Maharashtra Tour Packages
Shirdi darshan, strawberry hills and monsoon waterfalls, all within a night's train ride of Gujarat – 59 Maharashtra packages planned from Ahmedabad, Surat and Vadodara.
Maharashtra is the state Gujarati families visit most often without ever calling it a holiday. A Shirdi darshan with Shani Shingnapur and Nashik, a long weekend in Mahabaleshwar, a monsoon drive to Lonavala, or Ajanta and Ellora on the way back from a Mumbai wedding – these are short, drivable or overnight-train trips from Ahmedabad, Surat and Vadodara, and they are what the packages on this page are built around. For travellers with more time we add Tadoba's tiger safaris, the Ashtavinayak and Jyotirlinga circuits for senior groups, and Matheran, the vehicle-free hill station.
Every package below shows a live price. Below the packages you will find a price guide by trip type, drive and train times from Gujarat, three day-wise itineraries, a Shirdi aarti and darshan-pass guide, a hill-station comparison table, and a month-by-month calendar so you know when the strawberries are ripe and when the waterfalls are full.
Available holiday packages
Maharashtra tour package price guide (2026)
Packages on this page start at ₹8,500 per person. Maharashtra is one of the lowest-cost destinations we sell because most clients travel by road or train and the hotels in Shirdi, Nashik and Lonavala are good value. The bands below are per person on twin sharing, excluding travel from Gujarat, with a private car and breakfast included; Tadoba bands include two safaris.
| Trip | Standard (3★) | Deluxe (4★) | Premium (5★ / resorts) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2N/3D Shirdi – Shani Shingnapur – Nashik – Trimbakeshwar | ₹8,500 – 11,000 | ₹12,000 – 16,000 | ₹20,000+ |
| 3N/4D Mahabaleshwar – Panchgani (with Pratapgad) | ₹11,000 – 15,000 | ₹17,000 – 24,000 | ₹32,000+ |
| 3N/4D Lonavala – Khandala – Matheran | ₹10,000 – 14,000 | ₹16,000 – 22,000 | ₹30,000+ |
| 4N/5D Shirdi – Aurangabad – Ajanta – Ellora | ₹14,000 – 19,000 | ₹21,000 – 29,000 | ₹38,000+ |
| 2N/3D Tadoba tiger safari (2 safaris) | ₹16,000 – 22,000 | ₹26,000 – 34,000 | ₹45,000+ |
| 6N/7D complete Maharashtra (Shirdi, Nashik, Mahabaleshwar, Lonavala) | ₹23,000 – 30,000 | ₹34,000 – 45,000 | ₹60,000+ |
Add for travel from Gujarat: Ahmedabad–Mumbai flights are usually ₹3,500–6,500 one way; Ahmedabad–Nagpur flights for Tadoba about ₹4,500–8,000 one way; sleeper or 3AC train fares to Shirdi or Nashik are a few hundred to about ₹1,500 per person. Usually extra on the ground: Shirdi aarti passes, Ajanta and Ellora entry tickets, Matheran toy-train tickets and horse rides, Mapro and Imagica tickets, boating at Venna Lake, and extra safaris at Tadoba. We list every exclusion on the quote itself.
How to reach Maharashtra from Ahmedabad, Surat and Vadodara
Maharashtra is the one state where the question is not "which flight" but "drive, train or fly". The answer depends on where you start in Gujarat and which part of Maharashtra you are heading to.
| Route | Distance | By road (private car) | Train / air alternative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ahmedabad – Shirdi | about 560 km | 10–11 h via Vadodara, Surat, Nashik | Direct trains to Sainagar Shirdi run a few days a week (12–14 h overnight); Kopargaon station, 15 km away, has daily options |
| Surat – Shirdi | about 400 km | 7–8 h via Nashik | Overnight trains to Kopargaon / Manmad |
| Vadodara – Shirdi | about 470 km | 9 h | Same trains as Ahmedabad, 1½ h shorter |
| Ahmedabad – Nashik | about 500 km | 9–10 h | Nashik Road station is well connected to Mumbai; Nashik airport has limited flights |
| Ahmedabad – Mumbai | about 530 km | 8–9 h on NH48 | Vande Bharat about 5½ h; flights 1 h 15 min, many daily |
| Mumbai – Lonavala / Khandala | about 85 km | 2 h on the Expressway | Local and express trains to Lonavala |
| Mumbai – Mahabaleshwar | about 260 km | 5–6 h | Pune is 3 h from Mahabaleshwar; fly Ahmedabad–Pune and drive |
| Ahmedabad – Nagpur (for Tadoba) | – | Not practical by road | Flights 1 h 30 min; Tadoba gates are 2½–3 h from Nagpur |
- Shirdi and Nashik by road: a family of four or five in an Innova from Ahmedabad is usually cheaper than train plus local taxi, and lets you stop at Saputara or Nashik on the way. For senior groups we break the drive with a night in Surat or Nashik.
