Kushavarta Tirth - कुशावर्त तीर्थ

Kushavarta Tirtha is a sacred pond located at a distance of about 500 meters near Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga Temple, Maharashtra. Kushavarta Kund is considered the symbolic origin of the Godavari River, and is revered by Hindus as a sacred bathing place. It is also called Tirtharaj. Devotees take bath in this holy pond before any puja or Triambakeshwar darshan.

About Kushavarta Tirtha
Kushavarta Kund is located at a distance of 500 meters from the main Trimbakeshwar temple. This 21 feet deep pond was built in 1750 with natural aquifers. It is said that this is the place where the sacred Godavari river reappears after disappearing on the Brahmagiri hills, and hence this pilgrimage has supreme sanctity.

This is the rear part of Trimbakeshwar Temple. The water of Godavari comes from Brahmagiri mountain which is the origin of Godavari river and accumulates here. The river flows from Kushavart Kund and the miracle is that no one knows from where the water emerges from the Kund and becomes a river.

There are stone footpaths and verandahs around this pond. Kushavarta Kund has six corners, giving this place another name – Tirtharaja. And there is a temple on every corner. On the southeast corner is the temple of Kedareshwar Mahadev, who in the guise of Kedarbatta bathed Gautam Muni in the water and gave him atonement for the sin of killing a cow. To the south west is Sakshi Vinayak, who is the witness to all the devotees visiting the temple and the kund. On the southeast corner is the temple of Kedareshwar Mahadev, who in the guise of Kedarbatta bathed Gautam Muni in the water and gave him atonement for the sin of killing a cow. To the south west is Sakshi Vinayak, who is the witness to all the devotees visiting the temple and the kund. There is a temple of Mother Godavari in the north-east. There is Kusheshwar Mahadev temple in the northwest.

How to reach Kushavarta Tirtha:
The road distance from Nashik to Trimbakeshwar is approximately 30 kilometers, Nashik is well connected by road. The nearest railway station is Nashik Road which is about 40 kilometers away. The nearest airport is Ozar Nashik International Airport located about 24 kilometers from the city centre.

Interesting facts about Kushavart Kund:
1. It is believed that this pond was built by the Pandavas.
2. The present Kund structure was built in 1750 by Raoji Aabaji Parnekar of the Holkar dynasty at a cost of Rs 8 lakh.
3. The pond is always full of water and never dries up.
4. This pond is 21 feet deep but is shallow near the stairs.
5. There is circumambulation around the pond. If people take a dip in the pond and then do parikrama, they get rid of all their sins.