First, 3 nights in Mumbai
Trident, Nariman Point
Trident, Nariman Point, Mumbai: sea-view rooms above Marine Drive, pool terrace, spa, Frangipani and Ness. A premium base for South Mumbai.
Mumbai · Hotel · Premium★★★★★
Premium Accommodation12 NightsPremiumRecommended
Maharashtra in Depth — Premium
About This Journey
Maharashtra in Depth — Premium
This is the full Maharashtra route over thirteen days. It joins the city, the pilgrimage towns and the caves. Mumbai opens the trip. Nashik and Trimbakeshwar follow, then Shirdi. Aurangabad gives you Ellora and Ajanta. Pune closes it.
Nights are spread across five bases, so no leg is a rush. A guide stays with you at each stop.
- 01
Mumbai, colonial and coastal
Three nights give you the Fort district, the Gateway of India and a ferry to the Elephanta Caves.
- 02
Nashik and Trimbakeshwar
Nashik is a riverside pilgrimage town on the Godavari. A day goes to Trimbakeshwar, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, and the rock-cut Pandavleni Caves.
- 03
Shirdi, calmly done
Two nights in Shirdi let you see the Samadhi Mandir for aarti and again when queues are short. Your guide handles the process.
- 04
The great caves
Ellora with the Kailasa temple, Daulatabad Fort and the painted caves of Ajanta share the Aurangabad stay.
Chapter Two — Where You'll Stay
5 Real Stays, In Order
Handpicked along your own route — not a hotel chain repeated city to city.
Next, 2 nights in Nashik
The Source at Sula
The Source at Sula in Nashik: a Tuscan-style vineyard estate above Gangapur Lake. Winery tours, tastings, La Bodega dining, pool and spa.
Nashik · Resort · Premium★★★★
Next, 2 nights in Shirdi
Hotel Sai Jashan
Hotel Sai Jashan, Shirdi: a well-reviewed stay 500 m from the Sai Baba temple. Temple shuttle, Basil Leaves vegetarian dining and calm king rooms.
Shirdi · Hotel · Premium★★★★
Next, 3 nights in Aurangabad
Welcomhotel by ITC Hotels, Rama International
Welcomhotel by ITC Hotels, Rama International in Aurangabad: 228 rooms in landscaped gardens, pool, Madhuban dining. Base for Ajanta and Ellora.
Aurangabad · Resort · Premium★★★★★
Finally, 2 nights in Pune
Novotel Pune Nagar Road
Novotel Pune Nagar Road, Pune: 311 rooms in Viman Nagar, pool, fitness centre and four dining venues. A smart premium base near the airport.
Pune · Hotel · Premium★★★★★
Chapter Three — Day by Day
Real Maharashtra Attractions in This Itinerary
11 of your 13days — the full itinerary follows below. Scroll to travel the route.
Day 2 · Mumbai
Colonial Mumbai: Fort, Gateway and CST
A day in the old Fort district with a private guide. The area is a stretch of Victorian Gothic and Art Deco, built when Mumbai was Bombay. You see the Gateway of India, finished in 1924, and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, a UNESCO World Heritage railway station. A walk through the Fort's lanes follows. We end with chai and sea air on the waterfront. Timings for interiors vary, so we confirm them on the day.
Day 3 · Mumbai
Elephanta Caves by Ferry
A ferry from the Gateway of India takes about an hour across the harbour. On Elephanta Island, steps climb to a group of rock-cut cave temples to Shiva. The Maheshmurti, a huge three-faced figure, is the centrepiece. The caves are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. They are generally closed on Mondays, and ferry times depend on the weather, so we confirm both. Back in the city, the evening is yours.
Day 4 · Mumbai → Nashik
Mumbai to Nashik
The road climbs out of the city into the Western Ghats, about four hours with a coffee stop. Nashik sits on the Godavari river, an old pilgrimage town. In the late afternoon, walk the riverside ghats at Ramkund. Dusk here brings bells, lamps and a steady stream of pilgrims.
Day 5 · Nashik
Trimbakeshwar and the Pandavleni Caves
Start early for darshan at Trimbakeshwar, about 30 km from Nashik. The black stone temple is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, set beneath the Brahmagiri hills near the source of the Godavari. After lunch, climb to the Pandavleni Caves, a group of rock-cut Buddhist caves on a hill above the city. Sanctum rules apply at the temple, so we brief you before you go.
Day 6 · Nashik → Shirdi
Nashik to Shirdi
A drive of about two hours, around 90 km, east to Shirdi. The road crosses open Deccan plains and small farming towns. You reach the hotel by early afternoon. Rest, and then take your first darshan at the Samadhi Mandir, when the queues are shorter in the evening.
