Shiva Temples & Caves of Maharashtra
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This 11 day journey begins and ends in Mumbai, mixing coastal buzz with temple towns and ancient art. You’ll cruise to the Elephanta Caves, sweep past Marine Drive and heritage landmarks, then head to Nashik’s sacred Panchavati – with vineyards nearby – and pay respects at Shirdi. Expect to see the UNESCO masterpieces of Ajanta and Ellora, visit Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga, and survey Daulatabad Fort and Bibi ka Maqbara. Continue via Aundha Nagnath to Nanded’s Hazur Sahib, then Parli Vaijnath and Ahmednagar Fort. Retreat to Bhimashankar’s forested hills – wildlife sanctuary walks optional – before Lonavala’s Karla and Bhaja caves and Lohagad, returning to Mumbai.
For a detailed itinerary and information about visas, money, weather and more.
Accommodation Standard
Prices
Tour Overview
Duration
11 daysHotel Rating
, 3, 4 or 5 star hotelsStarts
MumbaiEnds
MumbaiMinimum Age
No minimum ageMaximum Age
Tours have upper age limits for several reasons, such as but not limited to: tour pace, activity level, and accommodation standards. If you fall outside of this age limit, we do have lots of other tours in India that are suitable for all ages!
Arrival Transfer
YesDeparture Transfer
YesTour Guide
Yes - for included sightseeing.Country
IndiaPassengers
£2,175.00
£1,200.00
Accommodation Standard
Prices
Tour Style
Group Size
Min 1 / Max Private Tour
Trip Type
Private Tours
Range
On this tour, you won't be joined by other travellers, and will just be travelling with your booking party. Some transportation & sightseeing may be shared, check the Inclusions for more information.
Guiding Style
This tour includes scheduled sightseeing with expert guides in key destinations as per the Inclusions, as well as transportation (either with a driver or public transport), plus of course your accommodation. There is no single tour guide or tour leader throughout the trip. You’ll have support where it counts, and more freedom in between. Our cruise tours also fall into this category where you will be looked after by a crew. For more information, check the Inclusions of this tour.
Tour Pace
A balanced pace, with a mix of free time and visits to multiple locations, allowing for both relaxation and exploration. Generally doesn't visit more than one or two destinations per day.
Physical Rating
A moderate amount of walking is required during sightseeing, with some free time, offering a balance between activity and relaxation. As a general rule, you should be able to walk 2-kilometres without stopping.
Tour Guide
Yes - for included sightseeing.Group Size
Min 1 / Max Private TourRange
On this tour, you won't be joined by other travellers, and will just be travelling with your booking party. Some transportation & sightseeing may be shared, check the Inclusions for more information.
Guiding Style
This tour includes scheduled sightseeing with expert guides in key destinations as per the Inclusions, as well as transportation (either with a driver or public transport), plus of course your accommodation. There is no single tour guide or tour leader throughout the trip. You’ll have support where it counts, and more freedom in between. Our cruise tours also fall into this category where you will be looked after by a crew. For more information, check the Inclusions of this tour.
Tour Pace
A balanced pace, with a mix of free time and visits to multiple locations, allowing for both relaxation and exploration. Generally doesn't visit more than one or two destinations per day.
Physical Rating
A moderate amount of walking is required during sightseeing, with some free time, offering a balance between activity and relaxation. As a general rule, you should be able to walk 2-kilometres without stopping.
