Located to the north of
Nasik, Panchavati is a sacred place in
Nasik District of
Maharashtra. Panchavati has five ancient banyan (vad) trees – hence the name.
Situated on the left bank of the Godavari River, Panchavati abounds in temples, some of them more than two hundred years old. According to legends, it is the place where Lord Ram along with his consort Sita and brother Lakshman stayed during his exile from Ayodhya. It is also believed that the demon king Ravana kidnapped Sita from here. Besides, the underground caves, where Sita spent her private hours, can be spotted here.
Ramkund, Sita Gumpha, Naroshankar Temple and Kalaram Temple are some of the landmarks in Panchavati. Thousands of devotees assemble here on the occasion of a religious fair known as Sinhastha, which is celebrated once in 12 years.
