Nilambika Devi Temple (Nilaparvat)
Nashik, Maharashtra · temple
- Days OpenOpen daily
- Entry FeeFree Entry
Perched on the low, wooded rise of Nilaparvat that overlooks the sacred town of Trimbak, the Nilambika Devi Temple is one of the quieter but much-loved shrines in the Trimbakeshwar landscape, about 28 kilometres west of Nashik. Where the great Jyotirlinga temple below draws the crowds, this hilltop goddess shrine offers a gentler, more contemplative pilgrimage: a short flight of stone steps climbs from the town to a modest hilltop precinct where the deity Nilambika, a form of the Mother Goddess, is enshrined. Local tradition links the hill and its shrine to the broader Trimbak sacred geography, and many pilgrims fold a visit here into the same day they take darshan at Trimbakeshwar and pay respects at the nearby Sant Nivruttinath samadhi.
Where to Eat Nearby
- ✦Pure-veg Maharashtrian thali eateries in the lanes around Trimbakeshwar temple
- ✦Pilgrim tea-and-snack stalls serving poha, sabudana khichdi and upvas plates in Trimbak
- ✦Pure-veg misal and vada pav stops on the Nashik-Trimbak road (ask for the pure-veg/Jain option)
About
Perched on the low, wooded rise of Nilaparvat that overlooks the sacred town of Trimbak, the Nilambika Devi Temple is one of the quieter but much-loved shrines in the Trimbakeshwar landscape, about 28 kilometres west of Nashik.
- Where the great Jyotirlinga temple below draws the crowds, this hilltop goddess shrine offers a gentler, more contemplative pilgrimage: a short flight of stone steps climbs from the town to a modest hilltop precinct where the deity Nilambika, a form of the Mother Goddess, is enshrined.
- Local tradition links the hill and its shrine to the broader Trimbak sacred geography, and many pilgrims fold a visit here into the same day they take darshan at Trimbakeshwar and pay respects at the nearby Sant Nivruttinath samadhi.
- The real reward of the climb, beyond the darshan itself, is the vantage.
- From the hilltop the whole of Trimbak spreads out below, its temple spires and tiled roofs framed against the great flat-topped massif of Brahmagiri, the sacred hill revered as the source of the Godavari.
- In the monsoon and the weeks that follow, the surrounding slopes turn a vivid green and thin waterfalls thread the rock, making the short ascent especially rewarding in the cooler morning and late-afternoon light.
- The climb is brief and manageable for most reasonably fit visitors, though the steps can be slick after rain, so sturdy footwear and an early start are sensible.
- The shrine is compact and unfussy, and a visit pairs naturally with the wider Trimbak circuit: the Jyotirlinga, the Kushavarta kund, the Brahmagiri trail and the Anjaneri and Saptashrungi day-trips that ring this corner of the Sahyadris.
- Because it is small and largely a place of local devotion, it rewards a slow, respectful, unhurried visit rather than a checklist stop.
- For food, Trimbak is a temple town and its lanes near Trimbakeshwar are dense with simple pure-vegetarian eateries geared to pilgrims.
- Look for unlimited Maharashtrian veg thali spots serving bhakri, varan-bhaat and seasonal bhaji, plus tea stalls doing hot poha, sabudana khichdi and vada pav; fasting-friendly (upvas) plates are widely available on ritual days.
- Nashik's signature misal is easy to find on the drive back, but confirm a stall is pure-veg or ask for the Jain option before ordering.
Timings & Entry Fee
Verified: August 2026
Location & How to Reach
How to Reach: Trimbak lies about 28 km west of Nashik on the Trimbakeshwar road (roughly 45-60 minutes by car). Frequent MSRTC state buses and shared jeeps run from Nashik's Old CBS/Nimani stand to Trimbak; from the Trimbakeshwar temple area the shrine is a short walk and stair climb up Nilaparvat.
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
Where is the Nilambika Devi Temple located?
It sits atop Nilaparvat, a small hill overlooking the temple town of Trimbak, about 28 km west of Nashik and a short walk and stair climb from the Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga temple.
How difficult is the climb to the temple?
The ascent is short - a flight of stone steps from the town - and manageable for most reasonably fit visitors. The steps can be slippery after rain, so wear sturdy footwear and start early.
Is there an entry fee?
No, there is no entry fee. It is a small local shrine open to all visitors, best visited during daylight hours.
What can I combine with a visit here?
Pair it with the Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga, the Kushavarta kund, the Brahmagiri trail and the Sant Nivruttinath samadhi; nearby day-trips include Anjaneri and Saptashrungi.
Where can I eat vegetarian food near the Nilambika Devi Temple?
Trimbak is a temple town with many simple pure-vegetarian eateries near Trimbakeshwar serving Maharashtrian thali, poha, sabudana khichdi and fasting (upvas) plates. For misal on the Nashik road, confirm the stall is pure-veg or ask for the Jain option.
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