Trimbakeshwar is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Shiva, in the small town of Trimbak below the Brahmagiri hills where the Godavari rises. Its swayambhu linga sits in a hollow in the sanctum and has three small faces, read as Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. The black-stone temple was rebuilt in the 18th century by the Peshwa Balaji Bajirao. Every twelve years Trimbak shares the Simhastha Kumbh with Nashik, with the Shaiva akharas bathing at the Kushavarta kund. The temple is run by the Shri Trimbakeshwar Devasthan Trust.
Step 2 of 8Next: Visiting rules↓Visiting rules
Visiting with respect
- Remove footwear before entering and follow the queue and the Trust staff's directions.
- Many visitors come for specific rites (Narayan Nagbali, Kalsarp shanti) performed by the Trimbak purohits; give these ceremonies space and do not photograph them.
- Bathe or wash at Kushavarta respectfully; it is a sacred tirtha, not a swimming pool.
Hours and rules can change for festivals and services. Check the official site on the day.
Step 3 of 8Next: Getting there↓The route, stop by stop
The whole route first. Tap any stop and the map zooms to just that place.
Route
Stops
Nashik to Trimbak → Shri Trimbakeshwar Temple → Kushavarta Kund → Brahmagiri hill (source of the Godavari) · Directions in Google Maps ↗
- 1About 30 km by state (MSRTC) bus from Nashik CBS or by shared jeep or taxi; around an hour. Bus fares were not confirmed Map ↗
- 2Walk from the Trimbak bus stand. Free darshan queue, or donation darshan pass holders enter via the Uttar Mahadwar (north gate) Map ↗
- 3Short walk from the temple; the sacred tank where pilgrims bathe and where the Simhastha Amrit Snan is held Map ↗
- 4Steps and path up from Trimbak town; allow half a day. Avoid in heavy monsoon rain Map ↗
What it costs
Ballpark ranges, not live quotes. Page updated 18 October 2026. Prices move with season and demand, so check live fares before you book.
A do-it-yourself budget for the visit: local transport and any entry fee. Donations and guided tours are extra.
What to book ahead
Where to stay and eat
Stay
The Trust runs Shivprasad Bhaktaniwas in Trimbak, booked online on trimbakeshwartrust.com (check-in after 13:00, check-out by noon); rates were not readable. Trimbak also has many simple lodges and dharamshalas used by pilgrims coming for pujas, and Nashik has a wide range of budget hotels for a day trip. Prices rise sharply on Shravan Mondays and will be at their highest during the 2027 Kumbh.
Food
Trimbak's lanes have simple vegetarian bhojanalayas serving Maharashtrian thalis, misal pav and sabudana khichdi on fasting days. Nashik, an hour away, has far more choice. Food near the temple is vegetarian.
Photos
Questions people ask
How many days do you need for Shri Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga Temple?
1 day, starting from Nashik (Nashik Road railway station or Nashik CBS bus stand), about 30 km.
What is the best time for Shri Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga Temple?
October to February for clear, cool days; the monsoon (June-September) turns the Brahmagiri hills green but brings heavy rain, and the temple closed completely on 7 July 2026 for a cloudburst warning. Mondays (palkhi procession around 16:00), Shravan Mondays and Mahashivratri are the busiest days. The Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Simhastha Kumbh opens with the flag hoisting on 31 October 2026; its Amrit Snan days at Trimbakeshwar are 2 August, 31 August and 12 September 2027, and it closes on 29 July 2028. Expect enormous crowds and traffic controls on those dates.
How much does Shri Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga Temple cost?
From about ₹400 per person doing it yourself, with the travel legs adding up to roughly ₹0.
What needs to be booked in advance?
