Trimbakeshwar Temple

Trimbakeshwar is a Shiva temple at the town of Trimbak in Nashik district and one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, the most sacred Shiva shrines in India. The Godavari rises in the Brahmagiri hills above the town, and the link between river and temple is central to its standing as a pilgrimage centre.

According to legend, the sage Gautama did hard penance on Brahmagiri to please Shiva, who in return granted his wish that a holy river should come down from heaven. The Godavari, called the Ganga of the South, is said to have flowed out of the hills as a result. The temple has tall spires, ornate gateways and carvings of gods and goddesses, and pilgrims come here to perform traditional rites and pray for themselves and their families.