NASIK, TRYMBKESHWAR, SHIRDI TOUR1. NASIK-- Nasik-Road Rly. Station is well connected by trains .we reached there by LUCKNOW LOKMANY-TILAK -TERMINAL SUPERFAST TRAIN on 9-11-2009, 6.45 pm. As we were two families so we use to leave our ladies at the railway station / bus station after giving them tea etc., and then search the hotels. We tried accommodation at MUKTI DHAM TAMPLE (VITCO TAMPLE) which is about one km. from Railway Station but found that their rooms are not well clean, no proper ventilation, at the place of double-bed only cots, but the charges were Rs.250 per room (on 9-11-2009) and the food was Rs.90/- per Thali (where as out side the Temple the cost of food was Rs.35/- per Thali in PANCHALI HOTEL).We stayed at PURVA HOTEL (ph 2461666) which is about 300 meters from NASIK ROAD Rly. station and room charges were Rs.400/- per room, check out 24 hrs.Rooms were comfortable clean with lift facility but no grills in the windows and no facility of extra locks. All the locations are well connected with CBS (central bus station) which is about 11 km. so it is not advisable to stay near by NASIL ROAD RAILWAY STATION. Next day (10-11-2009)We reached bus station close to Rly station and by bus reached CBS within half hour We got NASIK DARSHAN BUS from CBS at about 7.30 am, and left CBS at 8am. for

(i) Baudh vihar & Pandav Leni: we reached there at about 8.40 am. In Baudh vihar there is one gold covered statute of Gautam Budha

And poster presentation of the life of BUDHAPANDAV- LENI (PANDAV-CAVES) are on a HILL which has 240 steps, they gave us only 20 minutes to see and come back, so it was not possible for us to go there.If any one is willing to see PANDAV-CAVES then he should separately go there by auto/taxi.

(ii) SCIENCE MUSIUM: It is good experimental lab to show to law of inertia and some other laws of Physics. This lab is arranged and funded by a single person named P.V.DESHPANDE (0253-2383038, 2391538(R) 9822277814, e-mail

science.for.all@gmail.com, SCIENCE MUSIUM, k-38 MIDC AMBAD, behind HOTEL TAJ NASIK) we met him. NASIK DARSHAN BUS stops here from 9.15 to 10 am daily for others it opens at 10 am and closes at 5 pm. They have good facility to explain the experiments. Entrance fee is Rs.10. The lab is certainly use-full in developing scientific- temperament, it also generates interest in a child of 4 years up-to the man of 85 years. They show; Facts about human body, fun with mathematics, earth quake simulator, weight on different planets, colored shadow, bicycle-wheel acts like a giant gyroscope, kaleidoscope, fun with mirrors, population clock of INDIA, human brain, van-de graph generator, Jacob’s ladder, PRINCIPAL OF MOTER, Periscope, gyroscopic-chair etc., and a DARK TUNNAL with interesting and thrilling journey through it

(iii) KALIKA DEVI MANDIR – we reached there at about 10.20 am, there is MURTI of MAHA-SARASWATI, MAHA-KALI and MAHA-LAKSHMI.(iv) BHAKTI DHAM: we reached there at about 10.40 am(v) PANCH WATI: we reached there at about 10.55 am. There are 5 big banian trees So it is called PANCHWATI as per RAMYANA Ram, Sita and Laxman lived here for 2 years and the incident of SUPNAKHA, SITA HARAN and MARICH BADH happened here.There is SITA-GUPHA, a small CAVE it is said that SITA used to worship in this cave. It is surprising that that presentation of SITA HARAN and MARICH BADH is shown at the same place which in against the RAMAYANA.Near by there is KALARAM TAMPLE in a big campus in which there is black colored stone MURTI of HANUMAN it is said that it was found in GODAVARI-RIVER and inside the temple there is black colored MURTI of SITA, RAM and LAXMAN. Near by in PARN KUTI there is GORA RAM temple also.

