Trimbakeshwar Temple, Nashik: Timings, Story & Jyotirlinga Guide
श्री त्र्यंबकेश्वरWhere Shiva let the Ganga flow as the Godavari.
Shri Trimbakeshwar stands in the small town of Trimbak at the foot of the Brahmagiri hills, where the Godavari begins. The legend of Sage Gautama, the three-faced linga, official darshan hours, the donation darshan, the Simhastha Kumbh of 2027 and the easy ways to reach from Nashik and Mumbai.
- 5:30 am – 9 pm darshan (temple trust)
- ~28–30 km from Nashik city
- 8th in the Shiva Purana order
- Simhastha Kumbh 2026–28
Where is Trimbakeshwar temple and what are its timings?
Trimbakeshwar is in Trimbak town, Nashik district, Maharashtra, about 28–30 km from Nashik at the foot of the Brahmagiri hills, where the Godavari river begins. It is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas. The temple trust gives darshan hours of 5:30 am to 9 pm, with changes on festival days.
Trimbakeshwar is unlike most Jyotirlingas. The linga sits in a small hollow, and inside it are three tiny faces that tradition reads as Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva — the Trimurti in one shrine, which is why Shiva is worshipped here as Tryambaka, the three-eyed Lord. The black-basalt temple you see today was rebuilt in the 18th century under Peshwa Balaji Bajirao (Nanasaheb).
In the Shiva Purana order it is the eighth Jyotirlinga; the popular Jyotirlinga stotram remembers it as “त्र्यम्बकं गौतमीतटे” — Tryambaka on the bank of the Gautami, the old name of the Godavari. The river’s source lies on the Brahmagiri hills above the town, and its ritual source is Kushavarta Kund in Trimbak itself.
The legend of Trimbakeshwar
The Shiva Purana (Koti Rudra Samhita) tells how a sage’s penance brought a river to these hills. This is how the story is told.
- A pond that never driedSage Gautama and his wife Ahalya lived on Brahmagiri. Varuna, the lord of waters, gave them a pond that stayed full even in drought, and the sage shared its water with all.
- The jealous sagesOther sages grew jealous and plotted to drive him away. They sent a weak cow into his fields; when Gautama waved it off with a blade of grass, it fell and died, and he was branded guilty.
- Gautama's penanceSeeking a way to atone, Gautama prayed to Shiva with deep devotion. Pleased, Shiva released the Ganga on Brahmagiri, and she flowed on as the Godavari — also called Gautami, after the sage.
- Shiva stays as TryambakaAt the request of Gautama and the gods, Shiva agreed to remain here as Tryambakeshwar, and the Ganga stayed as the Godavari.
These are stories of faith, told as tradition rather than history. Pilgrims honour the legend by bathing at Kushavarta Kund before darshan, and the hardy climb Brahmagiri to the river’s source.
Trimbakeshwar temple timings and darshan
| Darshan | 5:30 am – 9:00 pm; timings change on festival days (Shri Trimbakeshwar Devasthan Trust, checked 29 Oct 2026) |
| Morning puja | 7:00 – 8:30 am (trust’s daily programme) |
| Mid-day puja | 10:45 am – 12:30 pm (trust’s daily programme) |
| Evening puja | Time not clearly published — confirm locally |
| Donation darshan | A paid, faster queue — book only on trimbakeshwartrust.com or at the trust’s counter. VIP passes can be suspended on peak days (as in Shravan 2026) |
| Temple pujas online | Rudrabhishek and Laghurudra can be booked on the trust’s own website |
| Crown (mukut) darshan | Traditionally shown on Mondays in the late afternoon — confirm locally |
| Dress and phones | Modest dress; rules for the inner sanctum — confirm locally |
Queues are longest on Mondays, in Shravan, on Mahashivratri and on Simhastha bathing days. On those days expect to stand for hours unless you take the donation darshan.
Simhastha Kumbh 2027 and Trimbakeshwar festival dates
| What | Date | Status / source |
|---|---|---|
| Simhastha flag hoisting | 31 Oct 2026 | Ramkund, Nashik, with rituals at Kushavarta, Trimbakeshwar (PTI / Free Press Journal) |
| Amrit Snan | 2 Aug 2027 | Main bathing day (PTI) |
| Amrit Snan | 31 Aug 2027 | Main bathing day (PTI) |
| Final Amrit Snan | 11 Sep 2027 (Nashik) · 12 Sep 2027 (Trimbakeshwar) | PTI / Free Press Journal |
| Mahashivratri 2027 | 6 Mar 2027 | Drik Panchang; temple arrangements not announced yet |
| Tripuri (Kartik) Purnima | Around 24 Nov 2026 | Per panchang — confirm locally |
| Shravan Mondays | Jul–Aug (Amanta Shravan in Maharashtra) | 2027 dates not announced here yet |
The Nashik–Trimbakeshwar Simhastha runs from the flag hoisting on 31 Oct 2026; PTI reports the flag will be lowered on 24 Jul 2028. It is a different Kumbh from the Ujjain Simhastha of 2028 at Mahakaleshwar. See our Kumbh Mela guide for bathing-day planning.
How to reach Trimbakeshwar
By air
Nashik (Ozar) airport is about 55 km away. Mumbai airport, about 180 km, has far more flights — roughly 4 to 5 hours by road.
By rail
Nashik Road station, about 40 km away, is the railhead; taxis and buses run on to Trimbak.
By road
From Nashik city it is about 28–30 km. MSRTC buses and shared taxis run frequently from Nashik’s bus stands.
