This panch Jyotirlinga tour from Pune takes in all five of Maharashtra's Jyotirlingas over four days, in the sequence the roads make sensible. Day 1 covers Bhimashankar and Trimbakeshwar and ends with a night at Nashik. Day 2 brings Grishneshwar and a halt in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. Day 3 is Aundha Nagnath, with the night at Parbhani, and on Day 4 you have darshan at Parli Vaijnath before the long drive back.
We kept Day 2 light on purpose, so Shirdi and the Ellora Caves can be added if you wish. You can do one, both or neither, and you choose that morning instead of locking it in beforehand.
What's included
Pickup from your home in Pune and drop back at your door
Fuel, tolls and parking for the whole 1,284 km route
Driver allowance, plus the driver's halt charges for all three nights
AC car, with drinking water kept in the vehicle
Your driver's mobile number and the vehicle details, sent to you the night before you leave
Not included
Your stay on all three nights, which you book yourself
Food, snacks and any personal spending
Darshan passes, poojas, offerings and donations at the temples
Entry tickets at the Ellora Caves, should you add that stop
Travel insurance
Day-by-day itinerary
Hour by hour, temple by temple.
Tap a day to expand. Drive blocks show distance from the previous
stop; temple blocks link to the temple guide below.
Timings below are indicative, not fixed.
Darshan queues, traffic, weather, and road conditions all shift the
day. Your driver adjusts the running order on the road to fit
every temple in — the stops stay the same, the clock moves.
Day 1 · 377 km
Pune → Bhimashankar → Trimbakeshwar → Nashik
The longest push north, with two Jyotirlingas before a night in Nashik.
4:30 AM
Pune pickup from your home
We collect you from your door. No other day on this circuit has as much driving, and leaving this early is what lets both Jyotirlinga darshans happen today at an unhurried pace.
7:30 AM
Arrival at Bhimashankar temple
110 km from previous stop
Sixth of the Jyotirlingas, set deep in the Sahyadri hills. Expect roughly 200 steps down to the sanctum, then the same climb back. Of the five darshans, this one asks the most of your legs.
7:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Bhimashankar darshan and temple time
Four hours are kept free here, matching our one-day and two-day Bhimashankar packages. On a normal day the line by itself can take two hours, and far longer on Mondays or during Shravan.
11:30 AM
Leave for Trimbakeshwar
237 km from previous stop
Today's longest stretch, descending the Bhimashankar ghat and heading north in the direction of Nashik. Plan on about three and a half hours, including a stop for lunch.
1:00 PM
Lunch on the road
Arranged and paid by you.
3:00 PM – 5:30 PM
Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga darshan
Tenth Jyotirlinga, where the Godavari rises, known for its lingam with three faces. We allow two and a half hours, as the general line often takes well over an hour. Temple doors stay open till 9:00 PM.
5:30 PM
Drive on to Nashik
30 km from previous stop
Only a short run down from Trimbak.
6:15 PM
Night halt at Nashik
We leave you at the place you have booked, and the driver stays elsewhere. Of all the halts on this route, Nashik offers the most hotels to pick from.
Overnight: Nashik
Indicative schedule. Arrival and departure at each stop
depend on darshan queues, traffic, and conditions on the
day — expect some drift from the times shown.
Day 2 · 221 km
Nashik → Grishneshwar → Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar
Grishneshwar on the easiest day of the four, with Shirdi and Ellora if you want them.
7:00 AM
Day 2 pickup at your Nashik stay
Of the four days this one is the lightest, and that is what gives room for the optional stops.
8:30 AM
Shirdi (optional)
91 km from previous stop
Shirdi lies very nearly on today's route and takes around 90 minutes extra, darshan included. Because the queue is hard to predict, settle it with your driver that morning instead of promising it the evening before.
12:00 PM
Lunch on the way or at Verul
100 km from previous stop
Arranged and paid by you. Verul lies a short drive away from the temple, and eating here means the afternoon darshan need not be rushed.
