Maharashtra

Maharashtra Tour Packages

Maharashtra packages with Bayard start at ₹17,000 per person and run to ₹33,999 for a seven-day circuit. Shirdi and five of India’s twelve Jyotirlingas, the rock-cut caves at Ajanta and Ellora, the Maratha forts, and the Ghat hill stations above Mumbai and Pune.

One thing to plan around before you fix your dates. Ajanta is closed every Monday and Ellora every Tuesday. They are a hundred kilometres apart and cannot be done in a day. Get the days wrong and you drive two and a half hours to a locked gate.

Below: the pilgrimage circuits and what they cover, how to sequence the caves, which hill station suits your trip, and what the monsoon is actually good for.

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Maharashtra trip at a glance

 The caves: how to sequence Ajanta and Ellora

This is the part that catches people out, and it is worth getting right before you book anything else.

 Three rules that follow from that

• The only days both sites are open are Wednesday to Sunday. If your trip includes a Monday or a Tuesday, the order matters.

• Do not try to do both in one day. They are a hundred kilometres apart in different directions, and Ajanta alone is a full day with five hours of driving.

• Start early, especially between April and June. The caves sit in an exposed gorge and Marathwada regularly passes 40°C the murals are cool, the walks between them are not. Leaving the city by 6:30 makes the difference.

We build the itinerary around the closure days as a matter of course. It sounds like a small thing and it is the single most common way a Maharashtra heritage trip fails.

Both sites were inscribed by UNESCO in 1983. The base city, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar still widely called Aurangabad also has Bibi Ka Maqbara, the seventeenth-century mausoleum known as the Taj of the Deccan, Daulatabad Fort, and the Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga a short drive from Ellora.

The pilgrimage circuits

Most of what we sell in Maharashtra is pilgrimage, and the state carries an unusual concentration of it.

The five Jyotirlingas

Maharashtra holds five of the twelve Jyotirlingas more than any other state:

• Trimbakeshwar, near Nashik, at the source of the Godavari. The most visited of the five and included in most of our circuits.

• Grishneshwar, beside Ellora, which makes it a natural pairing with the caves.

• Bhimashankar, in the Sahyadri hills north-west of Pune, in a wildlife sanctuary.

• Vaijnath at Parli, in Beed district.

• Aundha Nagnath, in Hingoli district.

A circuit covering all five takes longer than most people expect because the last two are a long way east. Tell us if completing all five matters and we will build the days for it rather than promising it in four nights.

Shirdi

The Sai Baba temple, and the single biggest pilgrimage draw in the state. Practical points worth knowing: darshan queues vary enormously by day and time, paid and special darshan arrangements exist and are worth using when time is short, and Thursday is Sai Baba’s day, which means the largest crowds of the week. Ram Navami, Guru Purnima and Vijayadashami transform the town entirely — accommodation and darshan both need booking well ahead for those dates. We plan around all of it.

Nashik and the Ashtavinayak

Nashik gives you Trimbakeshwar, the Ram Kund on the Godavari and the Kalaram temple, and it is the base for the Kumbh Mela when the cycle falls there. The Ashtavinayak the eight Ganpati temples around Pune, including Ranjangaon, Ozar and Lenyadri is a distinct circuit in its own right and one we can build separately or fold into a Pune-based trip.

Our Maharashtra packages

What moves the price

• How many centres. Maharashtra is a large state and each additional base means a real driving day.

• Hotel category, which varies widely between the pilgrimage towns and the hill stations.

• Whether the caves are included, since Ajanta is a full day with a long drive at both ends.

• Season. October to March is peak. The monsoon months are considerably cheaper.

• Whether airfare to Mumbai, Pune or Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar is bundled.

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The hill stations

The Western Ghats rise directly behind Mumbai and Pune, which is why this state has more hill stations within three hours of a major city than anywhere else in India.

• Mahabaleshwar - the largest and greenest, with Arthur’s Seat, Wilson Point for sunrise, the Panchganga Temple marking the source of five rivers, and strawberry farms in season. About five hours from Mumbai, three and a half from Pune.

• Lonavala and Khandala - the closest to Mumbai and the busiest, with Tiger’s Point, Bhushi Dam, the Karla and Bhaja caves nearby, and the best monsoon greenery in the state. Under two hours from either city.

