For a family from Pune going to Shirdi and Shani Shingnapur, the car comes down to how many of you there are and how many bags you carry. Up to four people fit in a Swift Dzire. Five or six need the Maruti Ertiga or the Toyota Innova Hycross, both of which seat six.
Each fare below is fixed for the whole car, round trip from your door in Pune, with fuel, tolls, parking and the driver’s allowance included.
Fixed fares for the day
| Car | Seats | Bags with every seat filled | Fixed fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maruti Swift Dzire | 4 | 2 large + 2 cabin | ₹5,999 |
| Maruti Ertiga | 6 | 2 soft or cabin bags | ₹7,459 |
| Toyota Innova Hycross | 6 | 2 check-in + 2 cabin | ₹10,999 |
The fare is the same on every day of the week, including Thursdays and festival days. It covers the car and driver only. Meals, darshan passes, poojas, offerings and donations are paid by you.
Cost per head
Because you pay for the car and not per seat, divide the fare by the number of people travelling. Figures are rounded to the nearest rupee.
| People travelling | Dzire | Ertiga | Innova Hycross |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | ₹1,500 | ₹1,865 | ₹2,750 |
| 5 | Seats 4 only | ₹1,492 | ₹2,200 |
| 6 | Seats 4 only | ₹1,243 | ₹1,833 |
A group of four pays least per head in the Dzire. Once you are five or six, the Ertiga is the lower fare per head.
Which car suits your group
Two to four people, light bags: Swift Dzire. It has room for two large and two cabin bags, which is plenty for a day trip.
Five or six people travelling light: Ertiga. With all six seats in use, the boot holds about two soft or cabin bags, because the CNG tank sits there. For a day trip that is usually enough. Tell us your bag count when you book.
Six people with elderly parents, or more luggage: Innova Hycross. It is a petrol-electric hybrid with the largest cabin of the three, and with all six seats in use it still takes two check-in and two cabin bags. The hybrid drive runs quietly at low speeds, which older travellers notice over close to eight hours on the road.
Every booking is a private car for your group alone. No other passengers are added.
Planning the day with a family
The day runs from a 5:30 AM pickup in Pune, with Shani Shingnapur in the morning and Shri Sai Baba’s samadhi mandir at Shirdi in the afternoon, to a drop at home at about 9:30 PM. Darshan hours can change, so confirm them with the Shri Shaneshwar Devasthan at Shani Shingnapur and the Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust at Shirdi before you go.
A few things make the day easier for a larger group.
- Phones at Shirdi. Phones and cameras are not allowed inside the samadhi mandir. They are left at deposit counters outside the complex, which takes a little time going in and again coming out. With six people, carry as few phones as you can to save time at the counter.
- Elders at Shirdi. Wheelchairs are available, and there is a separate queue for senior citizens and the differently abled. Ask at the entrance rather than joining the main line. The rest of the family can use the general queue and meet them after darshan.
- Thursdays at Shirdi. Thursday is Shri Sai Baba’s day and the busiest of the week, and the wait can go past three hours. Guru Purnima, Ram Navami and Vijayadashami draw the largest gatherings of the year. For a quieter darshan, choose another day.
- Saturdays at Shani Shingnapur. Saturday is Shani Dev’s day and is busier than the rest of the week. Shani Amavasya and Shani Jayanti draw the largest gatherings there.
- The open platform. The swayambhu idol of Shani Dev stands in the open, reached on foot across a platform with no shade. Going in the morning, as the plan does, avoids the midday heat, which matters most for elders and small children.
- Meals. Lunch is around 3 PM at Shirdi, after darshan. The temple area has prasadalaya and restaurant choices, and you pay for your own meals. Carry water and snacks in the car for the morning.
If one day is too long
With close to eight hours of driving, a single day is long for some families. The same route can be split over two days with a night at Shirdi. A two-day trip is quoted on request. The quote includes the driver’s night-halt charge, and your hotel is booked by you.
To book the day trip, see the Shirdi and Shani Shingnapur package from Pune and choose the car for your group.