(vi) TAPOVAN: there is a LAXMAN temple and near by there is KAPILA-GODAVARI SANGAM (at some distance down words). (vii) MUKTI DHAM; we reached there at about 1.20 noon it is a well maintained big temple having MURTI of RAM, SITA, LAXMAN, DURGA and SHIVA, including all the 12 JYOTIRLINGS. Near by at PACHALI we taken our lunch, food @ Rs.35/- per THALI was also available.(viii) GARUDESHWAR VED MANDIR: there is MURTI of SITA RAM and LAXAMAN an a big SHIV-LING also.(ix) SOMESHWAR MAHADEV: it is on the bank of GODAVARI, boating facility is created by putting barrier on the river. Children-park with TOY TRAIN is also available.(x) SANSKRIT GARDEN RESTORENT: we reached there at about 2.40 pm. It is a restaurant with children -park, toy train and basic facilities.(XI) MONEY MUSIUM: It has collection and good presentation of rare coins, but there was no arrangement of generator so we could not read the posters which were posted to give the details of coins.(2/xii) TRYMBAKESHWAR: It is on the hills in the city of TRYMBAK. It has a JYOTIRLING. Bus conductor told us that you have to come back with in 1 hour. If you observe that line is long then come back and take belongings from the bus and after

DARSHAN come back by any other bus, Buses are plying between TRYMBAK and NASIK round the clock. As it was raining since morning so we got DARSHAN by the small queue within half hour, but at the time of special days it takes 8 hours. In the Mandir there is small pindies of BRAHMA, VISHNU and MAHESH in a small hole of 1 feet diameter, THERFORE IT IS CALLED TRYMBAKESHWAR. For the arrangement of queue there are pipe made long structure..Photography in side the temple is not allowed, so this is the view of main gate of the campus of temple not the main gate of temple.

As there are so many other things to see in TRYMBAK so we decided to stay at

.at trymbak.We got a room at HOTEL SAI YATRI at Trymbak, it is about 300 meters from bus station and 300 meters from TRYMBAKESHWAR MANDIR.(ph 02594-233891, check out 12 noon, they have also hotel sai lodge at NASIK ROAD Ph 9253-2459844 near MUKTI DHAM).As our language was at Nasik Road so we returned to Nasik CBS by NASIK DARSHAN BUS. As there was no arrangement of bus from CBS to NASIK ROAD, we have to take AUTO from CBS to NASIK ROAD and return @ 120/-.And after taking the language we returned to TRYMBAK by bus from CBS @20/-.Now it was 9pm. Food at hotel SAI YATRI was good and cheep and they arranged food without onion and garlic.

Next day (11-11-2009): in the morning we joined the queue for DARSHAN of TRYMBAKESHWAR JYOTIRLING, as it was raining so the queue was small we got DARSHN easily. After doing PARIKRAMA of MANDIR we returned back to the room . After taking breakfast we went to see KUSHAWART.KUSHWART is a holy place for ASTHI-VISHARJAN and PIND-DAN etc. It has one KUND in which pilgrims take holy bath in the outer circle for after death SANSKAARS, inner circle is deep. The inner part is for ASTHI-VISHARJAN in which it is said that ASTHIYA goes in deep water at-once.

There are small temples on the corners of the KUND, one corner has temple similar to TRYMBAKESHWAR. And on the other corner GANGA GODAVARI TEMPLE in which after death SANSKAARS are done. There are so many MURTIES of GODS on the wall around the three sides of the KUND..BRAHAMGIRI. Again we returned back to the room and decided to climb on BRAHAMGIRI.We began climbing at about 9 am, there are 750 steps at the first stage than there are two ways, one goes to GANGA-DWAR TEMPLE which about 200 steps downwards on the other side an other is for BRAHMAGIRI (UDGAM of GODAWARI RIVER) about 240 steps upwards. As it was raining fast and air was blowing with high speed and clouds surrounded us so nothing was clearly visible. Hence we returned back at the room at about 3.30 pm. Small tea shops were on the two places 300 and 600 steps. It is advisable that any one is willing to climb on BRAHMGIRI then he should first not to climb in rains. And secondly begin climbing at the earliest otherwise he will not be able to return back before night and must purchase DANDA, that will help you in climbing, and rain coat / polythene for safety from rains, as there is no shelter.

Next day (12-11-2009): in the morning at 10.30 (buses are available at 6.30, 7.30, 10.30 am directly to SHIRDI and for NASIK buses are available from 5 am) after taking breakfast we moved to SHIRDI by bus which started at 11 am from TRYMBAK.From TRIMBAK to SHIRDI the bus takes 3.30 hours. Via SINNAR (1.00PM), PANGRI (1.30 PM), VABI (1.40 PM), SHIRDI (2.30 PM).