- Mahabaleshwar and Lonavala: fly or take the Vande Bharat to Mumbai, or fly to Pune, and we have a car waiting. Driving all the way from Ahmedabad to Mahabaleshwar is about 12 hours and we do not recommend it in one stretch.
- Matheran: cars stop at Dasturi car park; from there it is the toy train from Neral, a horse or a walk. Pack light for this one.
- Aurangabad (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar): about 3 hours from Shirdi by road, so Ajanta–Ellora sits naturally after a darshan trip.
Best Maharashtra itineraries from Gujarat
2 nights / 3 days – Shirdi, Shani Shingnapur, Nashik and Trimbakeshwar (pilgrimage)
- Day 1: Board the overnight train from Ahmedabad or Surat, or leave by car at dawn. Reach Shirdi by afternoon, check in, Dhoop aarti in the evening and a walk through the Sansthan complex, Dwarkamai and Chavadi.
- Day 2: Kakad aarti at 4:30 am for those who want it (pre-booked pass), then darshan and breakfast. Drive to Shani Shingnapur (70 km, about 1½ h), back via Shirdi to Nashik (90 km). Evening at Panchavati, Kalaram temple and the Godavari ghats.
- Day 3: Early drive to Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga (28 km), darshan, Anjaneri hill viewpoint; optional Saptashrungi (Vani) for the Shaktipeeth before returning towards Gujarat by road or boarding the train from Nashik Road.
3 nights / 4 days – Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani (family or honeymoon)
- Day 1: Fly Ahmedabad–Pune or Ahmedabad–Mumbai; drive to Mahabaleshwar (3 h from Pune). Sunset at Wilson Point.
- Day 2: Arthur's Seat, Elphinstone and Kate's Point, Venna Lake boating, Mapro Garden for strawberries and cream, old Mahabaleshwar temples.
- Day 3: Pratapgad fort in the morning (24 km), Panchgani's Table Land and Sydney Point in the afternoon, strawberry farm visit in season.
- Day 4: Drive to Pune or Mumbai for the flight home; Lonavala stop on the way to Mumbai if time allows.
6 nights / 7 days – complete Maharashtra (darshan plus hills)
- Day 1–2: Shirdi darshan and Shani Shingnapur, as above.
- Day 3: Nashik and Trimbakeshwar; overnight in Nashik.
- Day 4: Drive to Lonavala (about 5 h via Mumbai–Pune Expressway); Bhushi dam, Lion's Point, Karla caves.
- Day 5: Drive to Mahabaleshwar (4 h via Pune); evening at Venna Lake.
- Day 6: Mahabaleshwar points, Pratapgad, Panchgani.
- Day 7: Drive to Pune or Mumbai; fly to Ahmedabad.
For senior groups: Ashtavinayak and Jyotirlinga circuits
The eight Ashtavinayak Ganpati temples around Pune and Raigad (Morgaon, Siddhatek, Pali, Mahad, Theur, Lenyadri, Ozar and Ranjangaon) fit into 2 nights with a Tempo Traveller and a Marathi-speaking driver; Lenyadri has steps, so we keep it for the morning. Five of the twelve Jyotirlingas are counted in Maharashtra – Trimbakeshwar, Bhimashankar, Grishneshwar, Aundha Nagnath and Parli Vaijnath – and a 6-night loop covers them with Shirdi. We keep drives under five hours a day and book hotels with lifts and Gujarati or pure-veg dining.
Shirdi darshan and aarti guide – how to plan your visit
Shirdi is the most-booked single destination in this section, and the questions are always the same: which aarti, how to get a pass, and how to avoid a four-hour queue. Here is what we tell every client.
- The four aartis: Kakad (morning) aarti at about 4:30 am, Madhyan (noon) aarti at 12:00, Dhoop aarti at sunset, and Shej (night) aarti at about 10:30 pm. Kakad and Shej aartis are the quietest and most moving; Dhoop aarti is the easiest for families with children.