2:00 PM
Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga darshan
At Verul, the twelfth and last of the Jyotirlingas. Queue length changes from day to day, so keep time in hand at the temple. Men go into the garbhagriha without a shirt. Set aside an hour.
3:15 PM
Ellora Caves (optional)
The caves, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are right next to the temple. Give them two to three hours and expect plenty of walking. They are shut on Tuesdays. Adding Ellora means reaching Sambhajinagar closer to 7 PM.
5:30 PM
Onward to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar
30 km from previous stop
6:15 PM
Night halt at Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar
We leave you at your booked stay, and the driver stays elsewhere. What time you get here depends wholly on the optional stops you chose.
Overnight: Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar
Indicative schedule. Arrival and departure at each stop
depend on darshan queues, traffic, and conditions on the
day — expect some drift from the times shown.
Day 3 · 280 km
Sambhajinagar → Aundha Nagnath → Parbhani
Aundha Nagnath, then an early stop so Day 4 starts well.
7:30 AM
Day 3 pickup at your Sambhajinagar stay
No day on this circuit is shorter.
11:00 AM
Aundha Nagnath Jyotirlinga darshan
201 km from previous stop
By tradition the Pandavas established this as the first Jyotirlinga, and it is the least crowded of the five. You reach the sanctum by going below the level of the courtyard. Set aside an hour.
12:30 PM
Lunch at Aundha or on the way
Arranged and paid by you.
1:30 PM
On to Parbhani
79 km from previous stop
3:00 PM
Night halt at Parbhani
We stop early here on purpose, because Day 4 is a long one and this halt prepares for it. We leave you at your booked stay, and the driver stays elsewhere.
Overnight: Parbhani
Indicative schedule. Arrival and departure at each stop
depend on darshan queues, traffic, and conditions on the
day — expect some drift from the times shown.
Day 4 · 415 km
Parbhani → Parli Vaijnath → Pune
Early darshan at the fifth Jyotirlinga, then the long drive back to Pune.
6:00 AM
Day 4 pickup at your Parbhani stay
This day has the most driving. Starting early means you reach Pune at a sensible hour.
7:30 AM
Parli Vaijnath Jyotirlinga darshan
88 km from previous stop
Fifth and final on this circuit, where Lord Shiva is worshipped as the divine physician. Here devotees are allowed to touch the lingam, so the line is moved along in a controlled order. Set aside 75 minutes.
9:15 AM
Start the drive back to Pune
327 km from previous stop
A long crossing of Marathwada towards home, about seven hours with stops.
1:00 PM
Lunch on the road
Arranged and paid by you.
5:30 PM
Pune drop at your home
We leave you at your own door.
Indicative schedule. Arrival and departure at each stop
depend on darshan queues, traffic, and conditions on the
day — expect some drift from the times shown.
Temple guide
Every temple, what to expect.
Notes from drivers who have done this circuit hundreds of times —
timings, dress code, accessibility for elders, and what makes
each temple unique.
01 · Bhimashankar
Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga
Lord Shiva (Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga)
The sixth Jyotirlinga and the source of the Bhima river, set deep in the Sahyadri hills. The nagara-style temple, with later Nana Phadnavis additions, marks where Lord Shiva is said to have slain the demon Tripurasura. The surrounding forest is a declared wildlife sanctuary and home to the Indian giant squirrel, Maharashtra's state animal.
Modest attire with covered shoulders and full-length clothing for the sanctum. The hill setting is cold and misty — carry a layer even in summer.
Photography
No photography of the garbhagriha or the Jyotirlinga. The outer temple and forest surroundings are fine.
For seniors
The temple sits below road level — roughly 200 descending steps from parking to the sanctum, then the same back up. This is the most physically demanding darshan of the five. Doli (palanquin) carriers are sometimes available at the top.
Best time: Early morning, and outside the monsoon if mobility is a concern (the steps get slippery). Mondays and Mahashivratri are heaviest.
