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| ?Nasik Maharashtra • India |
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| Coordinates: | |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| Area • Elevation |
264.23 km² (102 sq mi) • 1,001 m (3,284 ft) |
| District(s) | Nasik |
| Population • Density |
1,364,000 (2005[update]) • 5,162 /km² (13,370 /sq mi) |
| Mayor | Vinayak Pande (2007) |
| Codes • Telephone • Vehicle |
• +0253 • MH 15 |
Coordinates: Nashik (Marathi: नाशिक) (pronunciation ) or Nasik (Marathi: नासिक) is a city in India's Maharashtra state. Nashik is in the northwest of Maharashtra state, 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]
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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 Lord 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 is a popular religious destination within the city limits, today.
The most important Historical significance is that Kumbh Mela, is conducted at Nashik, every once in twelve years, out of 4 places in India.
The famous Infant Jesus Shrine is located at Nashik Road and hosts an annual Infant Jesus Festival..[1]
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.
In the recent past, the Moguls were fascinated by the beauty of the city and renamed it as "Gulshanabad" meaning the city of gardens. Beautiful fresh flowers were sent to Aurangazeb from Gulshanabad i.e. Nashik. But it was during the rule of the Peshwas, when the place was finally renamed as Nashik. During the Peshwas period, Raghobadada and his wife Anandibai settled down at 'Anandwalli' in Nashik. There re some remains of Anandibai's fort. There is also a temple called 'Navasha Ganapati' built by Anandibai. It was during the British rule in April 1818, when Nashik once again regained its importance. The British fell in love with the beauty of the city and developed it in various fields. The Golf course, developed by the British, was one of the largest in Asia. Nashik is surrounded by nine hills, namely: Durga, Ganesh, Chitraghanta, Pandav, DingerAli, Mhasarul, Jogwada, Pathanpura and Konkani. This beautiful city with hills surrounding it has lakes, adding to its beauty.
In 1869 the region came to enjoy unbroken peace. In 1869, Nashik was made a full-fledged district with its present talukas. With the return of peace Nashik flourished into prosperity. Reasons, political, religious, as well as commercial led to its rapid development. With the construction of the railway, going from Bombay to north-east, from very near the city, religious minded devotees came to be attracted to The town in ever increasing numbers where they made their purchases of various artistic & useful articles. This made Nashik a great trade centre where artisans skilled in manufacturing utensils & smiths excelling in workmanship in silver & gold crowded to ply their trade. Already Nashik was a highly flourishing town even under later Maratha rule & some time during that period the sow car families like barves, Vaishampayans & Gadres of the locality started their financial activity. Under Maratha rule they advanced sums to finance military campaigns of feudal Sardars & in their later times their Pedhi?s gradually began to finance the flourishing trade in metalware & fabrics as well as grapes & onions.21st December 1909. Anant Kanhere shot the collector Jackson in Vijayanand theater. The murder of Jackson challenged the British Rule. The people involved in the incidence, Anant LaxmanKanhere, Krishnaji Gopal Karve and Vinayak Ramchandra Deshpande were sentenced to death. It wasduring this time that 'Abhinav Bharat ' was formed. The young Nashikites were influenced by the speech of Lokmanya Tilak given on the 26th of August 1906. Veer Savarkar successfully organised underground movement against the rulers. The revolutionary activities at Nashik however continued. Although elaborately planned & very cautiously carried out they came to be suddenly interrupted on account of the hot-headed, intemperate & hasty on the part of a group of young men from Aurangabad, who involved some of the weaker members of the Mitra-Mela in their plan. Of these hot-headed persons one Anant Kanhere came to Nashik & on the night of 21st December 1909 suddenly fired at Mr. Jackson, the collector of Nashik when the latter had gone to see a drama 'Sharada' stagd by Kirlosker Natak Mandali in the local Vijayanand theater. The collector died on the spot. This set a whole chain of government inquiry into vigorous activity, the result of which was that all those connected with underground activities in the name of Mitra-Mela, including Savarkar, who at that time had been in India came to be arrested, tried & sentenced to severe punishments. The embers of revolution flared , in those days, into Marathi songs full of patriotic fervour written by various writers, prominent among whom was G.T. Darekar popularly called 'Govind Kavi' whose poems such as 'Who could ever win freedom without fight ?' or addressing his prayer to God Rama & saying 'When, O Rama, wilt thou be pleased to satisfy our burning desire for freedom,
"If Italy be free, why not India ?
If Ireland be free, why not India ?
If America be free, why not India ?"
The tempo in singing such songs in congregation used to enliven the audience & strengthen their determination to face the struggle. Subsequently government banned all such songs & suppressed all undrground activities with a heavy hand. The government had become very sensitive & even an utterance here or there or a display of an objectionable picture led to extreme government action. A few examples would suffice. Shri Khare, a pleader in Nashik , was accused to havesaid the following a few days before the murder of Mr.Jackson : "Today 4 crores of people rule over 33 crores & they have destroyed Indian industries ." . "It is the businessof the white to ruin us black people". "Europeans are like the demon ghost Putana, who was fair outside but poisonous within". " The time for action has come. How many of you ae ready to go to jail or to die?" & the like. Shri Khare was asked to submit a personal bond failing which the High Court recommended that his sanad should be suspended till such time that the order to furnish security continues in force Another interesting case was that of Shridhar Waman Nagarkar of Nashik who was sentenced to three years' rigorous imprisonment for drawing & publishing a picture containing a mythological representation of the slaying of demon Mahish by the Goddess Durga, framed with portrails of certain persons, notorious for sedition. The government took the view that the picture is likely to excite disaffection towards His Majesty or the government established by law in British India. Similar was the case against Devising Mohansing & Shankar Gir Hanumantgir of Nashik for publishing a seditious picture under the title ?Rashtra Purusha?. The former was sentenced to three years? rigorous imprisonment. Given below are the details of Jackson murder case that resulted in the subsequent unrest & discontent:-
Some of the major events in history of Nashik are-
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