- Passes: aarti passes and darshan slots are booked online on the Shri Saibaba Sansthan portal (online.sai.org.in). Free darshan slots exist; aarti passes carry a fee (currently around ₹600 per person) and a paid-darshan line (currently about ₹200) is also available. Passes are tied to a photo ID and open about 30–60 days ahead; for Thursdays, weekends and festival days they finish within hours of opening. We book them with your hotel.
- Crowd days: Thursdays, Ram Navami (usually March–April), Guru Purnima (usually July) and Vijayadashami (Baba's punyatithi, usually October) see the heaviest crowds. A Tuesday or Wednesday visit halves your queue time.
- Dress and rules: modest dress; mobile phones, cameras and bags are not allowed inside the Samadhi Mandir – free lockers are available. Allow 1–2 hours for a free darshan on a normal day.
- Add-ons: Shani Shingnapur (70 km) in the morning, Nashik–Trimbakeshwar (90 km) the same day, or Aurangabad for Grishneshwar and Ellora (about 3 h). Sai Teerth devotional theme park at Shirdi is a good two-hour stop for children.
- Prasad and food: the Sansthan's Prasadalaya serves a simple, inexpensive pure-veg meal to thousands daily; Shirdi town has dozens of Gujarati and Jain restaurants, so food is never a worry here.
Mahabaleshwar, Lonavala or Matheran – which hill station suits you?
Gujarat has Saputara; Maharashtra has four hill stations within a few hours of Mumbai and Pune, each with a different character. This is how they compare for a trip from Ahmedabad.
| Hill station | Altitude | From Mumbai / Pune | Best season | Known for | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mahabaleshwar | about 1,350 m | 5–6 h / 3 h | Oct–Mar (strawberries Dec–Mar), monsoon for waterfalls | Viewpoints, Venna Lake, Mapro, Pratapgad, strawberry farms | Families, honeymooners, 3–4 night trips |
| Panchgani | about 1,300 m | 5 h / 2½ h | Same as Mahabaleshwar | Table Land, paragliding, quieter boutique stays | Couples who want fewer crowds |
| Lonavala – Khandala | about 620 m | 2 h / 1½ h | Jul–Sep monsoon, Oct–Feb | Bhushi dam, Lion's Point, Karla–Bhaja caves, Lohagad, Imagica, Della Adventure | Weekend trips, young groups, families with teenagers |
| Matheran | about 800 m | 2½ h to Neral + toy train / 3 h | Oct–May; toy train often suspended in monsoon | Vehicle-free lanes, 38 viewpoints, Charlotte Lake, horses | Walkers, nature lovers, couples; harder for seniors with knee issues |
| Igatpuri | about 600 m | 3 h / 4 h; on the Nashik route | Monsoon | Vipassana centre, Bhatsa valley, waterfalls | Quiet stopover on an Ahmedabad–Nashik drive |
If you are choosing one: Mahabaleshwar for a proper 3-night holiday with grandparents and children; Lonavala for a monsoon weekend added to a Mumbai trip; Matheran if everyone in the group can walk 3–4 km a day and wants a hill station unlike any other in India.
Best time to visit Maharashtra – month by month
| Months | Weather | Good for | Prices |
|---|---|---|---|
| October – November | Pleasant after the rains, 20–30°C; hills cool and green | Diwali vacation trips to Shirdi and Mahabaleshwar; Vijayadashami crowds at Shirdi; Tadoba reopens fully | High in Diwali week; book by September |
| December – February | Cool, 10–25°C; Mahabaleshwar nights near 10°C | Strawberry season, Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani at their best, Ajanta–Ellora, Tadoba sightings improve | Peak for hill stations; Christmas and New Year week highest |
| March – April | Warming up, 25–38°C in the plains; hills still comfortable | Last of the strawberries, Mapro Strawberry Festival (usually around Easter), Ram Navami at Shirdi, Tadoba's best tiger-sighting months | Moderate |
| May | Hot in the plains, 35–40°C; hills 25–30°C | Gujarat summer vacation – Mahabaleshwar, Lonavala and Matheran; Tadoba is hot but excellent for sightings | High in hill stations; book 4–6 weeks ahead |
| June – September (monsoon) | Very heavy rain in the Western Ghats; Mahabaleshwar receives among the highest rainfall in India | Lonavala, Khandala, Malshej Ghat and Igatpuri waterfalls; Guru Purnima at Shirdi (July); Ganeshotsav in Mumbai and Pune (usually August–September) | Lowest for hill resorts; Tadoba core zones have limited access |
For Gujarati families the two busiest windows are Diwali week and the May vacation. Shirdi passes and Mahabaleshwar's lake-view rooms sell out first; we open bookings for both about two months ahead. Monsoon weekends in Lonavala are the best-value trips on this page.