Day 7 · Shirdi
Sai Baba Darshan in Shirdi
Shirdi is the home of the saint Sai Baba, who lived here until 1918. Your guide takes you to the Samadhi Mandir for the morning aarti, and through the queue with minimum fuss. Then the Dwarkamai mosque and the Gurusthan, places linked to his life. The rest of the day is quiet. Aarti timings change, so we confirm them locally.
Day 8 · Shirdi → Aurangabad
Shirdi to Aurangabad
About two and a half hours by road, roughly 115 km, north-east to Aurangabad. You arrive by lunch. The afternoon is free, or a short stop at the old city gates. The next days are for the caves and the Jyotirlingas of Marathwada.
Day 9 · Aurangabad
Ellora Caves and Daulatabad Fort
Ellora lies about 30 km from the city. Thirty-four caves, Buddhist, Hindu and Jain, are cut along one basalt hillside. Cave 16, the Kailasa temple, is carved top-down from a single rock. A local guide takes you through the best of it. On the way back, stop at Daulatabad Fort, a hill fortress with a winding, dark passage and sweeping views. Ellora is generally closed on Tuesdays, so we order the days to suit.
Day 10 · Aurangabad
The Ajanta Caves
Ajanta is about 100 km from Aurangabad, roughly two hours each way. Its Buddhist caves curve around a quiet river gorge. They hold some of India's oldest surviving painted murals. Your guide explains the Jataka scenes and the carved halls. Lighting inside the caves is dim, and the paintings are fragile, so photography is limited. Ajanta is generally closed on Mondays, so we confirm the day.
Day 11 · Aurangabad → Pune
Aurangabad to Pune
A road day of about four and a half hours across the Deccan, with a lunch stop. The flat plateau gives way to the Sahyadri hills near Pune. Pune is the old seat of the Peshwas. It is greener and calmer than Mumbai. Check in and rest, and take a quiet walk in the evening.
Day 12 · Pune
Peshwa Pune: Shaniwar Wada and the Aga Khan Palace
A day of Pune's history with a local guide. Shaniwar Wada was the seat of the Peshwas. Its great gate and the stone remains of the fort remain. In the afternoon, the Aga Khan Palace, where Mahatma Gandhi was held in the 1940s, is now a quiet memorial and museum. We close with a stroll through the old Peth quarter.
Chapter Four — The Full Itinerary
13 Days, In Full
Every day, start to finish — including the transfers the day-by-day chapter above skipped.
Mumbai
Arrive in Mumbai
Your driver meets you at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. Mumbai is India's financial capital, and it never really stops. Check in and rest. In the late afternoon, walk the sweep of Marine Drive as the light turns gold. The curve of the bay at dusk is called the Queen's Necklace. Dinner is a first taste of the city's cooking.
Mumbai
Colonial Mumbai: Fort, Gateway and CST
A day in the old Fort district with a private guide. The area is a stretch of Victorian Gothic and Art Deco, built when Mumbai was Bombay. You see the Gateway of India, finished in 1924, and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, a UNESCO World Heritage railway station. A walk through the Fort's lanes follows. We end with chai and sea air on the waterfront. Timings for interiors vary, so we confirm them on the day.
Mumbai
Elephanta Caves by Ferry
A ferry from the Gateway of India takes about an hour across the harbour. On Elephanta Island, steps climb to a group of rock-cut cave temples to Shiva. The Maheshmurti, a huge three-faced figure, is the centrepiece. The caves are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. They are generally closed on Mondays, and ferry times depend on the weather, so we confirm both. Back in the city, the evening is yours.
Mumbai → Nashik
Mumbai to Nashik
The road climbs out of the city into the Western Ghats, about four hours with a coffee stop. Nashik sits on the Godavari river, an old pilgrimage town. In the late afternoon, walk the riverside ghats at Ramkund. Dusk here brings bells, lamps and a steady stream of pilgrims.
Nashik
Trimbakeshwar and the Pandavleni Caves
Start early for darshan at Trimbakeshwar, about 30 km from Nashik. The black stone temple is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, set beneath the Brahmagiri hills near the source of the Godavari. After lunch, climb to the Pandavleni Caves, a group of rock-cut Buddhist caves on a hill above the city. Sanctum rules apply at the temple, so we brief you before you go.
Nashik → Shirdi
Nashik to Shirdi
A drive of about two hours, around 90 km, east to Shirdi. The road crosses open Deccan plains and small farming towns. You reach the hotel by early afternoon. Rest, and then take your first darshan at the Samadhi Mandir, when the queues are shorter in the evening.
