Naroshankar Rameshwar Temple
Nashik, Maharashtra · temple
- Days OpenOpen daily
- Entry FeeFree Entry
Rising from the sacred left bank of the Godavari at Panchavati, just downstream of the ever-busy Ramkund, the Naroshankar Rameshwar Temple is one of Nashik's most photographed pieces of Maratha-era craftsmanship. It was built in 1747 by Naroshankar Rajebahadur, a sardar in the Peshwa establishment, and the shrine is dedicated to Shiva in his Rameshwar form. What sets it apart from the dozens of riverside temples clustered around the ghats is its architecture: it is a fine surviving example of the so-called Maya style, a decorative Maratha idiom in which a compact black-stone sanctum is set on a broad, richly moulded plinth and crowned by a tapering, ornament-encrusted spire. Every surface seems to be carved — floral bands, miniature figures, arched niches and dentilled cornices ripple across the stone, and the whole ensemble is enclosed by a low compound that doubles as a viewing terrace over the river.
Where to Eat Nearby
- ✦Pure-veg Maharashtrian thali houses and small bhojanalayas along the Panchavati and Ramkund lanes
- ✦Poha, sabudana khichdi and misal stalls around Panchavati (ask for the pure-veg or Jain plate)
- ✦Prasad and sweet shops near Ramkund serving vegetarian snacks and mithai
About
Rising from the sacred left bank of the Godavari at Panchavati, just downstream of the ever-busy Ramkund, the Naroshankar Rameshwar Temple is one of Nashik's most photographed pieces of Maratha-era craftsmanship.
- It was built in 1747 by Naroshankar Rajebahadur, a sardar in the Peshwa establishment, and the shrine is dedicated to Shiva in his Rameshwar form.
- What sets it apart from the dozens of riverside temples clustered around the ghats is its architecture: it is a fine surviving example of the so-called Maya style, a decorative Maratha idiom in which a compact black-stone sanctum is set on a broad, richly moulded plinth and crowned by a tapering, ornament-encrusted spire.
- Every surface seems to be carved — floral bands, miniature figures, arched niches and dentilled cornices ripple across the stone, and the whole ensemble is enclosed by a low compound that doubles as a viewing terrace over the river.
- The temple's other claim to fame stands just outside it: the massive Naroshankar bell, or Naroshankar ghanta, housed in its own small pillared pavilion.
- By tradition the bell reached Nashik after the Maratha victory over the Portuguese at Vasai (Bassein) in 1739, and it gave both the temple and this stretch of riverbank a lasting nickname.
- Visitors come as much to see the bell as the shrine.
- Because it sits within the Panchavati precinct — the landscape woven through the Ramayana and the heart of Nashik's Simhastha Kumbh gatherings — the temple is easily folded into a walking circuit that takes in Ramkund, Kalaram Temple and the Sita Gufa.
- Early morning, when the ghats fill with pilgrims and the light rakes low across the carvings, is the loveliest time to visit.
- Photography of the exterior plinth and spire is rewarding year-round.
- For food, the Panchavati and Ramkund lanes are overwhelmingly vegetarian, in keeping with the temple quarter's satvik character.
- Look for pure-veg Maharashtrian thali houses and small bhojanalayas serving hot poha, sabudana khichdi and piping thalis; Nashik's celebrated misal is everywhere here, though it is safest to ask specifically for the pure-veg or Jain plate.
- Prasad stalls and sweet shops around the ghats round out a simple, wholly vegetarian meal within a short walk of the temple.
Timings & Entry Fee
Verified: August 2026
Location & How to Reach
Address
Panchavati, near Ramkund, Godavari riverbank, Nashik, Nashik, Maharashtra, 422003
How to Reach: Located in the Panchavati precinct on the Godavari's bank, a short walk downstream from Ramkund. It is about 2 km from Nashik's Central Bus Stand (CBS) and roughly 8 km from Nashik Road railway station; autos and local buses reach Panchavati, from where the ghat lanes are best explored on foot.
More places in Nashik
- Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga TempleOne of the twelve Jyotirlingas, near the Godavari's source at Brahmagiri — a Peshwa-era black-basalt shrine with a rare three-faced lingam, ~28km from Nashik.
- RamkundThe most sacred bathing tank on the Godavari at Panchavati, where by tradition Rama bathed and immersed his father Dasharatha's remains — a principal Simhastha Kumbh royal-bath site.
- Kushavarta KundThe sacred stepped tank at Trimbak revered as the true source of the Godavari, where the river re-emerges after Gautama Rishi's penance.
- Kalaram TemplePanchavati's grandest shrine — a late-18th-century black-basalt temple to Rama with an 84-pillar arcade, built by Sardar Odhekar on the Ramayana trail.
- Panchavati Sacred PrecinctThe old riverside quarter on the Godavari's north bank in Nashik, the anchor of the city's Ramayana trail and its densest cluster of temples and ghats.
- Sita GufaA narrow underground rock cave in Panchavati beside the Kalaram Temple where, by tradition, Sita sheltered before her abduction — reached by steep steps to shrines of Rama, Sita, Lakshmana and a Shiva linga.
- Kapaleshwar Mahadev TempleNashik's oldest and most revered Shiva temple, uniquely with no Nandi bull before the linga, set on a rise above the Godavari at Panchavati.
- Saptashrungi Devi Temple, VaniHilltop Shakti Peeth on the seven Sahyadri peaks at Vani, where the self-manifest 18-armed goddess is revered — a major Nashik day-trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Naroshankar Rameshwar Temple known for?
It is an ornate 1747 Maratha-era Shiva temple on the Godavari at Panchavati, admired for its richly carved Maya-style plinth and spire, and famous for the large Naroshankar bell housed in a pavilion beside it.
Who built the temple and when?
It was built in 1747 by Naroshankar Rajebahadur, a sardar of the Peshwa period. The great bell is traditionally linked to the Maratha victory over the Portuguese at Vasai in 1739.
Is there an entry fee, and how long should I spend there?
Entry is free, as at most temples here. Around 30 to 45 minutes is enough to see the shrine, admire the carvings and the Naroshankar bell, and take in the riverfront.
Where can I eat vegetarian food near the Naroshankar Temple?
The Panchavati and Ramkund lanes are overwhelmingly vegetarian. You will find pure-veg thali houses, poha and sabudana khichdi stalls, and sweet shops within a short walk; for the local misal, ask specifically for the pure-veg or Jain option.
What else can I see nearby?
The temple sits in the Panchavati precinct, so you can easily combine it with Ramkund, the Kalaram Temple and the Sita Gufa on a short riverside walking circuit.