Skip to content
The Godavari ghats at Panchavati, Nashik, with riverside temples and pilgrims at the water
The Godavari at Panchavati, Nashik. Photo: Saket Verma, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Nashik–Trimbakeshwar Simhastha · Places

Panchavati, Nashik: Kalaram Temple, Sita Gufa and the Ramkund Area

KumbhMela.info Editorial TeamChecked on Fri 16 Oct 2026

Panchavati is the old temple quarter of Nashik on the banks of the Godavari. It holds Ramkund, the Kalaram temple and Sita Gufa, a few minutes' walk from each other, and it is where the Simhastha bathing in Nashik takes place.

EvergreenChecked on Fri 16 Oct 2026

Place facts are from the Ministry of Tourism's Incredible India site, Maharashtra Tourism and the Nashik district. The Amrit Snan dates are official, from the Kumbh Mela Authority's plan of 15 June 2026. Arrangements for 2027 in Panchavati, such as road closures and walking routes, are not announced.

According to tradition, Rama, Sita and Lakshmana lived here during their exile. The name is said to come from five banyan trees: pancha means five and vati means banyan.

Panchavati at a glance

  • Where

    Nashik city, on the left bank of the Godavari. Nashik Road station is about 10 km away.1,2

  • Known for

    The Ramayana tradition of Rama's exile. The name is said to come from five banyans: pancha, five, and vati, banyan.3

  • Steps and access

    Not published yet.

  • Nearest official help point

    Not published yet.

  • Kumbh 2027 status

    Ramkund, in Panchavati, is the bathing centre in Nashik: Amrit Snans on 2 August, 31 August and 11 September 2027.4

On a Kumbh day

  • The authority's plan says that beyond the inner parking areas, people will walk to the ghats. Road closures and walking routes in Panchavati for 2027 are not announced.
  • At the first shahi snan of 2015, the processions of the three Vaishnava akharas set out from the Laxminarayan temple in Tapovan and reached Ram Kund, PTI reported.
  • On 24 July 2026, with the Godavari above the danger mark, the Ramkund area was to stay closed for two days, PTI reported.
Sources for these facts (4)
  1. Nashik District, Government of Maharashtra: Panchvati
  2. Department of Tourism, Government of Maharashtra: Kalaram
  3. Incredible India, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India: Panchvati
  4. Nashik–Trimbakeshwar Kumbh Mela Authority, Office of the Divisional Commissioner, Nashik, Government of Maharashtra: Kumbh Mela Plan (First Edition) · Nashik–Trimbakeshwar Simhastha Kumbh Mela 2027 (2026)

Kalaram temple

The Kalaram temple is a temple of Rama, named after its black stone idol of Rama (kala means black). Black stone idols of Sita and Lakshmana stand in the sanctum with him, according to Maharashtra Tourism.

Maharashtra Tourism says Sardar Rangarao Odhekar built the temple of black basalt between 1788 and 1792. According to the temple’s story, he saw in a dream a black idol of Rama lying in the Godavari, and found it there.

In 1930, Dr B. R. Ambedkar led a satyagraha at the temple for the right of Dalits to enter and worship.

The black stone Kalaram Temple in Panchavati, Nashik, under a clear blue skyPhoto: K.Venkataramana, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
The black stone Kalaram temple in Panchavati

What you do here

Pilgrims bathing at Ramkund on the Godavari in Nashik, seen through the arches of a riverside arcadeRamkund from the riverside arcade, Nashik. Photo: Mahi29, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The dip at Ramkund

Ramkund, the Simhastha's bathing centre in Nashik, is in Panchavati, and the old lanes here lead to it.1,2

The black stone Kalaram Temple in Panchavati, Nashik, under a clear blue skyKalaram Temple, Nashik. Photo: K.Venkataramana, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Darshan at Kalaram

The Kalaram temple holds black stone idols of Rama, Sita and Lakshmana, Maharashtra Tourism says.3

Pilgrims queueing at the entrance to Sita Gufa in Panchavati, Nashik, beside a sacred banyan treeSita Gufa, Panchavati. Photo: Omkarwalimbewikitakesnasik, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Sita Gufa

A small cave temple a short walk from Kalaram, believed to be the place from where Ravana took Sita away, Maharashtra Tourism says.3

Kapaleshwar

A temple of Shiva in the Panchavati area, Incredible India notes.2

Sources for these cards (3)
  1. Nashik–Trimbakeshwar Kumbh Mela Authority, Office of the Divisional Commissioner, Nashik, Government of Maharashtra: Kumbh Mela Plan (First Edition) · Nashik–Trimbakeshwar Simhastha Kumbh Mela 2027 (2026)
  2. Incredible India, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India: Panchvati
  3. Department of Tourism, Government of Maharashtra: Kalaram

Sita Gufa, Kapaleshwar and the five banyans

Sita Gufa is a small cave temple a short walk from the Kalaram temple. According to tradition, it is linked with Sita’s time at Panchavati, and Maharashtra Tourism describes it as the place from where Ravana is believed to have taken her away.

