Igatpuri (India)

Igatpuri (Pronunciation: [iɡət̪puɾiː]; formerly known as Egutpoora) is a town and a Hill Station. It is also a municipal council in Nashik District in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is located in the Western Ghats. Igatpuri railway station lies in Nashik District, between Mumbai and Nashik Road on the Central Railway. Igatpuri is known for Vipassana International Academy, where ancient techniques of meditation is taught called Vipassana. The place is one of the best places to visit in Maharashtra in monsoon. It is a hill station on busy Mumbai-Agra NH-3 only 45 km from Nashik and 130 km from Mumbai. Igatpuri railway station is a major railway station connecting Igatpuri to Mumbai. The station is known for its surrounding scenery, wada pao and idlis sold by vendors to commuters traveling in the train. The exit of Igatpuri railway station signals the proximity of Mumbai on the down route. Igatpuri is surrounded by the highest peaks in Sahyadri i.e. Western Ghats, most of them are forts built in the Satavahana dynasty. It's heavenly for trekkers and hikers, Most Indian (Hindi) movie outdoor scenes specially songs are shot in Igatpuri region. Igatpuri is a place of significance in terms of Vipassana meditation. The International Centre for Vipassana meditation called Dhammagiri, supposedly the largest Vipassana Center, is located here. This region consists of those mountains which are accessed by trains going from Mumbai CST to Kasara and Igatpuri. Local trains only go up to Kasara, and don't climb the Thal Ghat from Kasara to Igatpuri. Hence to go to Igatpuri, one has to either take a long distance train or reach Kasara by a suburban train and then take a bus uphill.