History and Architecture in and around Nashik
English translation of the Kannada article I had written last year for Taranga, the Kannada weekly - Prior to the Kumbh Mela at Nashik: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Come July this year, all roads lead to Nashik , as it is the turn of this ancient city to host the Maha Kumbh Mela again, after a gap of twelve years. The city is already gearing up for its tryst with the devotees, with roads being widened and re-laid all around, while temporary and long term investments are being made with the construction of lodges and guest houses inside the city and on its outskirts. Nashik is one of the four places where the holy Kumbh happens, Haridwar, Prayag and Ujjain being the other three cities. Nashik has had a central role to play in Ramayana too. Rama, exiled for 14 years from Ayodhya, spent most of his time in the forests of Panchavati on the banks of river Godavari. Panchavati today is a part of the city of Nashik. Nashik itself ...