every Vehicle heading towards Mumbai from Nasik take a stopover as the valley becomes greener and comes alive with many waterfalls. The lush green valley covered in the misty blanket is a sight to behold. It is an ideal place for photographers and nature lovers.

Situated in the basin of the majestic Bhatsa River at the end of the Thal Ghat, this place is rich in picturesque vegetation and beautiful rock formations. The .....

At a distance of 13.5 km from Igatpuri and 59 km from Nashik, Vihigaon waterfall is a seasonal waterfalls situated at Vihigaon village in Thane district of Maharashtra. This is one of the best natural waterfalls of Maharashtra and also a popular weekend getaway from Mumbai and Nashik.

Vihigaon Falls is a monsoon fed waterfall known for its natural vista. The falls is cascading down from a height of about 120 feet into a pool. Also known as Ashoka Waterfall, the Vihigaon Waterfall is located in deep forest. The waterfall is amazing and the way to waterfall consists of a small hiking through hilly forest and visitors may get a chance of bird watching.

The waterfall is an ideal spot for rappelling. In monsoon, this waterfall gives the adventurers an opportunity to rappel in the middle of the thick forest. The waterfall offers about 120 feet of rappelling height, which is covered in an average of 30 minutes by most people. This perfect adventure weekend getaway can take visitors .....