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Nashik

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Nashik
Nasik
Map
Government
 • MayorVinayak Pande (2007)
Population
 (2005)
 • Total1,364,000

Nashik (Marathi: नािशक) (pronunciationⓘ) or Nasik (Marathi: नािसक) is a city in India's Maharashtra state. Nashik is in the northwest of Maharashtra, 180 km from Mumbai and 220 km from Pune. Nashik is the administrative headquarters of Nashik District and Nashik Division. The "Wine Capital of India", or the "Grape City", as it is popularly known in recent times, is located in the Western Ghats, on the western edge of the Deccan peninsula on the banks of the Godavari River. The city is known for its picturesque surroundings and pleasant climate. The Godavari River flows through Nashik from its source, which lies to the southwest of the city, in Trimbakeshwar. It is a rapidly developing city with a population close to 1.4 million (2006 est).[citation needed]

Nashik in History

Nasik is also important mythologically, historically, socially and culturally. Known for the temples on the banks of the Godavari, it has historically been one of the holy sites of the Hindu religion. It is one of the four cities that hosts the massive Sinhastha Kumbh Mela once every twelve years.

Legend dictates that the name "Nasik" is derived from the Hindu epic Ramayana. During the exile of Raam, Shoorpanakha the sister of the demon king Raavan tried to seduce Raam. Angered, Raam ordered Lakshman to cut off Shoorpanakha's nose (nasika/naak). According to the Raamayan, Sita was abducted by Raavan from the area called Panchavati in the Western Ghats. It's a popular religious destination within the city limits, today.

File:Rama, Lakshmana, Sita.jpg
Raam,Lakshman, Seeta at a Nashik Temple.

The most important Historical significance is that Kumbh Mela, is conducted at Nashik ,every once in twelve years,out of 4 places in India.

Nashik also host's An Annual St.Infant Jesus Festival . 

The most striking historical structure in Nashik is the Trirashmi Caves also known as the Paandav Caves. These were originally vihaars of Buddhist monks carved in stone in the mountain. There are extensive writings in Brahmi script that show that the township of Nashik supported Bhikkhu Sangha from about a century BC to about sixth century AD. One huge cave is a donation of Gautamiputra Saatkarni, the most famous king of Saatkarni dynasty. Another one is made by a Greek (Yavan) father and son who had apparently become monks.

Nashik was known earlier as Trikantak and then Padmanagar (City of lotuses). During Mughal times, Nasik was renamed to Gulshanabad or the city of roses - may be it was translation of Padmanagar. It is currently known for grapes and the revived rose farming it was once famous for.

Nashik today

Modern efforts are on to promote the growth of an export-oriented rose farming and wine industry in the district. Nashik is also deemed "the third most industrialised city of Maharashtra after Mumbai and Pune", mainly due to extensive industrial development in recent times. It is home to an important thermal power plant (Eklahare) and a National Treasury Printing Press (India Security Press at Nashik Road). There are five "Industrial Zones" in the Nashik area and its outskirts (Satpur, Ambad, Sinnar, Igatpuri and Dindori). Nashik has a number of sugar mills. It is also chief exporter of white onion and Pomegranates

Many renowned Indian and MNC firms have big establishments in Nashik. The few names are Mahindra and Mahindra, Robert Bosch Group, Thyssen Krupp, Samosonite, CEAT, Atlas Copco, L&T, HLL, Cable Corporation of India, Siemens, Crompton Greaves, Caprihans, ABB, VIP Luggage, Jindal Steel, Crompton Greaves, Perfect Circle, Garware, Kirloskar Oil Engines, Gabriel, IBP etc.

Nashik is also emerging as a BPO/IT destination and is in list of the selected Tier II cities for BPO/IT companies. Recently V-TECH has been completed, companies like WNS has is office in Nashik.

Nashik is also the educational hub of northwestern Maharashtra. Many major colleges like K.K.Wagh Institute of Engineering education & Research,Sir Visvesvaraya Memorial COE Chincholi and MET College of Engineering, METcollege of polytechnic, dot the city. The KTHM College of Architecture is supposed to be one of the best Architectural colleges in Maharashtra, Mahatma Gandhi Vidhyamandir's L.V.H. College, HPT Arts and RYK Science are among the oldest colleges in Nashik. Lately, there have been several newer colleges.

Gangapur Road, College Road and Trimbak Road form the lifelines of the suburbs.

For many though, Nasik is just a pit-stop en route to Shirdi or Trimbakeshwar. But if one decides to stop and look around the city and its outskirts, there's plenty to see. The Gangapur Dam is a beautiful site. The Dudhsagar fall near the village of Gangapur is worth a look in the rains. Gangapur village, a few kilometers away is a Stone Age site. On the road to Trimbakeshwar is the state's only Museum of Numismatics (study of coins).Pandav Caves the 4th Century BC cave of Buddhist origin, a Bird Santury "Nandur-madhyameshwar" popularly know as "Bharatpur of Maharashtra" which was started in 1950's is little away from the city, but is a mesmerizing place for nature(bird)lovers

Apart from the private industry,Nashik was very,popular even during the times of British Rule.There are many many structure of the Raj Days,across Nashik city,and there are a lot of Anglo Indians families,who have settled in Nashik-Road.

The most famous Government Offices at Nashik

The Security Printing Press at Nashik Road, The Postal printing Press at Gandhi Nagar, The Artilery Centre .(Asias largest Military Base),as well as Deolali Contonment. Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd Ojhar. Airforce Station.Ojhar.

Climate

Extremes: max 44.8 °C (108.3 °F) on May 12, 1960, at Nasik. The lowest, also at Nasik, was 0.6 °C (33.1 °F) on January 7, 1945. [1]

Demographics

As of 2001 India census[1], Nashik had a population of 1,076,967. Males constitute 54% of the population and females 46%. Nashik has an average literacy rate of 74%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 80%, and female literacy is 66%. In Nashik, 14% of the population is under 6 years of age.


Personalities

Some of the famous personalities from Nashik. Kusumagraj or V. V. Shirwadkar who was honoured by one of the highest awards in Indian literature, the "Gyanpeeth" (a.k.a "Dnyaan-peeth") for his overall contribution to Marathi literature. Dadasaheb Phalke - the pioneer of Indian Cinema and of Bollywood who made the first ever Indian movie. Pandit D. V. Paluskar - noted personality from Indian classical music. Bhagur near Nashik is the birth place of Swatantryaveer Vinayak Damodar Savarkar popularly known as " Veer Savarkar " one of the freedom fighter during Indian freedom struggle.

References

  1. ^ Template:GR


Template:Hindu Holy Cities in India Template:Million plus cities in India

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