Trip Type
Private ToursPlaces You'll See
Mumbai
Nashik
Shirdi
Aurangabad
Ajanta
Daulatabad
Nanded
Aurangabad Division
Ahmednagar
Konkan Division
Bhimashankar
Pune
Lonavala
Accommodation Standard
Prices
Included
Not Included
Accommodation Standard
Prices
Itinerary
Day 1 - Mumbai
Arrive in Mumbai. On landing at the airport, we’ll meet you for assistance and transfer to your hotel. Standard check-in is from 12:00 – early check-in is subject to room availability. The rest of the day is free to unwind. If you’d like to explore, you can tap into Mumbai’s round-the-clock energy with shopping arcades, sports activities, nightclubs and discotheques, theatre, live music and gourmet restaurants. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 2 - Mumbai - Bandra - Juhu
Mumbai After breakfast, we transfer to the Gateway of India and cruise by motorboat to Elephanta Caves – closed on Mondays. Climb 100 steps to reach the hilltop caves, home to remarkable rock‑cut temples dating back to the 5th century. We return by boat to the Gateway of India in the afternoon.We then set off on a city tour, driving along Marine Drive – one of Mumbai’s most striking boulevards. We view the Maharashtra State Assembly from the outside, and see Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus – formerly Victoria Terminus – a UNESCO World Heritage Site, from the outside. We visit Dhobi Ghat, the city’s famous open‑air laundry, the Prince of Wales Museum – closed on Mondays – and Mani Bhavan, where Gandhi led key independence activities.We continue to Mount Mary Church – the Basilica of Our Lady of the Mount – originally built in 1640 and rebuilt in 1761. In the evening, we visit ISKCON Temple, dedicated to Lord Krishna and known for its murals and sculptures.Time permitting, you can drive through Bandra and Juhu to view the exteriors of several Bollywood celebrity homes. Overnight at hotel.
Day 3 - Mumbai - Nashik - Hyderabad
After breakfast at the hotel, we drive from Mumbai to Nashik (about 170 km – 4 hours) and check in on arrival. The rest of the day is free for you to relax or explore at your own pace. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 4 - Nashik - Shirdi - Aurangabad
Nashik – Shirdi – Aurangabad (170 kms – 4 hours). After breakfast we explore Nashik, an ancient holy city associated with the Ramayana. We visit Panchavati and Ram Kund on the Godavari, Shri Kalaram Sansthan Mandir with nearby Sita Gufaa, Sundarnarayan Temple and Tapovan by the Nasardi River. We also call at ISKCON, the white‑marble Muktidham complex with scenes from the Bhagavad Gita, and the Pandavleni Caves with early Buddhist carvings and inscriptions.Later we drive to Aurangabad via Shirdi, where we visit the Sai Baba Temple complex – Samadhi Mandir with its marble statue and tomb, Dwarkamai mosque and Lendi Garden. We continue to Aurangabad and check in to the hotel. Overnight in Aurangabad.
Day 5 - Aurangabad
Aurangabad – Ajanta (approx. 105 km – 2 hours each way). After breakfast, we drive to the Ajanta Caves for a full-day exploration (closed on Mondays). Rediscovered by British officers in 1819 during a tiger hunt and noted by the Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsang between AD 629 and 645, the site predates Ellora and dates from around 200 BC to AD 650. The thirty rock-cut caves feature sculptures and paintings depicting the life of the Buddha and his previous births. Five are chaitya halls – places of worship – and twenty-five are viharas, or monasteries, reflecting both Hinayana and Mahayana traditions.We return to Aurangabad in the evening for overnight at the hotel.
Day 6 - Aurangabad
After breakfast in Aurangabad, we drive about an hour (36 km) to the Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga Temple and the Ellora Caves. We begin at Grishneshwar, constructed by Queen Ahilyabai Holkar in the Maratha style and built in red and black stone with intricate carvings. We then explore the UNESCO listed Ellora Caves – closed on Tuesdays – a complex of 34 monasteries and temples dating from around AD 600 to 1000, representing Brahmanism, Jainism and Buddhism, with remarkable stonework depicting legends linked to Lord Shiva. On the return journey we stop at Daulatabad Fort, famed for its formidable defences with double and even triple rows of massive walls. Back in Aurangabad, we visit Bibi ka Maqbara, built by Azam Shah in 1678 as a tribute to his mother – its white marble, landscaped gardens, ponds, fountains and water channels have earned it the nickname the mini Taj of the Deccan. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 7 - Aurangabad - Nanded
After breakfast, we depart Aurangabad for Nanded – approximately 265 km, around 5 hours by road – stopping en route at Aundha Nagnath (Nageshwaram Temple), revered as the eighth of the twelve Jyotirlingas. The present temple dates to the 13th century under the Seuna (Yadava) dynasty, while it is believed the original shrine traces back to the Mahabharata era and Yudhishthira. It is said the temple once rose to a structure of seven storeys before being sacked during Aurangzeb’s reign.We continue to Nanded and check in at the gurdwara sarai or hotel. Later, we visit Hazur Sahib, one of Sikhism’s five takhts, set on the banks of the River Godavari. The main gurdwara within the complex, known as Sachkhand, stands where Guru Gobind Singh Ji left his earthly life, with the inner room, Angitha Sahib, marking the cremation site from 1708. The complex was built between 1832 and 1837 on the orders of Maharaja Ranjit Singh Ji. Overnight in Nanded.
