Trimbak has long been an important place of pilgrimage in Hinduism, as the tradition holds that the sage Gautama performed penance here, which led to the descent of the Godavari to cleanse his hermitage. It is also home to the
Trimbakeshwar Shiva Temple, which is one of the
12 Jyotirlingas. In 1690, the Trimbakeshwar Temple was raided and destroyed by Aurungzeb's forces. Later, during Peshwar rule In the 18th century, the current Trimbakeshwar Temple was re-constructed by Balaji Baji Rao. At the same time, the town itself was developed to support the many pilgrims who came for worship and ritual functions.
British Occupation and Rule Trimbak was historically protected by a fortress located on a steep hill. In April 1818, a British force led by Lt. Colonel McDowell laid siege to this stronghold. Over three days, beginning April 22nd, the British struggled to establish firing positions on the challenging terrain, facing heavy resistance that damaged their artillery. Despite the determined defense, the fortress surrendered on April 25th in exchange for favorable terms. This strategic victory secured the vital region north of Pune for the British. During this siege, the agents of the Peshwa secretly removed the Neel Mani, or 'Blue Diamond' (now known as the Nassak Diamond), from its setting in the Trimbakeshwar Temple. The Peshwa later handed the gem to the British officer Colonel Briggs, who passed it to the Governor-General of India, the Earl of Moira. It was subsequently shipped to England, where it has remained a significant subject of controversy and attention. Administratively, Trimbak was part of the Nashik district even during British colonial times. The boundaries and sub-divisions in the district saw periodic changes: for example, in 1869 Nashik was formalized as a full district, and more recently (in 1999) the Trimbakeshwar tehsil was formed by re-organizing parts of Nashik, Igatpuri, and Peint talukas. == Bollywood In Trimbak ==