Trimbakeshwar

Kaal Sarp Pooja
The Kaal Sarp Pooja is performed for those who face difficulties due to cosmic positions between Rahu and Ketu. Some types of Kaal Surps are Ananta Kaalsarpa, Kulik Kaalsarpa, Shankhapaal Kaalsarpa, Vasuki Kaalsarpa, Maha Padma Kaalsarpa and the Takshak Kaalsarpa Yog.
Milk, ghee, honey, sugar and other such items are offered to the Lord during the ceremony which focuses on the Naag or Cobra worship. 

Narayan Nagbali Pooja
Trimbakeshwar temple is famous for the Narayan Nagbali Pooja which is performed in the belief of negating ancestral curses on the family, or what locals call; Pitru-Dosh. This event is also said to gain forgiveness from Naag or the Cobra.

Tripindi Shradha Pooja
The purpose of this pooja is to pray for the departed souls. This ceremony is believed to wash away gau hatya dosha and hurdles in childbirth, bad luck.

The Mahamrityunjaya Pooja
This pooja is performed for a long and healthy life between 5:00 AM to 9:00 AM.

The Rudrabhishek
The Rudraabhishek is performed with the Panchamrit which consist of milk, ghee, honey, curd and sugar. Several Mantras and Shlokas are recited during the pooja which is carried out between 5:00 AM and 9:00 AM.

The Laghu Rudrabhishek
This Abhishek is believed to resolve health and wealth issues. It is also said to fix cosmic disinclinations.

The Maha Rudrabhishek
In this pooja, recitations of Rigveda, Samveda, Yajurveda and Atharva Veda are carried out in the temple.

Some of the celebrations at Trimbakeshwar Temple include:

The Kumbh Mela
The Kumbh Mela is one of the largest religious gatherings in the world. Held once every 12 years, this festival attracts millions of pilgrims who gather to take a holy dip in the Godavari. The most recent Kumbh Mela was held in 2015.

Mahashivaratri
Held in February or March, Mahashivratri is said to be a special day as devotees believe that it was this night that Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati vowed the holy matrimonial unity. The tradition even till today carries on with devotees fasting and singing praises throughout the day and night.

Tripuri Purnima
Also known as Karthika Purnima, Tripuri Purnima is observed in November or December, which is marked as the season of Karthika by Hindu believers. It is also known as the Festival of Lights of the Gods. The legend behind this celebration is the victory of Lord Shiva over the demon, Tripurasura and his three cities. 

Rath Poornima
Held in January-February, Rath Poornima is a festival where the five-faced idol or the Panchamukhi Idol of Lord Trimbakeshwar is paraded in a chariot throughout the town. This chariot is known as rath by the locals.

October to March is the best time to visit the Trimbakeshwar Temple. Since this is also a peak season, prices are sure to hike up and the temple would be crowded as well. However, monsoons (July to September) are the ideal time for budget-travellers.

It is advisable to visit the temple before 10 AM as it tends to crowd up after. The deity procession is carried out every Monday between 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM.

There are different legends associated with the history of this revered temple.

The Legend of Gautam Rishi and Lord Shiva
Believed to be the land of mystics or rishis, Trimbak is also said to have been the residence of Gautam Rishi and his wife, Ahilya. When the place was struck with a massive drought, the mystic prayed to the God of the waters; Lord Varuna to have mercy and provide the land with its water resources. Upon answered prayers, Lord Varuna blessed Trimbak with abundant water.

This incident caused many other mystics to envy Gautam Rishi, and thus the former prayed to Lord Ganesha to send a cow to destroy Gautam Rishi's field which was rich with crops, which inexplicably died. Worrying the death of the innocent cow was on his hands, Gautam Rishi pleaded to Lord Shiva to forgive him.

Pleased with their prayers, Lord Shiva ordered river Ganga to come down on earth, which flowed down from the Brahmagiri Hill. Gautam Rishi saved some of Ganga's precious waters in a vessel known as the Kushavarta Kund, which is now recognised as a sacred bath. In return, Gautam Rishi requested Lord Shiva to reside amongst them. Accepting his request, Lord Shiva manifested himself as a Linga to live there.

The Quest to Find the End of the Infinite Pillar of Light
According to another story, a prolonged quest set up by Lord Shiva for Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu to find the other end of the pillar of light set up by Shiva. Brahma lied to have found it, which was rather an infinite column of fire, where Shiva waited on the other side. Upon grasping Brahma's lie, Lord Shiva cursed Brahma to never be worshipped or revered which further infuriated the latter, thus slamming Lord Shiva with another curse. To defend himself, Shiva hid beneath the ground, where a lingam is now found at Trimbakeshwar.

Built in the18th century, the Nagara-styled Trimbakeshwar Temple is constructed in black stone. Housing a spacious courtyard, the temple also has an elevated platform known as the Shikhara which has a stone plate carved in the form of a lotus. Within the walls of the temple lies a sacred section which guards the temple deity; the garbhagriha. It is the innermost part of any temple.

The garbagriha has a hall also known as mandap in front of it. This hall has three entrances. The pillars of the temple are engraved with designs of flowers, Hindu deities, humans and animals. Although simple, the architecture of the Trimbakeshwar Temple is quite intricate and well-put-together. The temple also has a mirror is placed at a height in the alter, through which devotees can view the deity's reflection.

1. If you wish to participate in the temple ceremonies for free, you can consult the pandits available outside the temple.
2. Since Trimbakeshwar temple is quite crowded most of the time, it is advisable to keep your belongings safe.

Trimbak is a small town, it has no railway station or an airport. However, reaching the temple would be a combination of modes of transport.

Via Flights
The nearest airport to Trimbak is Nashik Airport also known as Ozar Airport. It is approximately 30 kms from the Trimbakeshwar Temple, which can be covered via bus or taxi.

Via Trains
The closest railway station to the Temple is in Nashik as well; the Nashik Road Railway Station. The station is approximately 36 kms from the temple. There are quite a few trains plying to the Nashik railway station. Travellers can board trains from junctions such as Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Pune.
Visitors can either take an auto or a taxi from the Nashik Railway station to the temple, which would cost about INR 700

Via Road
Trimbak has well-connected roadways with Mumbai. You could either take a 2.5-hour-long drive down to Trimbakeshwar Temple from Mumbai or even board a public bus from Nashik. Taxis are also available from Mumbai to Trimbak. A bus journey to Trimbak from the Mahim Bus Station in Mumbai would be approximately 7 hours.