The Kalaram Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Ram located in Nashik’s Maharashtra, Panchavati area. The temple’s name comes from a black statue of Rama. Kalaram is translated as “black Rama”. The sanctum sanctorum also contains statues of the goddess Sita and the god Lakshmana. Every day, thousands of devotees visit the temple.

Kalaram Temple is dedicated to Lord Rama, who is enshrined in the sanctum sanctorum as a black stone idol. It is an important tourist destination in Nashik. Sardar Rangarao Odhekar built the temple in 1790 AD. Aside from the idol of Lord Rama, there are statues of Sita Mata and Lord Lakshmana, both dressed in black and adorned with ornaments. The temple was built entirely out of black stones.

Story Behind Sri Kalaram Temple Nashik

The Kalaram Temple was funded by Sardar Rangarao Odhekar. It was built around 1792. Sardar Odhekar is said to have had a dream in which he saw a black statue of Rama in the Godavari River. Odhekar removed the statues from the river and built the temple.

The location where the statues were discovered was known as Ramkund. The temple’s main entrance features a black Lord Hanuman idol. There is also an ancient tree with Lord Dattatreya’s footprint impressions etched on a stone.

History of Sri Kalaram Temple Nashik

The original temple, dedicated to an unknown deity, was thought to date back to the Rashtrakuta Period, which lasted from the seventh to eleventh centuries. However, the Rama idol’s claimed antiquity of over 2000 years has not been verified. According to an anecdote, during the early Turkish invasions, Temple Brahmins threw the deity’s idol into the Godavari River to save it. Sardar Rangarao Odhekar funded the new temple, which was rebuilt around 1788.

Odhekar is said to have had a dream in which he saw a black statue of Rama in the Godavari River. He went on an expedition to resurrect the idol and miraculously returned with it. Odhekar removed the statue from the river and built the temple. Odhekar’s expedition is a significant part of Nashik’s history. The temple houses a statue of Sardar Odhekar.

According to the ancient epic of the Ramayana, Rama was exiled for fourteen years. After the tenth year of exile, Rama, Lakshmana, and Sita spent two and a half years on the northern bank of the Godavari near Nasik. This location is known as Panchavati.

The architecture of Sri Kalaram Temple Nashik

The main entrance features a black Hanuman deity. There is also a very old tree with Dattatreya’s footprints imprinted on a stone. Pilgrims visit the Kapaleshwar Mahadev temple, which is near the Kalaram Temple. Hanuman’s temple is designed in such a way that Rama’s idol can be seen alongside Hanuman’s. The main temple of Rama has 14 steps, representing Rama’s 14-year exile. The temple also has 84 pillars, which represent the cycle of 84 lakh species through which one must pass before giving birth to a human.

The architectural design of this temple is similar to that of Trimbakeshwar. The temple was built entirely of black stones and has four entrance doors, one facing East, West, South, and North. The temple is surrounded by an enclosure with 96 pillars. The stones for the temple were brought from Ramshej. It took nearly 12 years to complete, with the assistance of more than 2000 workers. Kalaram Temple is approximately 70 feet tall and has a gold-plated peak. The summit of the Kalaram Mandir is made of 32 tonnes of gold.

The idols of Lord Rama, Lakshmana, and Sita are carved from black stone, hence the temple’s name, Kalaram, which means black Ram. An idol of Lord Hanuman, carved from black stone, can be found at the entrance. There is a footprint impression on a stone near an old tree that is thought to be Lord Dattatreya’s. The temple is surrounded by several smaller temples, including the Vithal, Ganapathi, and Maruti. Pilgrims also pay visits to the Kapaleshwar Mahadev temple and Sita Gufaa, which are located near the Kalaram Temple. Ramnavami, Dussehra, and Chaitra Padwa (Hindu New Year’s Day) are celebrated with great fanfare at the temple.

Facts about Sri Kalaram Temple Nashik

• Kalaram Temple is dedicated to Lord Rama, who is enshrined in the sanctum sanctorum as a black stone idol. Sardar Rangarao Odhekar built the temple in 1790 AD.
• The architectural design of this temple is similar to that of Trimbakeshwar.
• The idols of Lord Rama, Lakshmana, and Sita are carved from black stone, hence the temple’s name, Kalaram, which means black Ram.
• It is located on the banks of Godavari in the Panchavati area of the city.
• The main temple has 14 steps, representing Ram’s 14-year exile. It has 84 pillars, representing the 84 lakh species cycle that must be completed before becoming a human.
• The Kalaram Temple has standing images of Lord Rama, Sita, and Laxmana, which are of black stone and around 2 feet high.

Famous Festivals In Sri Kalaram Temple Nashik

• Holi – This festival is celebrated in the month of  Phalgun (Feb – March). During the celebration, people celebrate with colours and enjoy the festival in the temple complex.
• Ram Navmi – Rama Navami is a Hindu festival that celebrates the birth of Rama, one the most popularly revered deities in Hinduism, also known as the seventh avatar of Vishnu.
• Diwali – Diwali is the festival of lights with its variations also celebrated in other Indian religions. It symbolises the spiritual “victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance”.

Best Time to Visit Sri Kalaram Temple Nashik

This place is very heavenly and spiritual, and you can visit it all year. However, the best time to visit this temple is during the monsoon and winter seasons. During the monsoon season, this location receives moderate to heavy rainfall, making it appear heavenly with its greenery and bringing freshness elsewhere.

How to Reach Sri Kalaram Temple Nashik

The best time to visit the Temple is between September and February, and Ramnavmi is celebrated grandly here.

By Air: The nearest airport is Ojhar Nashik International Airport which is situated about 24 kilometres far from the center of the city.

By Rail: The nearest railway station to Kalaram Temple is Nashik Road about 10 Km.

By Road: The Kalaram Temple is within the City and is 3 km from the Nashik Central Bus Stand.

Also Read –  Kamadgiri Temple