Day 8 - Nanded - Ahmednagar
After breakfast we drive from Nanded to Ahmednagar (about 325 kilometres – around 7 hours), visiting the Shree Vaijnath Temple en route. Set on a hill roughly 75–80 feet above ground level, the stone-built temple faces east and features a brass‑plated main door. Enclosed by four strong walls, it has corridors and a courtyard. The main gate – the Mahadwar – stands near a minaret called a Prachi or Gawaksha, a window, and the approach is via a wide staircase. The temple was renovated by the Shiva devotee Ahalyadevi Holkar in 1706.On arrival in Ahmednagar we check in to the hotel, then visit Ahmednagar Fort, built by Ahmed Nizam Shah – the city’s founder – in the 15th and 16th centuries. The fort’s walls rise about 18 metres and are supported by 22 bastions. It includes 24 citadels and measures roughly 30 metres in width. The fort later served as a prison, including for Indian National Congress leaders during the Quit India Movement, and Jawaharlal Nehru wrote The Discovery of India here. Renovations took place under the Nizami kings between 1559 and 1562.The rest of the day is at leisure – you can relax. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 9 - Ahmednagar - Bhimashankar
After breakfast we drive 170 km – approximately 4 hours – from Ahmednagar to Bhimashankar and check in to the hotel. Later we visit the Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga Temple in the Sahyadri Hills, a modest yet graceful shrine with origins attributed to the 13th century and noted for its Nagara-style architecture. Its hilltop setting offers wide views and a calm forest backdrop, with varied plant life. If you wish, you can add a short trek around the temple area or visit and trek in the Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary in your free time – the reserve is part of the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot, home to endemic species including the Indian giant squirrel and 14 sacred groves. Overnight at hotel.
Day 10 - Lonavala - Mumbai
After breakfast, we drive from Bhimashankar to Mumbai via Lonavala – about 200 km and around 5 hours. En route we visit the Karla and Bhaja Caves, ancient Buddhist shrines carved from solid granite around 160 BC. At Karla, the entrance features an Ashoka stambh, while inside you’ll find monks’ rooms, a prayer hall and a large stupa. Both sites showcase substantial pillars and intricate relief sculptures, and the Karla complex also includes the temple of Ek Veera, revered by the Koli community. Nearby landmarks include Lohagad Fort to the south of Bhaja, with its four gates, and Bhushi Dam to the west, where water overflows the steps in the rainy season. We then continue to Mumbai and check in at the hotel for the night.
Day 11 - Mumbai
After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll transfer you to Mumbai airport in line with your flight schedule for your onward journey. If your departure is later in the day, you’ll have free time to relax until the transfer.
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Tour Reviews
Accommodation Standard
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Extras and add-ons
If you'd like to add extras or add-ons to your booking, you can do this easily during checkout. Just review the available options and select any additional services or upgrades you'd like before completing your purchase.
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Hotels
The hotels listed below are examples which we frequently use on this tour. Alternative hotels of a similar standard may be used instead.
Accommodation Standard
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Prices & Dates
The prices you see below are a guide, with final prices per person being determined by the number of travellers in your booking party, desired hotel standard and the rooming arrangements required. To see an accurate price, please click "Book Dates" and enter the details for your booking party.
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