Nashik

The city sits in northwestern Maharashtra on the Godavari at 660 meters elevation, nestled between the foothills of the Western Ghats. It spreads across several districts with temple precincts, commercial zones, and neighborhoods extending along the riverbanks.

The settlement grew from the 1st century as a religious site with cave temples and pilgrimage stops along the river. From the 1950s onward, it transformed into a center for textiles, sugar processing, and oil extraction.

Pilgrims fill the streets during religious festivals, bathing in the ghats along the Godavari and visiting temples across town. Vineyards in the surrounding area draw visitors to tasting rooms where local vintners present their production.

The place works as a starting point for excursions to the surrounding wine regions and to the temples along the Godavari. Public transport connects the main districts, while many religious sites are within walking distance.

One of the few banknote printing facilities in India operates here, producing all paper currency for the national financial system. Visitors see the secured installations from the outside, though no public access to the interior is available.