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Art & Culture
Nashik is also known in India as a landing city for travelling to Shirdi and Trambakeshwar which hosts one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. It is believed that during ancient times, during transportation, the drops of Amrit fell into the Brahma-Kund at Trambakeshwar. This makes it one of the most popular religious travel destinations of India. Nashik is also known as a transit station for devotees going to Shirdi, residence of Sai Baba (90 Kilometres from Nashik).

Climate
The climate of Nashik is very pleasant. Nashik has three distinct seasons: summer, monsoon and winter. Summers are typically hot with maximum temperatures ranging from 35 to 42 °C. The warmest month in Nashik is generally April as compared to the rest of the Deccan Plateau where it is May. November is normally a very pleasant month. Nashik does not get very hot. Even during the peak of summer, the air is cool and standing under a tree can give respite form the heat. However, as sunlight can be intense leading to skin tan and sun-burn, be sure to carry and use sunscreens (above SPF-30). The nights in Nashik are significantly cooler than most other parts in this region owing to its high altitude. The average rainfall is approx 550 mm. The city often receives local and heavy thundershowers with heavy downpours in June, which brings down the temperature. The rainy season can sometimes be gloomy, with cloud cover for days together. Winters are generally dry and day temperatures can be as low as 24 - 28 °C and temperatures at night as low as 5 - 8 °C.

Literature
Kusumagraj (Vishnu Vāman Shirwādkar) (eminent Marathi poet, playwright, novelist, short story writer, humanist)

Vasant Shankar Kanetkar (Marathi playwright and novelist)

Bahinabai Chaudhary (Marathi poetess)

Music
Vishnu Digambar Paluskar (Hindustani musician)

Pandit Dattatreya Vishnu Paluskar (Hindustani classical vocalist)

Shekhar Ravjiani (Music Director - Lived in Nashik for a couple of years)

Cinema
Dadasaheb Phalke (Father of Indian Cinema - Producer, Director and Screenwriter)

Vinod Khanna (Indian Actor and Producer - Studied at Barnes School in Nashik

Dilip Kumar (Studied at Barnes School in Nashik

Rajiv Patil (Marathi Director)

Arjun Rampal (Indian film actor, producer, model and a television host - Lived in Deolali)

Arshad Warsi (Indian film actor, choreographer and a dancer - Studied at Barnes School in Nashik

Sayali Bhagat (Indian Actress and Femina Miss India World winner - 2004)

Ashwini Kalsekar (Indian Actress)

Lalita Pawar (Indian Actress)

Freedom Fighters
Vinayak Damodar Savarkar (Indian pro-independence activistmn, politician, poet, writer and playwright) Anant Laxman Kanhere (Indian independence fighter)

Madhavrao Limaye (Freedom fighter and journalist)

Krishnaji Gopal Karve (Indian freedom fighter and a revolutionary)

Tatya Tope (Ramachandra Pandurang Tope - Indian Brahmin Maratha leader and an influential general in the Indian Rebellion of 1857) (Born in Yeola, Nashik District)

Govind Hari Deshpande (part of the Civil Disobedience Movement)

Education
Sudhakar Bhalerao (one of the leading science popularizers of Nashik)

Sports
Kavita Raut (Indian long-distance runner)(

Abhishek Raut (Indian cricketer)

Mathematicians
Dattaraya Ramchandra Kaprekar (Indian recreational mathematician)

Major Events

 * 1840 : Sarvajanik Vachanalaya established.
 * 1854 : Sharanpur Colony formed.
 * 1861 : Deolali Cantonment formed.
 * 1862 : Nashik Road railway station was built.
 * 1864 : Nashik Municipality formed
 * 1869 : Nashik district formed.
 * 1894 : Saint Andrew Church built.
 * 1894 : Construction work for Victoria Bridge started
 * 1910 : Police Training School established.
 * 1922 : Distillery started at Nashik Road.
 * 1927 : Security Press formed at Nashik Road.
 * 1941 : Artillery Center migrated to Nashik Road from Quetta in Pakistan.
 * 1964 : Bosch Limited started Diesel Injector plant

The Sinhastha Kumbhamela
By far the most spectacular of all the events, the Kumbh Mela is a religious festival that occurs once every 12 years, and is celebrated in four major pilgrim centres around the country. In Maharastra, the festival is held in Trimbakeshwar, Nashik. The Nashik Kumbh Mela is generally acknowledged to be the most sacred of all the festivals.

