The quaint and small town of Nashik is an important religious centre for followers of the Hindu faith and attracts thousands of pilgrims annually because of the sanctity of the Godavari River and because of the legend that Lord Rama, the hero of the Ramayana epic, who made Nasik his home when he was exiled from his kingdom.  It is also the site of the Adi-Kumbh Mela, one every 12 years. 

By the second half of the 20th century, the city had become industrialized and an important centre for silk and cotton weaving and processing sugarcane and sunflower oil.  These days the city is much more appreciated for the wines the region produces.