The tenth Jyotirlinga, at the foot of Brahmagiri near Nashik, and the source of the Godavari. Uniquely the lingam here has three faces: Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. The present black-stone temple was built by Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao in the 18th century and is among the finest nagara buildings in Maharashtra. It is also one of the two sites of the Simhastha Kumbh Mela, held every 12 years. The next opens on 31 October 2026.
Sanctum entry for rituals has its own rules — men performing rituals typically enter bare-chested in a dhoti. For general darshan, modest full-length clothing is recommended. Inner-sanctum entry has restricted hours.
Photography
No photography inside the sanctum. The exterior carving photographs well from the courtyard.
For seniors
A few steps to the temple platform; the courtyard is mostly step-free. Manageable for most. The Brahmagiri climb is a separate strenuous trek and is not part of a standard darshan.
Best time: Early morning. Sant-pooja days and Shravan Mondays draw very large crowds.
Avoid: Simhastha Kumbh Mela years, Mahashivratri and Shravan Mondays draw the largest gatherings.
03 · Verul (Ellora)
Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga
Lord Shiva (Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga)
The twelfth and final Jyotirlinga, at Verul beside the Ellora Caves. The red-stone temple was rebuilt by Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore in the 18th century and is richly carved with dashavatara reliefs and a Nandi mandap. The legend of Kusuma, whose devotion restored her son to life, gives the shrine its name.
Modest attire. Men are required to enter the garbhagriha bare-chested — shirt and vest removed — for darshan of the lingam; women wear sarees or modest full-length clothing.
Photography
No photography or mobile phones inside the sanctum. The carved exterior is photographable.
For seniors
A few steps to the main platform and a largely step-free courtyard — one of the easier darshans on this circuit.
Best time: Morning, ideally paired with an early Ellora Caves visit before the heat. Mondays are busier.
Avoid: Mahashivratri and Shravan Mondays — peak crowds.
04 · Aundha
Aundha Nagnath Jyotirlinga
Lord Shiva (Nagnath / Nageshwar Jyotirlinga)
Held by many in Maharashtra to be the Nageshwar Jyotirlinga, and traditionally counted as the first (aadya) Jyotirlinga established by the Pandavas during their exile. The hemadpanti stone temple is celebrated for its intricate exterior sculpture and carries deep ties to the Warkari and Mahanubhav traditions — saint Namdev is associated with the shrine. The Nageshwar identity is shared with Dwarka in Gujarat; on the Maharashtra circuit Aundha is the visited site.
Modest full-length attire with covered shoulders. Sanctum-entry customs may apply for ritual darshan — the priest will advise.
Photography
No photography of the sanctum or lingam. The carved exterior is photographable.
For seniors
The sanctum sits below courtyard level, so there is a flight of steps down to the lingam and back up. Darshan from the upper level is possible when the climb is difficult.
Best time: Morning. This is the quietest of the five on most days — a calmer darshan than Bhimashankar or Trimbakeshwar.
Avoid: Mahashivratri and Shravan Mondays.
05 · Parli Vaijnath
Parli Vaijnath Jyotirlinga
Lord Shiva (Vaidyanath / Vaijnath Jyotirlinga)
Revered in Maharashtra as the Vaidyanath Jyotirlinga: Lord Shiva as the divine physician, associated with healing. The hemadpanti temple stands on a hill in Parli and was restored by Ahilyabai Holkar. Uniquely among the five, devotees may touch the lingam during darshan. The shrine is linked in legend to the Amrita of the ocean-churning and to Ravana's penance.
Timings
5:00 AM – 9:30 PM
Aarti: 4:00 AM — Morning aarti and Mahabhishek · 12:30 PM — Madhyan aarti · 7:00 PM — Sandhya aarti
Dress code
Modest full-length attire with covered shoulders. Men must be bare-chested to perform abhishek. Expect ritual queueing because touching the lingam is permitted.
Photography
No photography inside the sanctum. The hilltop temple and its approach are photographable.
