Nashik : An Evening In The Old Bazaars

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Nashik is an ancient city with plenty of history, right from the time of Ashoka to the British rule in India. Nashik is also a prominent grape growing region of India and the fertile lands around it provide much of Mumbai and Pune’s  vegetables. It’s also a holy city for the Hindus, since Panchvati is where Lord Rama is supposed to have built his home in exile.

In one of our monsoon drives, we decided to pay Nashik a visit, having heard much about the holy part of the city, the Panchvati. We also wanted to visit Nashik before the millions came for the Kumbh Mela.

A walk through these beautiful old parts of Nashik are completely worth it. We went towards the end of monsoons in 2014, when the river Godavari was flowing with full force and some residual rains remained.

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The approach to Panchvati. This holy part of Nashik is full of ancient and new temples.
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At the Ramkund, Panchvati. There is a traditionof floating small lamps with prayers in the holy waters of the Godavari.
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A holy lamp floats in the Godavari with someone’s prayers.
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Soaking in the spirituality at Ramkund, Nashik.
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A homage to Lord Hanuman, Panchvati, Nashik.
As darkness fell, we decided to move into the bazaars of Nashik.
As darkness fell, we decided to move into the bazaars of Nashik.
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The brightly lit bazaars of Nashik.
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A woman sells peanuts, jaggery etc, traditional snacks, at the bazaar.
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The temple bazaars sell everything you would need for your prayers, from marigold garlands, to vermillion.
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Plenty of barber shops near Panchvati. Is it because so many people have their heads ritually shaved here?
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A ‘head massage’ at one of the salons.
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The narrow lanes of the temple bazaars have more tucked away temples, and plenty of fresh hot goodies to snack on.
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A man in the traditional attire of this region.
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Mannequin heads have a distinctive Indian touch, as opposed to the ones we are used to seeing in city malls.
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These Indian goddess themed mannequins are works of art!
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An old hard ware shop, Nashik.
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A traditional fabric retailer ‘Tatia Cloth Stores’. Before the barrage of ready to wear clothing, these fabric retailers had a brisk business.
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Selling ‘rabri’, an Indian sweet made from super condensed milk.
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The ‘rabri’ sellers often also sell chai, and somehow it always tastes good. Is it because of the condensed milk in it?
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In the narrow bazaars of Nashik, we met this amazing man. A barber by profession, he is also an artist who has not been able to achieve his commercial potential. He sculpts portraits and is sometimes invited by local groups to make idols of Gods. We had a long chat with him, but lost our notes, kept digitally. Another reminder to save precious memories  in analogue.

What else to see: Apart from the holy areas of Panchvati/Ramkund, and Trimbakeshwar and many other temples:

Nashik has a Coin Museum, which contains real and replicas of rare and historical coins from India.

Pandavleni Caves, just before Nashik (if coming from Mumbai), are ancient Buddhist caves full of carvings.

Nashik is India’s grape country, so a visit to the vineyards of Sula Vine, Chateau Indage, Grovers etc is highly recommended.

There are plenty of wildlife regions around Nashik like the Kalsubai-Harishchandragad Wildlife Sanctuary, Nandur Madhyameshwar Bird Sanctuary, Gangapur Grasslands, Ozar Grasslands etc.

[box type=”success” width=”100%” ]How to reach: Nashik is some 4 hours drive from Mumbai and similar from Pune. It doesn’t yet have a functional airport. Where to stay: Nashik has plenty of stay options. We stayed at the Gulmohar Home Stay. [/box]

15 thoughts on “Nashik : An Evening In The Old Bazaars”

    • Thanks Siddhartha! I had just chanced into Nashik, but now want to go again for a longer photo-trip. AFTER the Kumbh Mela.

      Reply

  5. Wow… you captured the essence of Nashik very well – Godavari river where lighting lamps, to the bazaars, yummy food, that sweet and tea that tastes good with your conjecture of it being prepared out of condensed milk… lovely…goodday

    Reply

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