Description:
Northern part of Nashik is known as Panchavati as River Godavari flows. There are five Banyan (Vat) trees and hence the area is called Panchavati.
It is believed that Lord Shri Ram and Sita along with Lakshman stayed at Panchavati for some time. Infact it was here that Sita spotted the golden deer and was abducted by the demon king Ravan. People believe that she was abducted from the Sita Gumpha. This is a small cave underneath a banyan tree. One can enter the cave with the help of a narrow staircase. The cave has the idol of Shree Ram, Lakshman and Sita. Thus Panchavati gained lot of importance.
