Shri Kalaram Temple
Situated in the Panchvati area of Nashik near the banks of Godavari River, the Kalaram temple is dedicated to Lord Ram and is among one of the largest, prominent and the most captivating temples in the city. Spread in a sprawling campus, the most amazing feature of the temple is that it is totally black.
[ Entrance to the Kalaram Temple in Nashik ]
[ Magnificient Kalaram Temple made from black stones ]
[ Beautifully carved Kalaram Temple in Nashik ]
Built in 1790 by Sardar Odhekar of Peshwa, the entire temple is constructed in black stones which were especially brought from the Ramshej Mountains. It took 12 years, 23 lakhs of rupees and 2000 workers to build this beautiful temple. The only hint of any other color is provided by the gleaming spire of the temple which is capped with 32 tonnes of gold. The main sanctum houses black stoned idols of Lord Rama, His wife Sita and His brother Laxman. Since the image of the Lord is in black color, the temple has come to be known as ‘Kala Ram’ meaning ‘black Ram’.
Right across the sanctum is the idol of Lord Hanuman which is similarly black in color and enshrined in such a way that He faces His beloved Master, Lord Rama.
The porch of the temple is decorated with pillars and arches. Idols of Lord Vithala and Lord Ganesha can be spotted in the surrounding courtyard.
[ The large Kalaram Temple courtyard ]
[ Lord Ganesha idol in the courtyard ]
The festivals of Ram Navami, Dusshera and Gudi Padwa are celebrated here.
Goraram Temple
This temple is situated in the Kalaram temple lane. Unlike Kalaram, Goraram is a much smaller temple and has idols of Lord Ram, Laxman and Sita in fair hue; which is how the temple gets its name.
[ The Goraram Temple in Panchvati ]
[ Idols of Lord Ram, Laxman and Sita in the Goraram Temple ]
Sita Gumpha
Adjoining the Goraram temple is the Sita Gumpha. The cave is approximately 4 ft in height and is believed to be the place from where Ravana had abducted Sita during the 14 year exile. The cave complex has figures depicting the account of the incident.
[ The entrance to the Sita Gumpha in Panchvati ]
[ The entrance to the Sitaharan and Marichivadh cave ]
Outside the cave is a large grove of 5 very old Banyan trees, after which the area is named, Panchvati.
[ One of the five vat trees after which the area is called Panchvati ]
39 Comments
Superb Post..Arti. When was the Kalaram temple built?. I did not visit this temple when I visited Nasik about 10 years or so back.Wondering if this has been built recently.
ReplyDeleteAmazing photos , nice info . Must visit these places some time .
ReplyDeletekalaram temple looks just awesome... 32 tonnes of gold... unbeleivable... one of the most wonderful temples, i guess... photos are also good and they give me an idea of the whole temple!!!
ReplyDeleteI always find your posts so interesting - so many different beliefs and cultures make such an interesting world.
ReplyDeleteWhat a huge difference in the temples! The black stone, it does look black in that one picture, not in the others. Maybe the lighting was darker in the one picture. It actually looks a different color in almost every picture, interesting, maybe it is the way the black takes on the light.
ReplyDeletesuch a beautiful post and blog. Thanks for visiting my blog.
ReplyDeletekss from Spain
;-)
Very interesting temples of Kala and Gora ram. Is there proper lighting inside that cave?
ReplyDeleteThe courtyard and the black stoned temple is magnificent.
pachavati is my favorite ... loved crawling into the cave : )..kalaram mandir also was very captivating...
ReplyDeleteSatya
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that was an amazing post! was not aware of the kalaram and goraram temples!
ReplyDeleteMagnificent! Totally evocative.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this great post.
All the best, Boonie
@ Sridharan
ReplyDeleteAs mentioned in the post, the temple was built in 1790 :)
@Ginny
ReplyDeleteYes, the colors indeed look different in each of the photo, i noticed it just now after you pointed it out, Great observation! The temple is black, might be the lighting effect...
@Chitra
ReplyDeleteIt is almost dark inside the cave. Just a hint of artificial light. Have you been there?
@Satya
ReplyDeleteMe too :)
Such an amazing post. I didn't know about kalaram and goraram temples.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great post.
Amazing pictures!
ReplyDeleteI have not visted it Arti, I have visited only Pandarpur, Alandi and some Mumbai temples in Maharashtra.
ReplyDeleteThe Kalaram temple is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteWow..1790..! Sorry I missed it in the post.. I was kind of in a hurried trip when I last visited Nasik.. Should make it a point to visit this next time I visit Shirdi/Nasik.
ReplyDeleteDear Arti
ReplyDeleteHow are you? I am just back from my Calcutta trip and read all your postings in one breathe. I am book marking the summary , so that I can read all the postings at will.
I have gone to Nasik many times ( like going in the morning and back in evening ), never knew there were so many things to see.
Enjoyed reading every line.
Have a nice week
Hi Arti! Magnificent temple, wonderful pictures, fantastic post!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your visit and first time comment at Blogtrotter Two! Look forward to reading you there more often!! For the time being the Temple of Philae is waiting for you... Enjoy!
I've never before seen anything quite like this - those black stones could make the building so dark and oppresive and yet they don't. The only time we see buildings looking anything like this colour it is down to polution.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful temples...
ReplyDeleteWonderful shots. That black temple is amazing!
ReplyDeleteHow beautiful. What a great way to begin the year, to visit those ancient and holy sites...
ReplyDeleteIncredible Temple The Kalaram.
ReplyDeleteTemples assigned to Lord Ram are very less in India.
Good to see a Temple with splendid arhitechture.
So beautiful, this Karalam temple - and it looks huge! To think of how much effort it takes, to make such a building ... Have a lovely day Arti!
ReplyDeleteHi Arti,
ReplyDeleteI visited these places in October last year.
Nice post n nice photography.
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Amazing clicks :) Jai shri Ram
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this. I love travel to holy places. But I am very poor in practical.
ReplyDeleteI visited these temples when I was about 6. I don't remember Kala Ram and Gore Ram, but I do remember Sita's gupha. Thank you for bringing back the memories, Arti. Yes, I do have them even after all these years, but they are of the inside of the cave, where you descend some steps to enter the place. Is that so, or is my memory tricking me?
ReplyDeleteWow.. amazing foto's !! nd thnx for d info arti :)
ReplyDeleteDay by day.. ur becoming a photographer rather dan a traveller :D :P lol.. :P
Gr8 exposure and description of Kalaram and Goraram temples in Nasik. Even though i visited Nasik, i did not concentrate on its architecture and history, and i am talking about 95 to 98 times. thanks for bringing out the history Arti
ReplyDeleteBeautiful shots of the temples. I has been to this city as a kid. This definitely needs another visit.
ReplyDeleteWoderful post. Eye Catching and very good reading. Want to visit this temple.
ReplyDeleteI have posted about some temples.
Temples of India
Hi Arti! Thanks dear! The pics so wonderful, I live near to Nashik but don't know when I have visited all these temples, may be in childhood. I didn't know all this history too. Whenever I visit your blog I feel I am on the pilgrimage, It's great, coz we it's hard to visit all these places. :)
ReplyDeletethank u for posting such a wonderful account of ur journey.
ReplyDeleteIts one of good place for peace of mind .
ReplyDeleteLovely travel you do and lovely experience you had.
ReplyDeleteDelighted you stopped by... Your suggestions, feedback are really appreciated. Thanks a lot :) Hope you visit again!
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