Places to visit in Maharashtra
- Shirdi: Sai Baba Samadhi Mandir, Dwarkamai, Chavadi, Gurusthan and Sai Teerth – the reason most Gujarati families come to Maharashtra at all.
- Shani Shingnapur: the open-air Shani shrine in a village famous for houses without doors; 1½ hours from Shirdi.
- Nashik and Trimbakeshwar: Panchavati, Kalaram temple, Godavari ghats, Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga, and Sula Vineyards for those who want a different kind of afternoon.
- Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani: the strawberry capital of India, Venna Lake, Arthur's Seat, Pratapgad fort and Table Land.
- Lonavala and Khandala: Bhushi dam, Lion's Point, Karla and Bhaja Buddhist caves, Lohagad fort, Della Adventure and Imagica theme park nearby.
- Matheran: India's only vehicle-free hill station, reached by toy train from Neral, with Charlotte Lake and Panorama Point.
- Ajanta and Ellora: UNESCO-listed rock-cut caves near Aurangabad – Ajanta's Buddhist paintings (closed Mondays) and Ellora's Kailasa temple (closed Tuesdays), with Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga next door.
- Aurangabad: Bibi Ka Maqbara, Daulatabad fort and Panchakki make a half-day stop.
- Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve: Maharashtra's best tiger-sighting park, 2½–3 hours from Nagpur, with core and buffer zone safaris.
- Mumbai: Gateway of India, Marine Drive, Siddhivinayak, Haji Ali, Elephanta caves and the markets – a night or two at either end of any trip.
- Alibaug and Kashid: Konkan beaches 2–3 hours from Mumbai or by ferry from the Gateway; good for a quiet two nights.
- Kolhapur and Pandharpur: Mahalaxmi temple, Jyotiba hill and the Vitthal temple – the southern pilgrimage loop, often combined with the Sade Teen Shaktipeeth circuit.
Food, hotels and tips for Gujarati travellers
- Pure-veg and Jain food: Maharashtra is the easiest state in this section. Shirdi has Gujarati thali restaurants on every street and the Sansthan Prasadalaya; Nashik, Mahabaleshwar and Lonavala have Gujarati and Jain restaurants near the main markets; Mumbai and Pune need no introduction. Only Tadoba's forest lodges and the Ajanta caves area need advance notice, which we give.
- Hotel categories: Shirdi has good 3- and 4-star hotels within walking distance of the temple and a few 5-star properties on the bypass; Mahabaleshwar's best rooms are lake-view or valley-view and sell out first; Lonavala has everything from budget hotels to large resorts; Matheran hotels are heritage-style with no vehicle access, so expect simpler rooms; Tadoba has jungle lodges and luxury camps near the Moharli and Kolara gates.
- Pack: a light woollen for Mahabaleshwar nights from November to February, a raincoat and non-slip footwear for monsoon trips, modest clothing for temples, and a printed copy of your Shirdi passes with photo ID.
- Money and connectivity: UPI works everywhere including Shirdi stalls; mobile signal drops inside Tadoba and in parts of Matheran.
- Timings to remember: Ajanta closed Mondays, Ellora closed Tuesdays, Tadoba core zones closed on Tuesdays and with limited access from July to September, Matheran toy train usually suspended in the monsoon.
- Driving from Gujarat: the NH48 and NH160 (Surat–Nashik) are good roads; FASTag is compulsory and we include all tolls and parking in your car cost.
Why book your Maharashtra trip with Vibrant Holidays
- 11 years, Ahmedabad office: plan a Shirdi trip across the counter at C G Road, or on WhatsApp from Surat or Vadodara; one consultant handles your file from quote to return.
- Live prices, no bait: the "from" price on this page belongs to a real package on sale today, not a headline that changes once you call.
- Pure-veg and Jain meals confirmed in writing with every hotel, including forest lodges at Tadoba and resorts in Mahabaleshwar.
- Travel from Ahmedabad arranged with the package – train tickets, Ahmedabad–Mumbai or Ahmedabad–Nagpur flights, or a private car from your doorstep.
- 24×7 on-tour support from our Ahmedabad team and Marathi-speaking drivers who know the ghat roads and the temple-town parking. IATA-accredited; member of TAAI, TAFI, ADTOI and IATO; recognised by the Ministry of Tourism.
Maharashtra tour packages – frequently asked questions
How much does a Maharashtra tour package cost from Ahmedabad?
