Brahmadev worshipped God Trivikram when he came to Satya Loka (on earth) with the same holy water of the Ganges, to get the river Ganges held up by God Shankar on his head, to flow. River Ganges in the form of a woman was enjoying with Lord Shiva, which was noticed by Lord Shiva's wife Parvati. She planned to drive Ganges away from her husband. Parvati and her son Ganesh came to live in Gautama's Ashram with Parvati's friend Jaya. There was a famine of 24 years and people were affected by the pangs of hunger. However, Varun - the God of Rains, pleased with Sage Gautama arranged rains every day in Gautama's Ashram (dwelling place) which was in Trimbakeshwar. Gautama used to sow rice in the surrounding fields of his Ashram in the morning, reap the crop in the afternoon and with it fed a large group of rishis, who took shelter in his Ashram on account of the famine. The blessings of the group of rishis increased the merit (Punya) of Gautama. Lord Indra's position became shaky because of his increased merit. So Indra ordered clouds to rain all over Trimbakeshwar, so that the famine will be over and Rishis will go back and the increasing merits of Gautama will be weakened. Although the famine was over, Gautama urged the Rishis to stay back and kept on feeding them and gaining merit. Once he saw a cow grazing in the paddy field and he drove her away by throwing Darbha (sharp, pointed grass). The slender cow died by this. It was Jaya - Parvati's friend, who had taken the form of a cow. This news upset the Rishis and they refused to luncheon at his Ashram. Gautama requested Rishis to show a way out of this sin. He was advised to approach Lord Shiva and request him to release Ganges and a bath in the Ganges would set him free of his sins. Gautama then practiced penance by going to the peak of Brahmagiri. Lord Shankara was pleased by his worships and gave him the Ganges. However, Ganges was not prepared to part with Lord Shiva, which irritated him. He made TandavNrutya (dance) on the peak of Brahmagiri and dashed his jata there. Frightened by this action, Ganges appeared on Brahmagiri. Later on Ganges appeared in the Trimbak Tirtha. Gautama praised her but she off and on appeared on the mountain at various places and disappeared in anger. Gautama could not bathe in her waters. Ganges then appeared in Gangadwar, Varaha-tirtha, Rama-Laxman tirtha, Ganga Sagar tirtha. Still Gautama could not bathe in her waters. The Gautama surrounded the river with enchanted grass and put a vow to her. The flow stopped there and the tirtha thus came to be called Kushavarta. It is from this Kushavarta that the river Godavari flows up to the sea. The sin of killing a cow by Gautama was wiped off here. 

Sinhastha Mahatmya speaks of Lord Rama having made the Yatra at Trimbakeshwar. A shraddha on the river Godavari gives great satisfaction to the forefathers. If it is not done in this place, it is considered as a religious sin. So Ganga Pujan, Ganga Bhet, DehShuddhi Prayaschitta. Tarpan Shradha, Vayan, Dasha Dana, Gopradan etc. Rituals are done in Trimbakeshwar. Mundana and Tirtha Shraddha are also performed here. 

Kushavarta is called as Teertharaj, since it has six corners. After finishing the tirtha-yatra at Kushavarta, a pilgrim should proceed by the northern bank of Godavari and visit Nilsangameshwar, Vivah Vinayak, Satya Narayan, Dhaneshwar Mahadev, Tarangeshwar, Setupaleshwar etc. 

The Lord Shiva at Trimbakeshwar is worshipped by recitations of Rudra, Rudri, Laghu Rudra, Maha Rudra or Ati Rudra puja. Actually Rudraskha is a religious fruit which is said to be found in lord Shiva's neck in the form of Rudra garland. Some of the trees of Rudraskha is also found in Trimbakeshwar. For more details read Rudraksha Mahima or Contact Pt. Jagannath Narayan Acharya, Trimbakeshwar.

Shrimant Balaji Bajirao alias Nanasaheb Peshwa built the main temple during his regime. The work begun 1755 in the first half of the Margashirsha month (around December) and was completed in 1786. It took 31 years to construct the temple and the cost of 16 lacs then. Naro Damodar, a Sardar for the Peshwas later took on the responsibility to develop the surrounding areas lying near it. And to date, his later generations have taken up the liability of looking after this house of worship. The present fourth generation of the clan of the Damodar family, Bhaskar Mahadevrao Joglekar, has recently retired from his service as a trustee of the temple.  

