Tapovan
Nashik, Maharashtra
Tapovan, the 'forest of penance', lies a little beyond Panchavati. The area is shaded and quiet, with small temples of Lakshmana and Hanuman, and is closely tied to the Ramayana.
What to see and do
- Visit the temples of Lakshmana and Hanuman
- Enjoy a quieter, greener part of Nashik after the busy ghats
- See the spot associated with the Shurpanakha episode
Good to know
- It is a short drive from Panchavati, so it fits in the same half-day
- Go in the morning or late afternoon, and keep to the main paths
Spiritual significance
Tradition says Lakshmana lived here during the exile, and that it was here that he cut off the nose of Shurpanakha, Ravana's sister.
Why it matters
- Nashik is said to take its name from this event, since *nasika* means nose in Sanskrit
- The episode led Ravana to plan the abduction of Sita
- It completes the Ramayana trail of Panchavati, with Kalaram Mandir and Sita Gufaa