• Matheran - Asia’s only vehicle-free hill station. No cars are permitted anywhere in the town; you arrive by toy train or walk up from Dasturi, and get around on foot, on horseback or by hand-pulled rickshaw. Quiet in a way the others are not.

• Panchgani - next to Mahabaleshwar, with Table Land and a gentler pace. Often paired with it.

Our steer: Lonavala for a short break from Mumbai, Mahabaleshwar for a proper hill-station stay, Matheran if the absence of traffic is the appeal.

When to go

 What the monsoon is actually good for

Maharashtra has the best monsoon tourism in India and almost nobody packages it properly.

• The Kaas Plateau near Satara a UNESCO World Heritage site that flowers into a carpet of wildflowers in late August and September. Daily visitor numbers are capped and entry requires advance online booking, so this is not somewhere you turn up.

• Bhandardara in late May and June, when the fireflies arrive in numbers that are genuinely difficult to describe.

• The Ghat waterfalls Malshej, Bhandardara, and the falls around Lonavala and Khandala, all of which only exist in the rains.

• Fort treks, which are at their most beautiful and most demanding in the monsoon.

The honest caveat: heavy spells close Ghat roads and landslides do happen. If you are travelling in July or August on fixed dates, we build slack in and tell you what the risk actually is rather than selling around it.

Mumbai

The Gateway of India, Marine Drive at dusk, the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, Haji Ali, the Elephanta Caves by ferry, and Dharavi or a Bollywood tour if that appeals. Most trips start or end here.

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad)

The base for the caves, and worth more than a night in its own right. Bibi Ka Maqbara, the seventeenth-century mausoleum built for Aurangzeb’s wife and known as the Taj of the Deccan; Daulatabad Fort, one of the most formidable hill forts in India; and the Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga beside Ellora.

Pune and the forts

Shivneri, where Shivaji was born, the Aga Khan Palace where Gandhi was interned, Sinhagad and Rajgad within easy reach, and Raigad the Maratha capital further south. Maharashtra has several hundred forts and the Sahyadri range is where most of them are.

The Konkan coast

Alibaug for the closest beaches to Mumbai, Ratnagiri for the Alphonso mangoes and the Thibaw Palace, and Sindhudurg and Tarkarli further south for the clearest water on the west coast. Quieter and less developed than Goa, which is the point.

Practical notes

Distances

Maharashtra is large and the circuits cover real ground. Mumbai to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar is around 330km, Pune to the same city about 230km, and Mumbai to Mahabaleshwar roughly five hours. The Samruddhi Mahamarg expressway has cut some of these times considerably. We sequence the circuits so you are not doubling back.

Temple etiquette

At Trimbakeshwar and several other Jyotirlingas there are dress requirements and restrictions on what can be carried inside, and at some, rules on who may enter the sanctum. Phones and cameras are restricted at most major temples including Shirdi. We brief you properly before each temple day rather than leaving you to find out at the gate.

Food

Excellent for vegetarians throughout. Maharashtrian food is worth seeking out on its own terms misal pav, puran poli, thalipeeth, and the Kolhapuri and Malvani cooking further south. Mumbai has everything. Tell us about Jain requirements at booking, which are widely and properly understood here.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Planning Ajanta on a Monday or Ellora on a Tuesday.

• Trying to see both cave sites in one day. They are 100km apart in different directions.

• Visiting the caves in the middle of a May afternoon.

• Arriving at Shirdi on a Thursday or a major festival without planning the darshan.

• Expecting to complete all five Jyotirlingas in a short circuit the eastern two are a long way out.

• Turning up at the Kaas Plateau without an advance booking.

• Underestimating the driving between Mumbai, Nashik, Shirdi and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.

• Booking Ghat routes on fixed dates in heavy monsoon without a contingency.

What’s included in a Bayard Maharashtra package

Why book Maharashtra with Bayard Vacations

• We sequence the caves around the closure days. Ajanta shuts on Mondays and Ellora on Tuesdays, and getting that wrong costs a whole day and a five-hour round trip.

• We plan Shirdi around the darshan, the Thursday crowds and the festival calendar rather than dropping you at the gate.

• We are honest about the Jyotirlinga circuits. Five of the twelve are here and two of them are a long way east we will tell you what fits your days.

• Circuits sequenced around real driving distances, in a state where the sites are genuinely far apart.

• Temple etiquette and restrictions briefed before each visit, not discovered at the entrance.