Why every 12 years?
Amrut had to be saved from Danavas. So Gods had to hide it at different places - Swargalok, Mrutyulok and Patallok. Gods were on Mrutyulok (earth) for twelve days. Gods twelve days are equal to 12 years for Mrutyulok. Thus Gods were on earth for 12 years with Amrut. Hence every 12 years Kumbha Mela is celebrated at the four places, where a few drops of Amrut had fallen.

Where and when?
Kumbha Mela is a mammoth fair where saints and devotees gather. Kumbha Mela is celebrated at the aforesaid four places depending on the positions of planets and stars.

When Jupiter (Guru) and Sun are in zodiac signLeo(Simha Rashi) it is celebrated in Trimbakeshwar, Nashik. When Sun is in zodiac sign Aries (Mesha Rashi) it is celebrated at Haradwar When Jupiter is in zodiac sign Taurus (Vrishabha Rashi ) and Sun is in zodiac sign Capricorn (Makar Rashi) Kumbha Mela is celebrated at Prayag When Guru and Sun are in zodiac sign scorpio (Vrishchik Rashi) the Mela is celebrated at Ujjain. Recognizing the importance of the Sinhastha Kumbha Mela Shri Shankaracharya appealed the disciples of his Vaidik Dharma to assemble at the time of Sinhastha Kumbha Mela. Following his appeal, till now devotees, pilgrims, and people of various sects and religions gather together for Kumbha Mela.

In Kruta Yuga, Durwas Rishi saw Indra - the King of Gods - sitting on elephant Airawat. Durwas was pleased to see Indra and presented him a chain. However Indra did not accept the present. It fell down and was trodden by elephant Airawat. Durwas Rishi got upset due to this and cursed Indra. As an effect of the curse, all Gods lost their powers and had to often lose a battle against Danavas (Demons). So all Gods including Brahmadeva surrendered themselves to God Vishnu to get back their power. Vishnu suggested them to approach Danavas and persuade them to perform Samudra Manthana (churning of the sea). He said Samudra Manthana will bring out Amruta, which will bring back your power and you will not be efeated by Danavas. So Samudra Manthana was carried out.

One of the many precious things that arose from the depths of the troubled waters was a pot of nectar (Amrit Kumbh). Lord Vishnu, disguising himself as an enchantress ( Mohini), seized the nectar from the demons. While fleeing from the evil ones, Lord Vishnu passed the nectar on to his winged mount, Garuda. The demons finally caught up with Garuda and in the ensuing struggle, a few drops of the precious nectar fell on Allahabad, Nashik, Hardwar and Ujjain. Since then, the Kumbh Mela has been held in all these places, every 12 years.

Another story is that once all the Teerthas went to Adinath Bhagwan Shankara. Following Bhagwan Shankara’s order they had been to Mrutyuloka (earth) to save sinners on earth. Teerthas absolved the sinners on the earth, but were themselves saturated with others’ sins. They requested Bhagwan Shankara to free themselves from sins. Shankara asked them to go and live in solitude for one year at the bank of river Godavari. Shankara promised the Teerthas that he himself, with all other Gods will also stay with them. After taking bath in the sacred water of Godavari, they will be free from the sins.

Hence during the Kumbha Mela a dip in Godavari river has attained a great importance. In Shiva Purana there is a story explaining the importance of Sinhastha Kumbha Mela. Gautama Rishi got salvation of his cow-killing sin from Lord Shankara after a long penance. Then the river Ganges descended down on the earth. After some time she wanted to go back to her home place. However the Rishis and Gods gathered there and requested her to stay back on the earth for the prosperity of the earth. She agreed to stay back only after taking a promise from Lord Shankara that all the Rishis present there and all Gods will stay with her. Then only she will stay back. Gods and Rishis promised her that during the period, when Jupiter and Sun will be in the zodiac sign Leo (Simha Rashi), they will all stay on the earth.