Kapaleshwar, a temple of Shiva, is also in the area, according to Incredible India.

The five banyan trees that give Panchavati its name are part of the tradition of the place. The Ramayana links here are a matter of faith and memory, not proof from archaeology. Dress modestly and follow the rules at each temple.

Panchavati during the Simhastha

Ramkund, the Simhastha’s bathing centre in Nashik, is in Panchavati, and the old lanes here lead to it. The Amrit Snans at Ramkund are on Monday 2 August, Tuesday 31 August and Saturday 11 September 2027, according to the Kumbh Mela Authority’s plan.

Expect closed roads and long walks on big days. The plan says that beyond the inner parking areas, people will walk to the ghats. Temple hours and entry on Amrit Snan days are not announced.

The Simhastha falls in the monsoon. When the Godavari runs high, the riverside in Panchavati can be closed: on 24 July 2026 the river crossed the danger mark in Nashik and the Ramkund area was to stay closed for two days, PTI reported.

The Tapovan area, where the 2027 sadhugram is reported to be planned, is a short distance away.

In pictures

Pilgrims bathing at Ramkund on the Godavari in Nashik, seen through the arches of a riverside arcade
Ramkund from the riverside arcade, Nashik. Photo: Mahi29, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The black stone Kalaram Temple in Panchavati, Nashik, under a clear blue sky
Kalaram Temple, Nashik. Photo: K.Venkataramana, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Pilgrims queueing at the entrance to Sita Gufa in Panchavati, Nashik, beside a sacred banyan tree
Sita Gufa, Panchavati. Photo: Omkarwalimbewikitakesnasik, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The yellow arcade building at Ramkund reflected in the Godavari in warm evening light, with people on the far ghat.
Ramkund and its arcade in evening light. Photo: Rohit R Nashik, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The carved stone shikhara of the Naroshankar Temple in Nashik, in warm light
Naroshankar Temple, Nashik. Photo: AnandKatgaonkar, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
A misty morning at Godha Ghat on the Godavari in Nashik, with a stone temple pavilion on the bank
Morning at Godha Ghat, Nashik. Photo: Prashant Kharote, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Where it is

Nashik: Panchavati ghats, Tapovan and arrival pointsGodavari123451 kmN
Nashik: Panchavati ghats, Tapovan and arrival points
  1. 1Ramkund and PanchavatiGhat · This page
  2. 2TapovanPlace
  3. 3Nashik Road railway stationRailway
  4. 4Mela bus standBus
  5. 5Nimani bus stationBus

A guide to where places are, not a route plan. During the mela, roads and ghats open and close by the official plan; follow police and mela directions.

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Some temple locations from Wikidata (CC0). openstreetmap.org/copyright

Nearby

The Godavari at Gandhi Talav in Nashik, with ghats, temples and houses along the far bankNashik's ghatsThe same spot on the mapPilgrims at Ramkund on the Godavari, NashikRamkundThe same spot on the mapThe carved stone shikhara of the Naroshankar Temple in Nashik, in warm lightNaroshankar templeAbout 200 m awayThe black stone Kalaram Temple in Panchavati, Nashik, under a clear blue skyKalaram templeAbout 300 m away

All ghats and placesWhere to stay nearby

Distances are in a straight line between map points, not walking routes.

Where next

How to reachTrains, buses, roads and the last stretch
Where to stayAreas, camps and what to check
First visitA simple order for getting ready
Ghats and placesWhere the bathing happens

Sources

6 sources · checked 16 Oct 2026
  1. Panchvati · Incredible India, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India ·
  2. Kalaram · Department of Tourism, Government of Maharashtra ·
  3. Ramkund Nashik · Nashik District, Government of Maharashtra ·
  4. Culture and Heritage: Simhastha Kumbhamela · Nashik District, Government of Maharashtra ·
  5. Kumbh Mela Plan (First Edition): Nashik–Trimbakeshwar Simhastha Kumbh Mela 2027 · Nashik–Trimbakeshwar Kumbh Mela Authority, Office of the Divisional Commissioner, Nashik, Government of Maharashtra ·
  6. Nashik Rains: Godavari Crosses Danger Mark After Gangapur Dam Release · Press Trust of India (via Deccan Chronicle) ·