• Straight monsoon advice, including what is worth travelling for and what the Ghat road risk actually is.

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Maharashtra package FAQs

Which days are Ajanta and Ellora closed?

Ajanta is closed every Monday. Ellora is closed every Tuesday. The only days both are open are Wednesday to Sunday. They are about 100km apart in different directions, so they need separate days — and if your trip includes a Monday or Tuesday, the order matters. We sequence it for you.

Can I see Ajanta and Ellora in one day?

No, and we would not build it that way. They are roughly 100km apart, Ajanta alone is 100–105km from the city with a 2.5-hour drive each way, and both deserve unhurried time. Two days, with Ellora on the shorter drive and Ajanta on the longer one.

What do the caves cost to enter?

Around ₹40 per person for Indian nationals and ₹600 for foreign visitors, with under-15s free. At Ajanta there is also a mandatory shuttle of about ₹25 covering the final four kilometres from the parking area. Confirm current rates when you book.

How many Jyotirlingas are in Maharashtra?

Five of the twelve Trimbakeshwar near Nashik, Grishneshwar beside Ellora, Bhimashankar in the Sahyadris north-west of Pune, Vaijnath at Parli and Aundha Nagnath in Hingoli. More than any other state. The last two are a long way east, so completing all five takes more days than most circuits allow.

What should I know about Shirdi darshan?

Queues vary enormously by day and time, and paid or special darshan arrangements exist and are worth using if your time is limited. Thursday is Sai Baba’s day and the busiest of the week. Ram Navami, Guru Purnima and Vijayadashami transform the town — book accommodation and darshan well ahead for those. We plan around all of it.

How many days do I need in Maharashtra?

Two or three nights for a Shirdi and Nashik pilgrimage. Four to add Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and the caves. Four to six for the hill-station circuit. Maharashtra is a large state and each extra centre means a real driving day, so fewer places with more nights is usually the better trip.

How much does a Maharashtra trip cost?

Our packages run from ₹17,000 per person for three days to ₹33,999 for seven. How many centres you cover, hotel category, whether the caves are included and season are what move the number.

When is the best time to visit?

October to March for everything cool, dry and comfortable for caves, forts, hills and coast alike. April to June is hot inland, often above 40°C around the caves, so early starts matter. June to September is monsoon, which is spectacular in the Ghats and has its own draws.

Is the monsoon a good time to visit Maharashtra?

For the right trip, genuinely yes. The Kaas Plateau flowers in late August and September, the Bhandardara fireflies come in late May and June, the Ghat waterfalls only exist in the rains, and fort treks are at their best. The caveat is that heavy spells close Ghat roads, so we build slack into monsoon itineraries.

Do I need to book the Kaas Plateau in advance?

Yes. It is a UNESCO site with a capped daily visitor limit and entry is by advance online booking. It is not somewhere you can turn up, and the flowering window is short. Ask us early if it is on your list.

Is Aurangabad the same as Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar?

Yes. The city was officially renamed Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar in 2023. Both names are still in use — the airport, the caves nearby and a lot of signage still carry the older one so you will see both.

Which hill station should I choose?

Lonavala or Khandala for a short break from Mumbai or Pune, under two hours away. Mahabaleshwar for a proper hill-station stay with viewpoints and strawberry farms. Matheran if you want somewhere with no cars at all it is Asia’s only vehicle-free hill station and you arrive on foot or by toy train.

Is Maharashtra good for family trips?

Very. The distances are manageable by Indian standards, the connectivity is excellent, hotels are plentiful at every level, and the mix of caves, forts, hill stations and beaches gives everyone something. The main planning point is not overloading the itinerary with driving days.

Is Maharashtra good for vegetarians?

Excellent. Maharashtrian food is largely vegetarian-fr
iendly and worth exploring on its own terms misal pav, puran poli, thalipeeth and Jain requirements are widely and properly understood. Mumbai has everything else besides.

What is included in a Bayard Maharashtra package?

Hotels across your circuit, daily breakfast with some meals depending on the package, airport and station transfers, all sightseeing transport, specified cave and monument entries with the itinerary sequenced around closure days, temple visits as listed, and on-trip support. Airfare, special darshan, guide fees and personal expenses are separate.

Planning a Maharashtra trip? 
Tell us your dates and whether it is the temples, the caves or the hills you are after. We’ll sequence the closure days, plan the darshan, and tell you honestly how many centres your days can carry.

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