Packages on this page start at ₹8,500 per person. A 2-night Shirdi–Shani Shingnapur–Nashik trip with 3-star hotels and a private car costs ₹8,500–11,000 per person excluding travel from Gujarat; a 3-night Mahabaleshwar holiday ₹11,000–15,000 in 3-star and ₹17,000–24,000 in 4-star. Train fares add a few hundred to ₹1,500 and Ahmedabad–Mumbai flights ₹3,500–6,500 one way.
How do I reach Shirdi from Ahmedabad?
By road it is about 560 km and 10–11 hours via Vadodara, Surat and Nashik; from Surat about 7–8 hours. Direct trains to Sainagar Shirdi run on selected days and take 12–14 hours overnight; Kopargaon station, 15 km from Shirdi, has daily trains. We arrange the car or the train tickets with your hotel.
How do I book Shirdi aarti and darshan passes?
Darshan slots and aarti passes are booked online on the Shri Saibaba Sansthan portal against a photo ID. Free darshan slots exist; aarti passes currently cost about ₹600 per person and a paid-darshan line about ₹200. Passes for Thursdays, weekends and festivals sell out within hours of release, so we book them the day they open and attach them to your voucher.
Which is the best time to visit Mahabaleshwar?
December to March for strawberries and cool, clear weather; October–November after the rains for green views; and the May vacation when it is 10–12°C cooler than Ahmedabad. The monsoon (June–September) is extremely wet in Mahabaleshwar – good for waterfalls, but viewpoints are often clouded over.
Mahabaleshwar or Lonavala – which is better for a family?
Mahabaleshwar for a 3–4 night holiday with grandparents and children: more to see, cooler, strawberry farms and boating. Lonavala for a 1–2 night monsoon weekend attached to a Mumbai or Pune trip, especially with teenagers who want Imagica or Della Adventure. Both have plenty of Gujarati and Jain food.
Is pure-vegetarian and Jain food available in Maharashtra?
Yes, easily. Shirdi, Nashik, Mahabaleshwar, Lonavala, Mumbai and Pune all have Gujarati thali and Jain restaurants, and Shirdi's Sansthan Prasadalaya serves a pure-veg meal. The only places where we pre-arrange are the forest lodges at Tadoba and the Ajanta caves area, and we confirm those menus in writing.
Can I combine Shirdi with Ajanta and Ellora?
Yes – Aurangabad is about 3 hours from Shirdi, and Ellora (with Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga next door) is 30 km from the city, Ajanta about 100 km. A 4-night Shirdi–Aurangabad trip covers both. Remember Ajanta is closed on Mondays and Ellora on Tuesdays; we plan the days around this.
How many days are enough for a Maharashtra trip?
Two nights for a Shirdi–Shani Shingnapur–Nashik darshan, three nights for Mahabaleshwar–Panchgani, three nights for Lonavala with Matheran, and six to seven nights if you want darshan plus the hills in one trip. Tadoba needs two nights for two safaris; three for better odds of a tiger.
Is Maharashtra suitable for senior citizens?
Very suitable. Distances are moderate, roads are good, and the food is familiar. For seniors we keep drives under five hours, book hotels with lifts close to the Shirdi temple, use the paid-darshan line to avoid long queues, skip Matheran's walking lanes, and run the Ashtavinayak and Jyotirlinga circuits in a Tempo Traveller with rest halts.
How do I reach Tadoba from Ahmedabad and when is the best time?
Fly Ahmedabad–Nagpur (about 1 h 30 min), then drive 2½–3 hours to the Moharli or Kolara gate. October to June is the season; March to May gives the best tiger sightings, though it is hot. Core zones have limited access from July to September and are closed on Tuesdays; buffer zones stay open all year.
What is usually not included in a Maharashtra package?
Travel from Gujarat unless you ask us to add it, Shirdi aarti and paid-darshan passes, monument entry tickets at Ajanta and Ellora, Matheran toy-train and horse rides, boating, theme-park tickets, additional safaris at Tadoba, personal expenses and 5% GST. Every quote shows inclusions and exclusions side by side.
Can I customise the Maharashtra package for an extended family?
Yes. Every trip is a private, customised itinerary – your own car and driver, your own dates. Add Saputara on the drive from Gujarat, swap Matheran for Alibaug, or extend to Kolhapur and Pandharpur. Extended families and friend groups travel together as a private group in a Tempo Traveller on their own dates. Call 1800-313-4262 or send us the package on WhatsApp and we will re-quote within a working day.
Plan more with Vibrant Holidays
Updated October 2026 by the Vibrant Holidays team, Ahmedabad.