.3 SHIRDIThere are two BHAKT- NIWAS in SHIRDI organized by the trust (SHRI SAIBABA SANSTHAN TRUST, SHIRDI ph 02423-258500,e-mail, saibaba_anr@sancharnet.in ),

one is at the TEMPLE which at the distance of 1 km. to the bus station and it has 200 rooms, other is about ½ km from bus station on the opposite side, it has 500 rooms, one more is under construction whose capacity is of 3000 rooms, adjacent to the second. As there was no possibility of getting the room we moved to the second one. As per availability of the rooms fill the form to get the queue number of the availability of rooms. At about 3.15 pm our number was 279 and it was expected that we will get the room by 9 pm. You may get the room on that day or may not get the room on that day. If you do not get the room then don’t very, deposit (Rs.200/-) security at the counter and take bedding on rent and put your belongings at the clock room @ Rs. 1/- and / locker @Rs10/-.and sleep any where in VARANDAS, CORNER HALLS and also after 11 pm in the dining-hall and also in the open field within the closed and secured campus. Take rest on the chair and space available in the corridor. Latrine baths are also available in the corners. Tea @ Rs. 1/- milk @ Rs. 1.50, coffee @ Rs. 1.50, breakfast (5 POORI, dry fried ANKURIT MOONG DAAL and one sweet) @ Rs. 3, lunch and dinner @ Rs. 6/- is available for every person. I have seen even the local near-by residents also avail this facility. Food quality after 9 pm becomes inferior so take food before 9 pm. It is surprising that they use garlic in the food and breakfast, so we have to take food at a near

by restaurant named SERE PUNJAB, 200 meters towards bus stand. There food was reasonable and as per our order i.e. they arranged the food without onion and garlic.

Campus has homely atmosphere, you can talk anyone play with children, it has shopping centers also. Bus facility is available free of cost from BHAKT-NIWAS to temple.

From 3.20 to 9 pm it was ample time so decided to go SHANI-SINGH-PUR (SIGNAPUR) by van @Rs 80/- for both side and Rs 600/- for full van(the rates were bargain able up-to Rs 450/- for full van @60/- per seat. )We began our journey by 4.15 pm and returned back at 9.20 pm, although it was very fastSo should not have to go there on the same day. Either we should have done DARSHAN of SAI BABA on that day and SHANI MANDIR on the next day or we should have begun our journey from TRIMBAK at 6.30 am. At SHANI MANDIR rates of worship material is also bargain able from 51 to 1051/-, it takes about 1 hour for full process, ladies and the persons with their own clothing can not ride on the CHBUTARA OF SHANI- SHILA but can see each and every thing and every process. Persons willing to worship the GOD SHANI will have to wear yellow cloth available free of cost from the shop you have purchased worship material. When we returned back from the SHANI MANDIR it was about 9.30 pm we could not get the room at BHAKT-NIWAS. As we were not aware of the above mentioned information so we have to arrange room any where else. Although we had taken food in the BHAKT-NIWAS and the dinner on that day (12-11-2009) was with large quantity of water in the DAAL and SABJI (although on the next day the food was tolerable, you can take it thinking as it is a part of PRASAAD, but it was with garlic, so at-least I can not consider it as PRASAAD.). In the near by hotels rooms were available @ 450/- to 1200/-, any how we could arrange room at SAI VARNAPALI HOTEL although it was not good. Next day (13-11-2009):In the morning we went to SAI MANDIR for DARSHAN at 8 am, there was separate queue for senior citizens from gate no.3, we availed this facility. We shifted to BHAKT-NIWAS by 9.30 am. Although the room are free of charge but they charged Rs.150 for sanitation and Rs.12 for hot water (even if you inform that we do not need hot water) per day for 4 persons. The room was allotted for only one day and on the next day on request it was extended for one more day. Next day (14-11-2009): After DARSHAN of SAMDHI MANDIR, DWARIKA MAI, GURUSTHAN, BABA KI CHAWADI, MURTI MANDIR, LENDI BAGH, in the same campus we went to PRASADALAYA where LADDU were on sale in 4 queues as PRASAD.After we went to PANCH-MUKHI-VISHNU-GANIPATI MANDIR, it is about 5km from PRASADALAYA. We went there by auto. Only very few persons use to visit that temple. MATA ANNAPURNESHWARI temple is also in the same campus. We enjoyed a lot and taken rest for our next journey to the following places on 15-11-2009, the details of that journey will be given in next article;

4. AURANGABAD, ELLORA, GHRASRESHWAR, BIBI KA MAKBARA, DAULATABAD FORT, PANCHAKKI5. JALGOAN, AJANTA, UNAPDEV Our reservation was from JALGOAN on 19-11-2009:Although those who have lack of time they can go ELLORA and AJANTA form SHIRDI also, but that will not be comfortable and of detailed observations.