Shirdi
Sai Baba Darshan in Shirdi
Shirdi is the home of the saint Sai Baba, who lived here until 1918. Your guide takes you to the Samadhi Mandir for the morning aarti, and through the queue with minimum fuss. Then the Dwarkamai mosque and the Gurusthan, places linked to his life. The rest of the day is quiet. Aarti timings change, so we confirm them locally.
Shirdi → Aurangabad
Shirdi to Aurangabad
About two and a half hours by road, roughly 115 km, north-east to Aurangabad. You arrive by lunch. The afternoon is free, or a short stop at the old city gates. The next days are for the caves and the Jyotirlingas of Marathwada.
Aurangabad
Ellora Caves and Daulatabad Fort
Ellora lies about 30 km from the city. Thirty-four caves, Buddhist, Hindu and Jain, are cut along one basalt hillside. Cave 16, the Kailasa temple, is carved top-down from a single rock. A local guide takes you through the best of it. On the way back, stop at Daulatabad Fort, a hill fortress with a winding, dark passage and sweeping views. Ellora is generally closed on Tuesdays, so we order the days to suit.
Aurangabad
The Ajanta Caves
Ajanta is about 100 km from Aurangabad, roughly two hours each way. Its Buddhist caves curve around a quiet river gorge. They hold some of India's oldest surviving painted murals. Your guide explains the Jataka scenes and the carved halls. Lighting inside the caves is dim, and the paintings are fragile, so photography is limited. Ajanta is generally closed on Mondays, so we confirm the day.
Aurangabad → Pune
Aurangabad to Pune
A road day of about four and a half hours across the Deccan, with a lunch stop. The flat plateau gives way to the Sahyadri hills near Pune. Pune is the old seat of the Peshwas. It is greener and calmer than Mumbai. Check in and rest, and take a quiet walk in the evening.
Pune
Peshwa Pune: Shaniwar Wada and the Aga Khan Palace
A day of Pune's history with a local guide. Shaniwar Wada was the seat of the Peshwas. Its great gate and the stone remains of the fort remain. In the afternoon, the Aga Khan Palace, where Mahatma Gandhi was held in the 1940s, is now a quiet memorial and museum. We close with a stroll through the old Peth quarter.
Pune
Depart from Pune
A slow last morning. Your driver takes you to Pune airport in good time for your flight.
Guest Stories
What Our Travelers Say
Real words from real journeys — rated 5.0 across 310 Google reviews.
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Nothing short of magical. Brijesh crafted a seamless itinerary that balanced sightseeing, culture, and relaxation, making our journey truly special.
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Excellent hotels and tour guides. Our driver Manish was superb in every way — reliable, and full of local knowledge.
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Chapter Five — Terms & Conditions
Straightforward, In Writing
Cancellation windows, refund timing, and rescheduling terms for this journey follow our one sitewide policy — nothing package-specific to dig through.
Read the Return & Refund PolicyFrequently Asked
Before You Book
Is this too much for one trip?
It is a long route, but the stays are two or three nights each, and the longer drives are broken by lunch stops. The shorter routes in our Maharashtra collection cover the same places in parts.
What is the best time to go?
The cooler months, from about October to March, are the most comfortable for sightseeing. The monsoon turns the hills green, but caves and ferries can be affected.
Are meals included?
Daily breakfast is included. Lunches and dinners are not, unless specified, so you can eat where you choose. Special meals can be added on request.
Chapter Six — Similar Journeys
More of Maharashtra, Privately
Before you go
Planning Maharashtra
Travel Tips
Private Tour or Group Tour in India? An Honest Comparison
First-Time IndiaPlanning GuideTravel Tips
Travel Tips
Getting Around India: Trains, Flights or a Private Car?
First-Time IndiaPlanning GuideTravel Tips
Travel Tips
Eating Well in India Without Getting Ill: A Practical Guide
First-Time IndiaFood & CulturePlanning Guide
Why Choose Us
The Same Trust, Sized to This Trip
01
Planning, Built Around You
This route was shaped around Maharashtra's real places, not lifted from a fixed template.
13 years — Brijesh Sharma, Bespoke Itinerary Specialist
02
Handpicked Hotels
Every stay on this trip was chosen in person, not off a ratings page.
5 real stays, 4–5★
03
A Private Fleet, Always Yours
One driver, air-conditioned, for the whole route — no shared shuttle.
Premium sedans & SUVs · One driver, the whole trip
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