In town
The temple is at town level, a short walk from parking — no steps or ropeway to the shrine. Brahmagiri is a separate, steep climb.
Sample Trimbakeshwar trips
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Day 1Nashik → Trimbakeshwar → Nashik
Early darshan at Trimbakeshwar, a dip or prayer at Kushavarta Kund, then Anjaneri (Hanuman’s birthplace by tradition, about 7 km) and back to Nashik for the evening aarti at Ramkund in Panchavati.
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Day 2Brahmagiri and Shirdi
Climb Brahmagiri to Gangadwar in the cool morning (fit pilgrims only), or drive about 115–120 km to Shirdi for Sai Baba darshan.
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Day 3Maharashtra Jyotirlinga circuit
Continue to Bhimashankar near Pune and Grishneshwar near Ellora — Suzu plans the drives around each temple’s darshan rules.
Every yatra is planned for your dates, group and pace — Price: Get Quote.
Before you go
- Go early or lateReach at opening (5:30 am) or in the evening on weekdays; avoid Mondays, Shravan and Simhastha snan days for a calm darshan.
- Use only the trust siteDonation darshan and temple pujas are on trimbakeshwartrust.com. Ignore ads promising cheap rituals or “VIP” entry.
- Brahmagiri is steepThe climb to the Godavari’s source (Gangadwar) is long stone steps — not for elders with heart or knee problems.
- Elders and queuesQueues can mean standing for hours. Carry water, and consider the donation darshan for elders.
Kaal Sarp puja at Trimbakeshwar — what to know
Tradition associates Trimbakeshwar with several family rituals — Kaal Sarp puja, Narayan Nagbali and Tripindi shraddha among them. They are performed in Trimbak by local, hereditary priests (purohits), as they have been for generations. We describe them only as tradition; no ritual “guarantees” a result.
Beware of online offers. In September 2026 the Trimbakeshwar Purohits’ Association complained to the police, for the second time in two months, that devotees were being cheated by online ads and apps offering cheap rituals by unauthorised people. Book temple services only on trimbakeshwartrust.com; arrange other rituals in person in Trimbak, and never pay an unknown website or WhatsApp number in advance.
A short history of Trimbakeshwar temple
The present black-basalt temple was rebuilt in the 18th century under Peshwa Balaji Bajirao (Nanasaheb). The famous Nassak Diamond once adorned the deity; it was taken by the British in the Third Anglo-Maratha War of 1817–18. The temple’s jewelled crown (mukut) is said by tradition to date from the time of the Pandavas.
On 1 July 2026, while desilting the temple’s Amrit Kund, the Archaeological Survey of India found a stone Shivling at the bottom of the tank — a reminder of how old worship here is.
Plan your Trimbakeshwar darshan with Suzu
We plan Trimbakeshwar trips from Nashik and Mumbai, the Maharashtra Jyotirlinga circuit and the full 12 Jyotirlinga journey — cars, stays and darshan timed around crowds and the Simhastha bathing days, with elders in mind.
Questions pilgrims ask
What are Trimbakeshwar temple timings?
The temple trust gives darshan hours of 5:30 am to 9 pm. The morning puja is 7–8:30 am and the mid-day puja 10:45 am–12:30 pm; timings change on festival days, so confirm locally.
How can I skip the long queue at Trimbakeshwar?
Use the trust’s paid donation darshan, booked on trimbakeshwartrust.com or at its counter. VIP passes can be suspended on peak days, as they were in Shravan 2026.
Why does the Trimbakeshwar linga have three faces?
The linga sits in a hollow with three small faces, which tradition says stand for Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. That is why Shiva is worshipped here as Tryambaka.
Where does the Godavari river start?
On the Brahmagiri hills above Trimbak. Its ritual source is Kushavarta Kund in the town, where pilgrims bathe before darshan.
When is the Nashik–Trimbakeshwar Kumbh?
The Simhastha flag is hoisted on 31 Oct 2026. The main Amrit Snans are on 2 Aug and 31 Aug 2027, then 11 Sep (Nashik) and 12 Sep 2027 (Trimbakeshwar).
How far is Trimbakeshwar from Nashik?
About 28–30 km from Nashik city and about 40 km from Nashik Road station. Mumbai is about 180 km away.
Can I book Kaal Sarp puja online?
The trust’s website books only its own pujas, such as Rudrabhishek and Laghurudra. Arrange other rituals in person in Trimbak — local priests have warned about fake online offers.
What is the best time to visit Trimbakeshwar?
July to February: the monsoon turns Brahmagiri green and October to February is pleasant. Avoid Simhastha bathing days and Shravan Mondays for a calm darshan.
Keep exploring
Yatras & circuits
Seasonal yatras
Temple guides
Planning guides
Sources
- Shri Trimbakeshwar Devasthan Trust (official)
- Trimbakeshwar Trust — Daily Programme (official)
- The Week (PTI) — Simhastha Kumbh to begin 31 Oct 2026 (1 Jun 2025)
- Free Press Journal — Simhastha flag hoisting on 31 October (20 Sep 2026)
- Free Press Journal — VIP darshan suspended in Shravan (11 Aug 2026)
- Free Press Journal — purohits warn of online ritual fraud (6 Sep 2026)
- Deccan Herald — ASI finds Shivling in Amrit Kund (2 Jul 2026)
- Wikipedia — Trimbakeshwar Temple
- Drik Panchang — Maha Shivaratri 2027
Legends are retold in our own words as traditions. Animations are original artwork by Suzu Travels.
