Historic Muktidhaam Mandir, Naasik Rod, Naasik

Although Muktidham Temple, one of the famous temples in Nashik, is not ancient, its artistry and the lifelike quality of the idols within are what make it truly special. A unique feature here is the installation of replicas of the 12 Jyotirlingas! The Shivlings were brought from the original Jyotirlinga sites, consecrated, and then installed here.

Legend has it that while Lord Shri Ram, Sita, and Lakshman were in exile, they stopped to rest in this area before heading to Panchavati. This Muktidham Temple was built on the very ground sanctified by their touch. Devotees believe that visiting this temple grants the merit of completing the Char Dham Yatra (it is believed that completing the Char Dham Yatra leads to liberation from the cycle of life and death).

Located in the Nashik Road suburb, the construction of this Muktidham Temple was initiated in the year 1968 by the philanthropic industrialist Shri J. D. Chauhan. He originally belonged to the Mistri community from the Kutch region and was the founder of the ‘Bitco’ company. It took four years to complete the temple. The marble used for the temple was specially sourced from Makrana in Rajasthan.

The temple is built in the North Indian Nagara style of architecture. According to this style, there is no separate sanctum sanctorum (Garbhagriha); instead, one gets a direct view of the idols from the main hall (Sabhamandap). There are a total of 5 spires (Kalash) to be seen on the temple. The construction was carried out by specially inviting 100 artisans from Rajasthan.

Upon entering the temple, there is a beautiful idol of Sai Baba on the left. The 18 chapters of the Bhagavad Gita are carved on the walls on both sides of the temple. The idol of Shri Krishna in the main temple feels remarkably lifelike. Various scenes from the Mahabharata and the life of Shri Krishna have been depicted in this temple. These paintings were brought to life by the masterful brush of the famous artist Raghuvir Mulgaonkar.

The temple complex houses separate shrines for many deities, including Vishnu, Lakshmi, Ram-Sita-Lakshman, Dattatreya, and Jalaram Bappa. One can also see temples dedicated to Vaikunthadham, Badrinath Dham, Kartik Swami, Navnath Darbar, Satyanarayan Bhagwan, Mahalakshmi, Durga, Jyotirlinga, Kashi Vishwanath, Krishna, and Hanuman.

Every idol in the temple is adorned with distinctive attire and ornaments, making them all appear exquisite. After having darshan, a path has been created for circumambulation (Pradakshina). The intricate carvings visible on the outer walls of the temple during the circumambulation are unique. There is plenty of space for rest within the temple premises. Many shops selling Prasad, coconuts, and garlands can be found in the temple area. In particular, shops selling dry fruits are found in large numbers here.

Festivals are celebrated on important days such as Ram Navami, Gokulashtami, Kartik Swami Jayanti, Mahashivratri, Ganesh Chaturthi, Navratri, Dussehra, Diwali, and Shravani Mondays. During these times, the entire temple is decorated with flowers and large Rangolis are drawn. It takes about 1.5 to 2 hours to complete the entire temple visit.

The entire administration of the temple is managed by a private trust. On the right side of the temple, there is a Bhakti Niwas (pilgrim lodging), which can accommodate 200 devotees daily at affordable rates. The temple darshan timings are from 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM.

Sacred History & Spiritual Significance

This sacred temple stands as a testament to deep spiritual devotion, ancient architectural grandeur, and rich local cultural traditions.

Temple Sanctum & Architecture

The sanctum sanctorum houses the divine idol consecrated according to ancient Vedic traditions, surrounded by serene courtyards and traditional temple architecture.

Sacred Darshan Gallery