Nashik–Trimbakeshwar Simhastha · Places
Naroshankar Temple, Nashik
The Naroshankar temple is a temple of Shiva on the left bank of the Godavari in Panchavati, Nashik, a short way downstream of Ramkund. It was built in 1747 by Naroshankar Raja Bahadur, and is known for its rich stone carving and its large bell.
It is also called the Rameshwar temple, or the bell temple. It is a place of darshan, not a Simhastha bathing centre.
Naroshankar temple at a glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Where | Panchavati, Nashik, on the left bank of the Godavari (1883 Gazetteer); listed among the temples in and around Panchavati (Nashik district) |
| Deity | Shiva; the temple is also called Rameshwar |
| Built | 1747, by Naroshankar Raja Bahadur of Malegaon (1883 Gazetteer) |
| Known for | Its carving, and a large bell dated 1721 |
| In front of it | The Ramgaya kund, where by tradition Rama performed his father’s funeral rites |
| Role in the Simhastha | Not a bathing centre. The bathing centre in Nashik is Ramkund. |
| 2027 works | Development of the temple premises is approved (Kumbh Mela Authority) |
| 2027 arrangements | Not announced |
History of the temple
The 1883 Bombay Gazetteer says the temple was built in 1747 by Naroshankar Raja Bahadur of Malegaon, a noble of the Peshwa period who is also said to have built the fort at Malegaon. He added the flight of steps from the water’s edge to the temple in 1756.
The Gazetteer called it the richest and most highly carved building in Nashik. It is smaller than the Kalaram temple, but more richly decorated, and the Gazetteer counted it among the three Nashik temples of special architectural merit.
The carving and the bell
In 1883, the Gazetteer described the temple standing in the middle of a walled enclosure. It has a porch with the Nandi bull, a domed inner hall, and a west-facing shrine with the linga under a spire. The outer roof is carved with figures of men, monkeys, tigers and elephants, and the main porch has arches with waving edges and many carved niches.
The enclosure wall has small domes at its corners and a fifth dome in the middle of its west side, which holds a large bell dated 1721. The Gazetteer thought the bell probably Portuguese, and said it was believed to have come either from Bassein (Vasai) or from Delhi, with Bassein the more likely. The bell gives the temple its other name, the bell temple.
In the great flood of 1872, the Gazetteer notes, the river rose to the level of the bell.
Ramgaya and the riverfront
In front of the temple is the Ramgaya kund. According to tradition, Rama performed the funeral rites for his father here, which is why the spot is called Ramgaya, the Gazetteer records.
The temple stands near the main crossing of the river in the old city, where the riverbed is paved and dotted with small shrines that go under water in floods. Upstream are the old kunds around Ramkund. See the Godavari ghats beyond Ramkund.
The temple and the Simhastha
There is no Kumbh bath at the temple itself. The Simhastha bathing in Nashik is at Ramkund, on Monday 2 August, Tuesday 31 August and Saturday 11 September 2027, according to the Kumbh Mela Authority’s plan of 15 June 2026. Amrit Snan days usually draw the most pilgrims; follow police and mela instructions on the day.
For the Simhastha, the authority has approved a work to develop the Naroshankar temple premises, and has revised its amount from ₹3.78 crore to ₹3.91 crore. On 3 August 2026, the state’s Cultural Affairs secretary reviewed conservation, restoration and development works at heritage sites including the Naroshankar temple, the Free Press Journal reported.
A sanctioned work is not a finished one. What the work covers, and when it will be done, are not announced.
- Not announced: opening hours and entry on Amrit Snan days
- Not announced: whether the premises work will change access to the temple
- Not announced: which nearby ghats and kunds will be open to the public
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Questions people ask
Who built the Naroshankar temple?
Naroshankar Raja Bahadur of Malegaon, in 1747, according to the 1883 Bombay Gazetteer. He added the steps down to the river in 1756.
What is the Naroshankar bell?
A large bell hung in a dome in the temple’s west wall, dated 1721. The 1883 Gazetteer thought it probably Portuguese and said it was believed to have come from Bassein (Vasai) or from Delhi.
Is there a Kumbh snan at the Naroshankar temple?
No. The Simhastha bathing in Nashik is at Ramkund, on 2 August, 31 August and 11 September 2027. Which nearby ghats will be open on those days is not announced.