Donation darshan pass (optional): ₹200 per person, booked on trimbakeshwartrust.com (up to 4 people per booking, valid only on the booked date, last entry 21:00, non-refundable and non-transferable after 30 minutes) or at the counters near Kushavarta Chowk and at Shivprasad Bhaktaniwas. Carry ID (Aadhaar, PAN or passport) and the QR pass. Children under 10 and Divyangjan (with UDID) are exempt; the counter page also exempts people over 65 and women more than six months pregnant. Use only the official site: look-alike sites add markups. General darshan is free: The temple is open for darshan 5:30-21:00. The free queue can be long on Mondays, in Shravan and on festival days. Simhastha Kumbh 2026-28 (must book): Kumbh flag hoisting is on 31 October 2026. Amrit Snan days at Trimbakeshwar: 2 August, 31 August and 12 September 2027. Expect road closures, parking outside town and very long queues around these dates; plan around them unless you are coming for the Kumbh. Weather closures: The Trust closes the temple in extreme weather (it did on 7 July 2026). Check the Trust's news page in the monsoon before you set out.
Where do pilgrims stay?
The Trust runs Shivprasad Bhaktaniwas in Trimbak, booked online on trimbakeshwartrust.com (check-in after 13:00, check-out by noon); rates were not readable. Trimbak also has many simple lodges and dharamshalas used by pilgrims coming for pujas, and Nashik has a wide range of budget hotels for a day trip. Prices rise sharply on Shravan Mondays and will be at their highest during the 2027 Kumbh.
What about food?
Trimbak's lanes have simple vegetarian bhojanalayas serving Maharashtrian thalis, misal pav and sabudana khichdi on fasting days. Nashik, an hour away, has far more choice. Food near the temple is vegetarian.
Sources and last check
Checked 16 October 2026. Fees, hours and rules change, so confirm on the official site before you pay.
- trimbakeshwartrust.com OfficialTemple open for darshan 05:30-21:00; online and counter darshan pass; Bhaktniwas booking
- trimbakeshwartrust.com OfficialDonation darshan pass ₹200, up to 4 persons, same-date validity, last entry 21:00, non-refundable after 30 min, non-transferable, exemptions under 10 and Divyangjan, ID and QR at gate
- trimbakeshwartrust.com OfficialCounter locations (Kushawart Chowk, Shivprasad Bhaktaniwas), ID types, exemptions incl. over 65 and pregnant beyond 6 months, entry via Uttar Mahadwar
- trimbakeshwartrust.com OfficialDaily puja times; timings may change on festival days
- trimbakeshwartrust.com OfficialTemple fully closed 7 July 2026 for cloudburst warning; Monday palkhi around 16:00; Mahashivratri
- trimbakeshwartrust.com OfficialTrust Bhaktniwas online booking; check-in after 13:00, check-out 12:00
- cdnbbsr.s3waas.gov.in OfficialNashik-Trimbakeshwar Kumbh Mela Authority, Kumbh Mela Plan (June 2026): flag hoisting 31 Oct 2026; Amrit Snan 2 Aug and 31 Aug 2027 at both sites; third Amrit Snan 11 Sep 2027 Nashik and 12 Sep 2027 Trimbakeshwar; Simhastha Samapti 29 Jul 2028; Trimbak about 30 km from Nashik
- divcomnashik.maharashtra.gov.in OfficialDivisional Commissioner, Nashik page hosting the official Kumbh Mela Plan
- gov.uk OfficialNo FCDO advice against travel to Maharashtra (updated 7 Oct 2026); advises avoiding large gatherings at religious sites, stampede risk at large events
- tribuneindia.comGarbhagriha entry historically limited to 6-7 am for men in silk sovala (2016 report)
More sacred places and routes
Costs are indicative ballparks for doing it yourself and change with season and demand. Always check live fares, rates and opening rules before you book. Trip Under is not a travel agency: we sell nothing, take no commission, and every booking link goes straight to the provider. Photographs come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences; see credits.
By Gokul · Updated 18 October 2026 · Photo: Niraj Suryawanshi · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · Photo: Girishkap · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · Photo: Prashant Kharote · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: Bramhesh Patil · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: Mahi29 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
