Panchavati & Ramkund

Why visit Panchavati & Ramkund

Panchavati is where Nashik stops being a modern city and becomes an old one. The lanes are narrow, the temples are close together, and the river is never far away. It is the densest, most atmospheric part of Nashik and the easiest place to spend a morning simply walking.

Ramkund itself is a working ghat rather than a monument. People come to bathe, to perform rites for the dead, and simply to sit. Visiting means joining that rather than observing it from outside, which is worth knowing before you arrive.

Things to see and do

Ramkund is the anchor, and the temples of Panchavati sit within easy walking distance of it. The area is also the best eating in the city — our food guide to the area covers what to look for.

History and significance

Panchavati is associated in the Ramayana with the years Rama spent in exile, and that association is what has drawn pilgrims here for centuries. Ramkund is the primary bathing point on the Nashik side of the Simhastha Kumbh Mela, which makes this quarter the focus of the city's Mela arrangements.

How to reach Panchavati & Ramkund

Panchavati & Ramkund is in Nashik district, Maharashtra. Nashik itself is reachable by train, bus, road and air, and our how to reach Nashik guide sets out the options from Mumbai, Pune and Delhi.

Best time to visit

Nashik's year divides fairly clearly into the monsoon, the cool months that follow it, and a hot stretch before the rains return. Our month-by-month guide to Nashik covers how that plays out across the district.

Travel tips

• Panchavati is best walked. The lanes are narrow and vehicle access near the ghat is limited, particularly during festivals.
• Ramkund is a place of active worship and of funeral rites. Photography is not always welcome — read the situation, and ask before pointing a camera at anyone.
• Mornings are the most active and the most interesting time at the ghat.

Nearby attractions

Related guides

Frequently asked questions