For seniors
Set on a small hill with a flight of steps up to the temple. Manageable for most with pauses; doli help may be available on busy days.
Best time: Morning. Mondays, Shravan, and Mahashivratri draw the largest crowds.
Avoid: Mahashivratri and Shravan Mondays — peak Shiva-darshan footfall.
Vehicle & pricing
Pick the vehicle that fits your group.
All prices below are all-inclusive. No tolls, parking, fuel, or
driver halt extra. The price you see is the price you pay.
Toyota Innova Hycross
6 seats · Hybrid · AC
2 check-in + 2 cabin bags with all 6 seats in use · 4 + 4 with the third row folded
Hybrid 6-seater, our largest and most comfortable cabin.
Need a different vehicle or seater configuration? Message us on
WhatsApp — we customise routinely.
Before you book
Know before you go.
**Times are approximate.** Each time in the plan above assumes ordinary traffic and ordinary darshan queues, and on this route neither stays ordinary for long. On Mahashivratri and on Mondays in Shravan, a darshan that usually takes 90 minutes can stretch to half a day. The temples on the list do not change. Your driver reshapes the day as you go so that each darshan fits. Should a hold-up mean reaching a temple after it closes, we let you know in good time and work out the change together, instead of hurrying you through darshan. Please leave the last evening open.
**Shirdi and Ellora are left optional on purpose.** Day 2 is the easiest of the four days, so it has space for them. Doing both makes Day 2 a properly long one. Shirdi adds about 90 minutes and its queue is hard to predict, while Ellora takes two to three hours and plenty of walking. You may do one, both or neither. Settle it with your driver that morning, once you can see how everyone is feeling, instead of deciding the evening before. The fare stays the same either way.
**Bhimashankar asks the most of you physically.** The temple lies below the road, so you go down about 200 steps to reach the sanctum and climb the same number back. This comes on Day 1, when everyone has been in the car since 4:30 AM. If anyone has knee problems or a heart condition, they should plan to stay at the top. Doli carriers can sometimes be found, though we cannot promise one.
**Days 1 and 4 carry most of the driving.** Day 1 is roughly 377 km with two tiring darshans, and Day 4 is 415 km, mostly the drive back from Parli. Days 2 and 3 are kept lighter on purpose to even things out. If two long days would be too much for your group, let us know and we will quote a five-day plan with one more night halt.
**Keep time in hand at Grishneshwar.** How long the Grishneshwar queue takes changes from day to day, so allow for time at the temple. On Day 2 the lunch stop is at Verul and you get to the temple around 2 PM. That is why the day ends later than it might, and it is also why we advise against taking both optional stops on one day. On festival days and for special rituals the timings may change, so check the official listing before you set out.
**Ellora is shut on Tuesdays.** If seeing Ellora matters to you, choose dates where Day 2 is not a Tuesday. Send us your dates and we will point it out before you book. Grishneshwar temple opens every day.
**Accommodation is yours to book.** You arrange all three night halts yourself, at Nashik, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Parbhani. Nashik and Sambhajinagar offer plenty of options. Parbhani is a much smaller place, so reserve it early instead of searching on arrival. Share the name of each place you stay so the driver knows where to collect you every morning.
**What we do and do not arrange.** We are a cab service. We are not a tour operator, and our job is the car and the driver. Darshan passes, priests, poojas, guides, meals and accommodation are outside what we arrange, and we have no way to cut a darshan queue short. This applies especially to the Trimbakeshwar poojas, Narayan Nagbali, Kaalsarp and Tripindi, which are booked with the temple's priests directly and never through an agent.
Frequently asked
What yatris ask before they book.
Will the trip run exactly to the times shown?
Not always, as the times are approximate. They assume ordinary traffic and ordinary darshan queues, and on this route both swing widely. On Mahashivratri and Shravan Mondays a darshan of 90 minutes can take half a day. The temples themselves stay fixed, and your driver reworks the day on the road so each darshan fits. If a hold-up would bring you to a temple after closing time, we tell you early and decide the change with you, instead of hurrying the darshan.
