Nashik, India
Nashik is an ancient city in the northwest region of Maharashtra at India. Nashik is best known for being one of Hindu pilgrimage sites, that of Kumbh Mela which is held every 12 years.
In early 1925, the table grape revolution was started in Ojhar, a small town near Nashik, by Raosaheb Jairam Krishna Gaikwad. Today, table grapes are exported to Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. The average Kharip crop area is 663,200 hectares while the average Rabbi crop area is 136500 hectares. The sown area is 658,763 hectares (99%) and the forest land is 340,000 hectares (21.75%). The uncultivable area is 23,000 hectares.
Nashik has been described as "The Wine Capital of India" by Alok Chandra of Business Standard due to the numerous wineries in the district. As of 2013, the Nashik region reportedly produced 10,000 tonnes of grapes per year. Nashik is home to several wine festivals, such as SulaFest in the harvest season.
The Nashik Municipal Corporation has made it mandatory for new constructions in the city to install a rainwater harvesting system without which a completion certificate is not granted. This measure is expected to help recharge the aquifers and augment the groundwater level.
The city is known for its links to the “Ramayana” epic poem. On the Godavari River is Panchavati, a temple complex. Nearby, Lord Rama was thought to have bathed at Ram Kund water tank, today attended by Hindu devotees. Shri Kalaram Sansthan Mandir is an ancient shrine to Rama, while Rama and Sita are said to have worshipped at Sita Gufaa caves.
Connectivity
Nearest airport is Mumbai or Pune with a distance of 175 km.
Nashik railway station is one of the major stations of the Central Railway. There are a number of trains that connect Nashik to other cities and towns. Nashik is 185 km from Mumbai and can reach through NH-3 via Thane-Kasar-Igatpuri. Nashik is 220 km away from Pune. There are several private luxury video coach and state buses available between Nashik and cities like Pune, Shirdi, Aurangabad and Mumbai. Maharashtra State Transport buses connect Nashik to distant places of Maharashtra. Daily Taxi service is also available between Nashik and Mumbai.