In later years, it is said, acknowledging importance of Kumbha Mela Lord Rama with his Guru Kashyap stayed and lived for one year in Trimbakeshwar. During this period he performed all the religious rites like yatra, shraddha etc. near Kushavarta.

Akhadas
There are different dwelling places for different sects. They are called “Akhada”. The names of these Akhadas are - Shree Niranjani, Shree Junadatta (Bhairav),Shree Mahanirvani, Shree Atal, Shree Avahana, Shree Anand, Shree Pancha Agni, Shree Nathpanthi Gorakhnath, Shree Vaishnav Bairagi, Shree Udasini Panchayati Bada, Shree Udasini Naya, Shree Nirmal Panchayati etc. They have been established at different times and worship their own deity.

Leaders of the different sects have arrived at a consensus to follow a specific sequence for taking bath. E.g. In Haridwar Mela, Niranjani Gosawi will take bath first and then Nirwani Gosawi will bathe. In Trimbakeshwar, first Niranjani Gosawi will take bath and after they leave Kushawarta Teertha, Nirvani Gosawi will take bath. After them the old Udasee sadhu followed by new Udasee Sadhus will take bath.

The Nashik Kumbh Mela is a mammoth affair with over three and a half million people attending it. Thousands of Sadhus and holy men and millions of pilgrims immerse themselves in the holy Ramkund and Kushavarta reservoirs. The peak festival days are August 14 and 25 and September 8 and 20. During the Kumbha Mela, Nashik City and Trimbakeshwar are in a fantastic festive mood. The festive and religious mood makes people get away from their daily chores and experience the spiritual ecstasy.

By bus
Nashik is 180 Kilometres from Mumbai (Bombay). There are frequent buses to Nashik from Dadar in Mumbai. It takes 4 to 5 hours by road. If you are not around Dadar, you can still take buses from Borivali (a key place on Western Railway Line) OR Thane (a key place on Central Railway Line). Also, a suburban railway (CR) to Kasara can be taken from few suburban railway stations beyond Dadar (like Kurla, Thane or even beyond). Once at Kasara, there are loads of connecting buses to Nashik and many other places, along with ample number of share-taxis (INR 50-60 per adult passenger, but with cramped sitting). (Kindly note there is no taxi service available in the late night. You can get held up after reaching Kasara Railway Station till the next morning)

By train
Trains called 'Panchavati Express' and 'Godavari Express' also ply daily between Mumbai and Nashik. Word of caution, Nashik is on Central Railway line and Dadar Station is a sort of junction place for Central Railway and Western Railway, so make sure that you are at right side of the station (that is, East-side for Central Railway). There is also a daily train service between Pune and Nashik. It may be noted that the Railway Station (called "Nasik Road") is about 10 Kilometres away from the main city. However, there are sufficiently frequent services of buses, auto-rickshaws, shared-taxis etc. are available at fairly low fares. You can also go by local from kasara.

By plane
(This service may not be operating)

Kingfisher Red, the country's low-cost airline, started daily flights between Mumbai and Nashik (2 at present- April 2009). These fly from the Chhatrapati Shivaji Domestic Airport (Mumbai) to Nashik Ozar airport (which is about 25 km from Nashik city).

Get around
A rented car is the best option to move around the city. There is also a Nashik Darshan bus every day which shows you around the important tourist attractions in Nashik otherwise regional public transport service is also quite nice. Get the ticket for Nashik Darshan bus a day in advance to avoid inconvenience. Alternately you can take cheap and good auto rikshaws.

By Taxi

 * taxiGUIDE.in (Nashik Car Rental), ☎ +91 888 023 4455 (support@taxiguide.in), [1 ]. Inquiry: 7am to 11pm. Nashik Car Rental services on taxiGUIDE.in - a Chauffeur Driven Car Rental service in 75 Cities in India. Fares start from Rs.1300 for full day local & Rs.8.75/km for Outstation.
 * Clear Car Rental Pvt Ltd (Nashik Car Rental), ☎ +91 888 885 5220 (support@clearcarrental.com), [2 ]. Nashik Car Rental services in nashik Clear Car Rental Pvt Ltd a Chauffeur Driven Car Rental service in 210+ Cities in India.