Is Shirdi or the Ellora Caves part of this package?
Both are optional on Day 2 and sit outside the fixed plan. Adding either does not change the fare. They fit because Day 2 is the lightest of the four days. Shirdi takes around 90 minutes extra, though its queue is hard to predict. Ellora takes two to three hours with a good deal of walking, and it is shut on Tuesdays. You can take both, one or neither, and decide with your driver that morning once you see how the group is feeling.
Why is this a four-day trip instead of five?
A fifth day added nothing useful. The usual five-day plan spends an entire day on a 60 km round trip to Grishneshwar, plus a spare afternoon in Aurangabad. We fit Grishneshwar into the drive from Nashik to Sambhajinagar, which drops that day without making any other day much longer. You save one night's stay and one day of your time, and you still see all five Jyotirlingas.
Which five Jyotirlingas does the Maharashtra Jyotirlinga tour package from Pune cover?
Starting from Pune district there is Bhimashankar, then Trimbakeshwar close to Nashik, Grishneshwar at Verul beside Ellora, Aundha Nagnath in the Hingoli district and finally Parli Vaijnath in Beed. Of the twelve Jyotirlingas, these are the five located in Maharashtra. Two of them are also claimed by temples in other states, Nageshwar at Aundha by a site in Gujarat and Vaidyanath at Parli by one in Jharkhand. On the Maharashtra circuit, the shrines at Aundha and Parli are the ones visited.
Is there a 3 Jyotirlinga tour package from Pune?
We do not run it as a fixed package. When people in Pune talk about a Maharashtra 3 Jyotirlinga trip, they usually mean Bhimashankar, Trimbakeshwar and Grishneshwar, which many national lists count as the state's three. This four-day package includes all three, along with Aundha Nagnath and Parli Vaijnath. Our two-day package takes in Bhimashankar and Trimbakeshwar along with Shirdi. If you want only those three Jyotirlingas, WhatsApp us your dates and we will send a quote.
Is this Jyotirlinga yatra suitable for senior citizens?
Largely yes, with one genuine exception. At Bhimashankar there are about 200 steps down to the sanctum and back, and this falls on Day 1 after a very early start. It is the toughest part of the trip, so anyone with knee or heart problems should plan to stay at the top. At Aundha Nagnath a flight of steps leads down to a sunken sanctum, though you can take darshan from the upper level. Grishneshwar and Trimbakeshwar are mostly free of steps. Parli has a short climb up a hill.
Are hotels and meals included?
They are not. The fare pays for the car, driver, fuel, tolls, parking and the driver's halt on all three nights. You arrange and pay for your own rooms on all three nights and for all meals. Parbhani is smaller than the other two halt towns, so book there in advance instead of looking on arrival.
Can you arrange a Narayan Nagbali or Kaalsarp pooja at Trimbakeshwar?
We cannot. Narayan Nagbali, Kaalsarp and Tripindi shanti poojas are booked with the priests of Trimbakeshwar temple directly, not through any agent. We are a cab service with no link to any temple trust. Once you have made the booking yourself, your driver will bring you there with time to spare.
Will the price change after I book?
No, it stays as quoted. Fuel, tolls, parking and the driver's halts on all three nights are already in it, and we never add surge pricing, whatever the date. Adding Shirdi or Ellora leaves it unchanged too. It moves only if you ask for an extra stop that lies off the route.
Is the fare for a round trip or one way?
Round trip. You are picked up at your door in Pune and brought back to it, and the return drive is included. If all you need is a one-way drop to a temple town, send us a WhatsApp message for a separate quote.
Can I book a shared cab or pay per person for a Jyotirlinga tour package from Pune?
No. Each booking gets a private car for your own group, and no outside passengers are ever added. The price covers the whole car and is not charged per head.
Ready for this yatra?
WhatsApp us your dates and we'll reply with an all-inclusive
quote, your driver's mobile number and vehicle details, and pickup confirmation.
