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?Nasik Maharashtra • India
Nasik
Coordinates: 20°01′N 73°30′E / 20.02, 73.5
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
Area • Elevation	295.13 km² (114 sq mi) • 569 m (1,867 ft)
District(s)	Nasik
Population • Density	1,364,000 (2005) • 4,622/km² (11,971/sq mi)
Mayor	Vinayak Pande (2007)
Codes • Telephone • Vehicle	• +0253 • MH 15

Coordinates: 20°01′N 73°30′E / 20.02, 73.5 Nashik (Marathi: नाशिक) (pronunciation (help·info)) or Nasik (Marathi: नासिक) is a city in India's Maharashtra state. Nashik is in the northwest of Maharashtra, 180 km from Mumbai (Bombay) 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, 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]}

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 Rama, Shoorpanakha the sister of the demon king Ravana tried to seduce Rama. Angered, Rama ordered Lakshmana to cut off Shoorpanakha's nose (nasika/nak). According to the Ramayana, Sita was abducted by Ravana from the area called Panchavati in the Western Ghats. It's a popular religious destination within the city limits, today.

The most striking historical structure in Nashik is the Trirashmi Caves also known as the Pandav Caves. These were originally viharas 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 Shatkarni, the most famous king of Shatkarni dynasty. Another one is made by a Greek (Yavan) father and son who had apparently become monks.

During Mughal times, Nasik was known as Gulshanabad or the city of roses. It is currently known for grapes and the revived rose farming it was once famous for. 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). 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.

Nasik is also emegerging 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.

Nasik is also the educational hub of northwestern Maharashtra. Many major colleges like K.K.Wagh College of Engineering,Sir Visvesvaraya Memorial COE Chincholi and MET College of Engineering dot the city. The KTHM College of Architecture is supposed to be one of the best Architectural colleges in Maharashtra. 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).

Nasik has an artillery center at Devlali, and the MIG-21 series fighter jet are manufactured at H.A.L in Ojhar.

On Sunday all the shops are open in an area called 'Ravivar Karanja'. Things are available cheap there.Nashik also has major shopping centres.

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]

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.

• Nashik travel guide from Wikitravel
• Official Website of Nashik
• Nashik City
• Overview of Nashik on Wikimapia
• Nasik district Gazetteers

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