NASHIK - TRIMBAKESHWAR

TRAVELOGUE TO NASHIK

After having a lip smacking south Indian fare of Dosa and Idlis we embarked on the Nashik leg of our travelogue. Nashik situated on either side on the banks of Godavari is a spiritual Dham for most Hindu devotees. It is on must vist list for everyone who visits Shirdi for the first time. Nashik lies about 80 Kms from Shirdi on very well paved metalled black top roads and one can travel faster than 100Kmph without any kind of worry.

MUKTI DHAM

Our first padaav was Mukti Dham, a marbled superstructure of a temple. It houses the divity of Lord Krishna and Goddess Radha. Interior is spacious and well ventilated. The stationed traffic police was a bribe hungry man and tried to intimidate our driver to pay him a bribe.So travellers beware,avoid falling into the trap as the car parking is free.

The Temple complex houses a couple of well maintained shops selling dried grapes and other snacks as well. The whole temple is unremarkable and quite small by standards but very peaceful. Worthy of a visit.

ENROUTE TO TRIMBAKESHWAR

From mukti Dham we proceeded to Trimbakeshawar , another one jyotrling that dots the entire landscape of india. The roads are very good in shape and are dotted on either side by wild Cosmos flowers which render it beautiful. I stopped to click a few of these and was very pleasantly surprised of them to have come on so well.

Trimbakeshwar is surrounded by beautiful valleys, wherein emerges the holy river of Godavari. One can read atlength all about the place from the internet but for a first time traveler a few things if taken a little heed may save a lot of trouble and money. Trimbakeswar can ve visited on shared vehicles,taxis etc but the most preferred way is hiring one’s own taxi.

• COIN MUSEUM

10 kms into our travelogue from Mukti Dham we halted  by the Coin Museum. Entry fees is Rs 5/person. Its quite modern and houses replicas and original coins from various periods of India and abroad.

 It is certainly a worthy visit and can be planned to spend a few moments of solitude enroute to returning from Trimbakeshawar.

• ANJNERI  

Anjneri is the next attraction after coin museum enroute to Trimbakeshwar. They say Lord Hanuman was born at this place but it isn't so. The temple houses a huge idol of Lord Hanuman in meditative cross legged posture.

Photography is allowed with a few representatives of a trust sitting on desks to the left of the main entrance collecting donations for a new enhanced temple in addition to the existing infrastructure. The entire temple complex is situated on a hillock from which the vast area that sprawls below it, can be surveyed to reveal a lovely countryside.

  Do spend a few moments before finally embarking the final of your travelogue to the Jyotrling.

• TRIMBAKESHWAR: After revving up the engines the hungry tyres again kissed the beautifully laid metaled road slowly gaining elevation with each passing mile. The remaining journey was scenic with green verdant hills overlooking the entire landscape. Somewhere close to Trimbakeshawar ,noticed this abandoned temple , cordoned off to the public. 

 

The parking space was crowded and had absolutely no idea where the temple was located. We just followed the crowd and not long we had a glimpse of this ancient temple for which we had embarked on a rather long sojourn.

The way to the temple was awash with cute souvenirs strewn on a piece of cloth on either side of this busy thoroughfare.

The temple compound is littered with shops with the main entrance to the temple guarded by uniformed policemen. The entrance into the temple premises is a frisking affair and one cant take one's mobile or any photographic equipment inside, its prohibited. Similarly, one's shoes are also prohibited. So fellow travellers do take note of this and plan accordingly.
However, before depositing my cam in a cloak room , I fell for these lovely flowers.

Proceeding in a long queqe , entered with a joyous heart to have a darshan of Lord Shiva and little did I knew and wasnt prepared what was yet to come. The queuq to the temple was like no other I have witnessed before. It was a tortous hell. One had to travel in a never ending zigzag serpentine queue that stretched till eternity. It took 95min after I entered into the temple to have a darshan. So travellers beware, do empty your bladders and your bowels before entering for the darshan.
Once inside, it was rush and was pushed away without being able to behold for a second the sight of the Lord. Even before recovering from this bewildering mad mad rush I was standing outside the temple, in the courtyard.

Taking a last click before leaving , I contemplated the meaning of it all, to have come here from so far away.

I'm not a religious person but often find intriguing to visit religious places. Having traveled the length & breath of my amazing country , Trimbakeshwar is unique in many considerations.  The architecture of the temple is a eye-catching with sloping parallelepiped structure and constructed of an unique stone,perhaps endemic to the area.
They say there are 12 jyotrlings in India, well certainly it is the most scenic of them all.

Au Revoir!