Temples, wineries, orchids, industries... Nasik has all of these and then some. It's this sangam (confluence) of different realities that has left the town with a slightly confused identity. It takes pride in its ancient heritage but has all the aspirations of a modern city. It's urban in a pastoral setting. And sometimes it's a throwback to older, slower times in the middle of a busy city street. And though Nasik doesn't quite have the feel of a traditional hill station, it's certainly up there on the Deccan Plateau, sitting snugly in a bowl formed by the high Sahyadri Hills. Indeed, it is these many identities that come together to make Nasik an irresistible holiday destination with something on offer for everyone from the devout ascetic to the flashy wine connoisseur.

After all, this is the grape-wine capital of Maharashtra and the home of one of India's 12 holy Jyotirlingas, from which spring the sacred waters of the queen of Deccan rivers the Godavari. Nasik is also one of just four cities that host the greatest of great Hindu melas the Kumbh.

Be that as it may, it's the religious face of Nasik that lords it over the city's other avatars (incarnations). The pulsating energy in the narrow bazaars of the old city seems to revolve around the Panchavati-Ramkund area located along the banks of Godavari River. This is where, it is believed, the ancient Ayodhya royals Ram, Sita and Laxman lived during their years in exile, and this is also where most visitors head first upon reaching Nasik.