Trimbakeshwar

Trimbakeshwar or Tryambakeswar is a small town situated in the Nasik District of Maharashtra. Trimbakeshwar, the holy abode of Lord Trimbakeshwar or Shiva, is a popular pilgrimage destination located at an altitude of 700 meters above the sea level.

Trimbakeshwar is located on the banks of River Godavari, at the foothills of Brahmagiri ranges of the Western Ghats. The town derived its name from the Trimbakeshwar Shiva Temple, which is one among the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. The presiding deity of Trimbakeshwar Temple, Lord Shiva, embodies three faces that denote Trimurthi – Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. Kushavarta, the source of River Godavari, is also located in Trimbakeshwar. 

The region of Trimbakeshwar has mythological significance as evident from the ancient scriptures. As per legends, Trimbakeshwar was the ‘place of Tri-Sandhya Gayatri’ where Lord Ganesha was born. It is also believed that Trimbakeshwar was the abode of the revered sage Gautama.

Gautama in order to get relieved of the sin of ‘gohatya’ worshipped Lord Shiva at Brahmagiri Mountain for the down-flow of River Ganges. The wish was granted and Goddess Ganges took the form of River Godavari and originated from Kushavarta (Teertharaj) of Brahmagiri Mountain.

The belief goes that ‘shraddha’ ceremony, a death ritual, if performed at Trimbakeshwar, can provide salvation or Moksha to the soul. According to the Ramayana, Lord Rama visited this place and performed ‘shraddha’ ceremony on the waters of River Godavari. 

The River Godavari is split in to three branches from Kushavarta - River Godavari towards the east, River Vaitarna towards the south, and River Pashchim-Ganga towards the west. River Pashchim-Ganga meets River Ahalya nearby Trimbakeshwar Shiva Temple, which is known as Ahalya Sangam.

The town of Trimbakeshwar was developed after the construction of the existing Trimbakeshwar Shiva Temple, by Balaji Bajirao alias Nanasahib Peshawer during 1755 - 1786. Trimbakeshwar is also believed to be the place of the first Nath of Nath Sampradaya and also where Nivrittinath was preached by Guru Gahininath.

Pilgrimage sites like Trimbakeshwar temple, Kushavarta, Brahmagiri, Gangadwar, Bilwa Tirtha, Gautam Tirtha, Indra Tirtha and Ahilya Sangam tirtha can be visited in Trimbakeshwar.  Ashta tirtha yatra and Pancha tirtha yatra are also offered here, which are believed to provide ‘moksha’ to the soul and union with God.

Trimbakeshwar town can easily be reached by road from Nasik, which is 28 km away. Nasik is well connected to the rest of the country by air, rail and road. Trimbakeshwar is best visited between October and March.