Shri Kalaram Temple is located in the Panchavati area of Nashik city in the state of Maharashtra. Situated on the banks of river Godavari in the Panchavati area of Nashik, The Kalaram Temple is dedicated to Lord Rama and is one of the biggest, most prominent, and most attractive temples in Nashik city. The most amazing feature of the temple is that it is completely black. The name of the temple is derived from the idol of Lord Rama in black. The actual translation of "Kalaram" is "Kala Ram". The main sanctum sanctorum of the temple houses black stone idols of Lord Ram, Goddess Sita, and his brother Lakshman. At the main entrance, there is a black-colored Hanuman deity. There is a very old tree here on which the footprints of Lord Dattatreya are engraved on the stone. Pilgrims come to Kapaleshwar Mahadev temple near Kalaram temple.
Just beyond the sanctum sanctorum of the temple is the idol of Lord Hanuman which is as black as the idol of Lord Ram and is seated in such a way that it bows to his beloved Guru, Lord Ram. Idols of Vitthala and Ganesha can be seen in the adjoining area. At the main entrance of the temple is the black-colored Hanuman deity. The temple of Lord Hanuman is designed in such a way that the idol of Lord Hanuman can be seen from the idol of Lord Hanuman. There are 14 steps in the main temple which represent the 14 years of exile of Rama. There are 84 pillars in the temple, which represents a cycle of 84 lakh species that has to go to get a human birth. The original temple was built in the 7th to 11th centuries. The present temple was rebuilt around 1788. Thousands of devotees visit this temple every day.
Pre-history of Sri Kalaram Temple
The construction of this temple started in 1780 and was completed in 1792. Kalaram Temple is the simplest but largest temple built in 1790 by The Peshwa's Sardar Rangrao Dhedekar. The entire temple built-in in 1790 by Peshwa-era chieftain Dhedekar is built in black stone which was brought specially from Ramshej mountain. It took 12 years, Rs 23 lakh, and 2000 workers to build this beautiful temple.
It is said that Sardar Dhedekar had a dream to have a black idol of Rama in the Godavari river. Dhedekar took the idol from the river and built the temple. The place where the idols were found was named Ramkund. There is a black hanuman idol at the main entrance of the temple. There is a very old tree on the stone on which there are footprints of Lord Dattatreya. This temple is completely built-in black stone and there are a total of four entrances, each of which is in the east, west, north, and south direction. The entrance of the temple is through a beautiful curved arch towards the east. There are a total of 96 pillars around this temple. The Kalaram temple is 70 feet high and the gold-plated peak looks amazing. In the Kalash of the temple, 32 tons of gold are included.
In Hindu mythology and the epic Ramayana, Panchavati was located in the forest of Dandakaranya (Danda Rajya), where Rama built his house with his wife Sita and brother Lakshman during his exile. The name comes from the Sanskrit Panch vata banyan tree. An area of five banyan trees is located on the banks of river Godavari at Nashik. The places associated with the Ramayana show the Panchavati of Rama's journey from Ayodhya to Lanka.
It is proposed to be introduced to modern Nashik as Laxman cut off Surpanakha's nose (nasal) at Panchavati. In Panchavati today five trees are marking us, one of them is the Ashoka tree. There is also a cave called Sita Cave here. Sita, Ram, and Lakshman prayed to Lord Shiva here. The ancient Shivalinga still exists in the small temple in the cave and devotees visit it.
According to Hindu mythology and Ramayana, Lord Rama, along with his wife Sita and brother Lakshman, lived in Panchavati during his exile. The Lakshman Rekha is located at a distance of one kilometer from Sitagufe in Panchavati. It was from here that Ravana abducted Goddess Sita. Today the area has become a major pilgrimage center and tourist attraction. In Panchavati, there are many temples like Kalaram Temple, Goraram Temple, Sita Cave. There are also many temples in Tapovan that are very close to Panchavati. Panchavati is spread over an area of 500 acres.
The people there are proud of their culture and the tradition five thousand years old. Ganesh Utsav, Gokul Ashtami, and Rang Panchami are the festivals that people celebrate with enthusiasm.
On auspicious occasions like Mahashivratri, Rang Panchami, and Makar Sankranti, people bathe in the river Godavari at Ramkund which is considered to be the most important place in Indian theology. According to Hindu theology, this place is believed to be the place where a few drops of 'nectar' fell while the Kalash was washed away by the deities.
The main festivals in the month of Chaitra are Shriram Navratri and Ram Navami. The main events of the year are the grand processions or rath yantras that leave the city on Ekadashi on the 11th day of Chaitra. On the 10th day of Ashwin, the "Dasara procession" of Lord Rama in a silver palanquin is also celebrated with great enthusiasm and in a fantastic manner. There is no count of pilgrims who come here for darshan every day because people come here in droves. Pilgrims also prefer the temple of Kapaleshwar Mahadev as it is close to the Kalaram temple. Grand processions and some special festivals and fairs are organized on festivals like Dussehra, Ram Navami, and Chaitra Padwa (Hindu New Year's Day). …
The role of the temple is important in the Dalit movement in India. Bharat Ratna Dr. Ambedkar had once agitated outside the temple for Dalits to enter the temple. The Kalaram temple entry movement played an important role in the Dalit movement in India. B.K. (Dadasaheb) Gaekwad and Dr. Br Ambedkar protested outside the temple on March 2, 1930, demanding that Dalits be allowed to enter the temple.
It was a movement to have the right to enter the temple, it was more towards getting equal rights. We don't want to go to the temple but we should have the right.
Best time to visit: throughout the year.
Location: Panchavati Area, Nashik.
How to get to Kalaram Temple Nashik
Nashik is well connected to all major cities of Maharashtra by road and rail network. You can catch a taxi or auto-rickshaw from the railway station and Nashik airport. Auto rickshaws are the best and safest way to travel in Nashik.