Shreemant Rao Sahib Parnekar has built up the banks with stone pavement and with verandahs on all sides. In last Kumbhmela local politicians and the Govt. official modified stone pavement with Cement Concrete (What the sense?). Near Kushavarta is Kanchan and Kankhala tirtha where , it is said that dead human bones disappear in these tirthas. The flow of Godavari runs from this place. There are temples at the four corners of Kushavarta. On the south east corner is the temple of Kedareshwar Mahadev, who in disguise of Kedarbhatta made Gautama to bathe in the waters and gave him prayaschitta (repentance) for the sin of killing a cow. To the south-west is Sakshi Vinayak , who is a witness to the yatra -vidhi of all pilgrims. To the north-west is Kusheshwar Mahadev and to the north-east is the temple of Godavari. It is said in Trimbak Mahatmya that Godavari was pleased with Gautama and gave him her "Darshana" - appearance in person . At this place the Godavari temple is built.

Behind Gangamandir temple, Shrimant Peshawa has built a big dharmashala (caravansary) where Rama and Karpureshwar Mahadev are enthroned. There is a separate temple of Ashwini Kumar in front of Gangamandir. There is a big Ashwattha Narayan tree in front of Kushavarta tirtha. In addition, there are temples of Jwareshwar Mahadev and Kanchaneshwar and statues of Dash Avatar and of thirty-three kinds of deities. The old holy books say that by the order of Lord Shiv, all deities stay here in person, during the period of Sinhastha Parva, to wipe off their sins and to get themselves purified. 

Original Ganges and Trimbak Tirtha are on Brahmagiri mountain adjacent to Trimbakeshwar temple. Brahmagiri is considered as a huge form of Lord Shiva and hence the mountain climbing was considered as a sin. However in 1908 Seth Lalchand Jashodanand Bhambhani of Karachi and Seth Ganeshdas built 500 steps of stone at a cost of Rs. 40,000 then. This has facilitated easy access to Brahmagiri. Godavari is flowing in three directions on the mountain. The one flowing towards east is called Godavari, one flowing towards the south is called Vaitarna and the one flowing towards the west is called the west-flowing Ganga and meets Godavari near Chakra Tirth. River Ahilya meets Godavari in front of the Trimbakeshwar temple. Childless families worship at the Ahilya sangam and it is believed that they do get a child. That Puja is Called as Narayan Nagbali Vidhi. If you need more information then Please contact Shri Jagannath Narayan Acharya, Trimbakeshwar. 

The first peak of Sahyadri is called Brahmadri. The story associated with this is that Shankar was pleased with Brahmadev and said " I shall be known by your name". Hence it is called as Brahmagiri. The mountain is 1800 feet high . Its height from sea level is 4248 feet. Five peaks of this mountain are called Sadyo-Jata, Vamdev, Aghora, Ishana and Tat-Purusha and are considered as five mouths of the Lord Shiva and they are worshipped. 

Gangadwar is half way to Brahmagiri mountain. There is a temple of Ganga, now known as Godavari River. Ganga appears first time here, after it vanishes from Brahmagiri Mountain. Godavari comes to Gangadwar from Brahmadri. There are 750 steps to Gangadwar. They were built by Karamsi Ranamull of Village Maska. The work was commenced on 1st of Chaitra in Samwat 1907 and was completed on 5th of Chaitra Samwat 1918 by Seth Hansraj Karamsi. Gangadwar is one of the five tirthas. There is an idol of Ganga. 

Nearby is Kolambika Devi, Varah tirtha further on is the cave of Gautama for practicing penance where there are 108 Shivalingas. A little further on is Gorakh Gumpha, a place where Gorakhnath practiced penance, the idol is worth seeing. After descending a few steps, Ganga flows from the roots of Audumbar tree. This is known as Rama-Laxman tirtha. Here Rama stopped for a few days and did Shraddha ceremony in memory of Dasharatha. There is Rama temple and Gopalrao Ghanekar built it at a cost of Rs. 25000.00 in 1857. Ganga Sagar is a big tank in the flow of river and is 300 x 400 ft. Shrimant Rajebahadar built it about the year 1678. 

Bilwa Tirtha is to the north of NilParvat. It is one of the five tirthas. There is a temple of Bilvakeshwar Mahadev built by Naro Vinayak Gogte in 1738 at a cost of Rs. 25,000.00 

Gautama Tirtha is to the south of the Ganges and the Trimbakeshwar temple. Varun being pleased with Gautama gave this tirtha as a permanent source of water. To the north is Gautameshwar and to the south is Rameshwar Mahadev. This tank is 600 x 400 ft and is built by Shrimant Pandit Zashivale at a cost of Rs. 50,000.00 

To force Gautama to give up his penance, a friend of Ganga named Jatila took the form of Ahilya, Gautam's wife. Gautama could make it out and cursed her to be transformed into a river. Then she begged his pardon. Gautama granted her pardon and said that she will be freed of her curse on her joining with Godavari river. This is the Ahilya-Sangam tirtha where Ganga and Godavari join. There is a temple of Sangmeshwar Mahadev.