Nasik is the kind of place that tends to grow on you. It’s a small city (by Indian standards) at an altitude of 1870ft that nestles delicately on a plateau near India’s West Coast. An adventurous 4 hour drive or a more sedate 3 hour train journey from Mumbai brings you to a city with none of the frenetic pace of its bigger neighbour, but with oodles of charm. Easy-going, except for one madness-inducing 6-week period every twelve years - when around 5 million devotees throng to the city for the mass Hindu pilgrimage called the Kumbh Mela. The city has great historical and religious importance, and is probably home to every element of the melting pot that is India.
For all its religious significance Nasik is also of immense importance when it comes to the stuff you and I love. It is referred to as the wine capital of India, and produces over 80% of the Indian wine produced in the country. It enjoys a tropical climate and a mild, dry winter, with warm days and cool nights. This, with soil amply suited to vine-growing, results in distinctive wines full of character in an industry that is barely a decade old. Leave the city limits in any direction and you will run into vineyards. North and East of the city are home to probably the best terroir for wine grape growing within Asia – and the birthplace of Soul Tree. Glance into these vineyards and you’re sure to spot a farmer gazing contentedly at his life’s work.
Explore some more and you’ll discover some very interesting mountains in the vicinity offering great treks and breathtaking views. And every now and then you will run into a winery that would be more than happy to take you on a tour of the facilities and an Indian wine tasting.