Trimbakeshwar: A Guide to the Jyotirlinga and Its Sacred Town

The Jyotirlinga of Tryambakeshwar

A Jyotirlinga is a "linga of light", one of the shrines where, according to the Shiva Purana, Shiva revealed himself as an endless column of light. Trimbakeshwar is one of the twelve, remembered in the Dvadasha Jyotirlinga hymn as Tryambakam Gautami-tate, Tryambaka on the banks of the Gautami (the Godavari).

Its linga is distinctive. Rather than a single raised linga, the sanctum holds a small hollow in which three small lingas, or faces, are worshipped, representing Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Water is traditionally said to well up within it. The name Tryambaka means "the three-eyed one", the same name that opens the Maha Mrityunjaya mantra.

The temple and its history

The present temple, built of dark basalt, was constructed under the third Peshwa, Balaji Bajirao (Nanasaheb Peshwa), on the site of an older shrine. According to the Shri Trimbakeshwar Devasthan Trust, it opened on Mahashivratri, 16 February 1756. Since 1954 the temple has been run as a registered public trust, which manages darshan and temple rituals today.

Trimbak is also sacred to the Varkari tradition: Sant Nivruttinath, elder brother and guru of Sant Dnyaneshwar, took samadhi here, and a large yatra is held in his memory each year in the month of Paush. Read the full history.

Kushavarta Tirth

A short walk from the temple, Kushavarta is the sacred tank regarded as the source of the Godavari. Its name is traditionally explained by the legend that Sage Gautama encircled the river here with kusha grass so that she would not vanish again. The present stone kund was built by Shrimant Sardar Raosaheb Parnerkar, Fadnavis of the Indore State. Most ritual days at Trimbakeshwar begin with a bath here, and during the Simhastha Kumbh the Shaiva akhadas take their holy bath at Kushavarta.

Brahmagiri and the Godavari

Behind the town rises Brahmagiri, about 1,295 m high, the hill where, according to legend, Sage Gautama prayed for the Ganga to descend. She came down as the Godavari, India's second-longest river, which flows about 1,465 km east to the Bay of Bengal and is revered as Dakshin Ganga. Pilgrims climb to the river's source on the hill and to Gangadwar, and in Shravan thousands walk barefoot around Brahmagiri in a long pradakshina. Read about Brahmagiri · Read about the Godavari.

Rituals performed at Trimbakeshwar

Because of its sacred geography, Trimbak has long been a centre of pitru karya (ancestral rites) and of Shiva worship. The rites most associated with it are:

• Narayan Nagbali: a three-day rite for a family member who died an untimely death, with atonement for harm to a serpent. Trimbak's priestly tradition holds that it should be performed here.
• Kaal Sarp Shanti: a single-day shanti for those whose horoscope shows Kaal Sarp Yoga.
• Tripindi Shraddha: a one-day shraddha for ancestors of three generations.
• Pitru Dosh Nivaran: tarpan and pind daan for the ancestors.
• Rudrabhishek, Laghu Rudra and Maha Rudra: Shiva worship with the Vedic Rudra, from 40 minutes to several days.
• Maha Mrityunjaya Jaap and Satyanarayan Pooja.

Not sure which rite fits your situation? Compare Narayan Nagbali and Tripindi Shraddha, or simply call us.

Simhastha Kumbh Mela 2026 to 2028

Nashik and Trimbakeshwar host the Simhastha Kumbh Mela, held when Jupiter is in Simha (Leo), roughly once in twelve years. The current Simhastha period formally began with the flag hoisting on 31 October 2026. The main Amrit Snan days announced are 2 August 2027 and 31 August 2027, with the final bath in mid-September 2027 (reports give 11 September for Nashik and 12 September for Trimbakeshwar). At Trimbak, the Shaiva akhadas bathe at Kushavarta. Reports indicate the period closes in July 2028.

If you are planning a pooja during this period, book early, expect heavy crowds and traffic restrictions around the bathing days, and check official announcements for the latest arrangements.

Visiting Trimbakeshwar

• Getting there: about 28 to 30 km from Nashik by road, with regular buses and taxis. The main railway station is Nashik Road. Nashik's airport at Ozar has limited flights; many visitors fly into Mumbai, roughly 200 km away by road.
• When to go: the temple is open every day. Mondays, Shravan, Mahashivratri, the Nivruttinath yatra in Paush and the Simhastha bathing days are the busiest times.
• Darshan: managed by the Shri Trimbakeshwar Devasthan Trust, with a general queue and a paid donation darshan bookable on the trust's website. Timings and rules change from time to time, so check close to your visit.
• Dress: modest traditional clothing is respectful. For rituals, follow the guidance on each pooja page.
• For rituals: arrive the evening before, as most rituals begin early in the morning with a bath at Kushavarta.

More detail: A pilgrim's guide · Planning your pooja trip.