Maharashtra Jyotirlinga Tour by Bus from Pune: Route, Days and Group Travel Cost

Planning a Jyotirlinga tour by bus from Pune is one of the most common requests we get from housing societies, mandals, senior citizen groups and large joint families. Maharashtra is lucky to have five of the twelve Jyotirlingas inside the state, and the closest one, Bhimashankar, is only about 110 km from Pune. That makes Pune a very good starting point for a group yatra.

In this guide we have put together what we have learned from running these trips for years: which route works, how many days you really need, what a bus costs for the full trip, and the small things that make darshan easier for elders and kids.

The 5 Jyotirlingas in Maharashtra

Before you plan the route, it helps to know where each temple is. They are spread across western, northern and central Maharashtra, so the order of travel matters a lot.

• Bhimashankar in Pune district, in the Sahyadri hills near Khed taluka. Around 110 km from Pune.
• Trimbakeshwar near Nashik, at the source of the Godavari river.
• Grishneshwar at Verul, right next to the Ellora Caves near Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad).
• Aundha Nagnath in Hingoli district.
• Parli Vaijnath in Beed district.

Most groups from Pune do either the 3 Jyotirlinga circuit (Bhimashankar, Trimbakeshwar and Grishneshwar) or the full Panch Jyotirlinga yatra covering all five.

Option 1: 3 Jyotirlinga Tour by Bus from Pune (3 Days)

This is the most popular plan because it fits in a long weekend and covers the three temples that sit in a neat loop around Pune. Many groups also add Shirdi and Shani Shingnapur because they fall on the way.

Day 1: Pune to Bhimashankar to Nashik

Leave Pune by 5 am so the bus reaches Bhimashankar around 8:30 am, before the crowd builds up. The road after Manchar climbs through the ghat and the last stretch is narrow, so an early start also means less traffic on the climb. The bus parking is above the temple and the walk down has steps, so tell elders to wear comfortable footwear. After darshan, drive about 200 km via Narayangaon and Sangamner to Nashik for the night stay.

Day 2: Trimbakeshwar and Shirdi

Trimbakeshwar is around 30 km from Nashik city. Reach early, especially on Mondays, when queues get long. The temple trust has a paid darshan option for a quicker line; check the current rules on the day. After lunch, continue about 120 km to Shirdi for Sai Baba darshan and the night halt.

Day 3: Grishneshwar, Ellora and Back to Pune

Shirdi to Grishneshwar is roughly 110 km. Note that men are asked to remove their shirt before entering the inner sanctum. If your group wants to see the Ellora Caves next door, remember that Ellora is closed on Tuesdays. From Verul, the return to Pune is about 255 km via Ahilyanagar, so plan to leave by 2 pm to reach Pune by night.

Total distance: around 800 to 850 km including local movement.

Option 2: Panch Jyotirlinga Yatra by Bus from Pune (5 Days)

If your group has the time, the full yatra covering all five temples is very rewarding. Aundha Nagnath and Parli Vaijnath are deep in Marathwada, so the extra two days are mostly road time.

• Day 1: Pune to Bhimashankar, then Nashik (about 310 km)
• Day 2: Trimbakeshwar darshan, then Shirdi (about 150 km)
• Day 3: Shirdi to Grishneshwar and Ellora, night halt at Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (about 140 km)
• Day 4: Drive via Jalna to Aundha Nagnath, then continue to Parli Vaijnath for the night (about 350 km)
• Day 5: Morning darshan at Parli Vaijnath, then return to Pune (about 330 km)

Total distance: around 1,300 to 1,400 km. Day 4 is the long one, so keep breakfast early and carry dry snacks in the bus.

All five temples are inside Maharashtra, so there is no interstate permit cost on this yatra. That keeps the bus bill simpler than a Somnath or Ujjain trip.

Which Bus Size Is Right for a Jyotirlinga Tour?

Choose the bus by headcount first, then by comfort. A good rule is to keep 2 or 3 seats spare so elders can stretch and bags do not pile up in the aisle.

• 15 to 25 people: A 17 seater tempo traveller or a 26 seater mini bus is easier on the Bhimashankar ghat and in Trimbak town lanes.
• 25 to 32 people: A 32 seater bus on rent in Pune is the sweet spot. It handles ghats well and still gives low per person cost.
• 35 to 50 people: Go for a 40 seater or a 50 seater luxury bus with pushback seats and a big luggage boot.

For a 3 to 5 day yatra, we always suggest an AC bus with pushback seats. The Marathwada stretch can be hot even in winter afternoons, and elders feel the difference by Day 3.

Jyotirlinga Tour Bus Cost from Pune

Outstation buses in Pune are billed per km with a minimum of 300 km per day. Toll, parking and driver allowance are added on actuals. Here is how the bus cost works out with our current rates.

3 Day, 3 Jyotirlinga Tour (billed on 900 km)

• 32 seater Non AC bus at ₹38/km: about ₹34,200, which is roughly ₹1,070 per person for 32 people
• 32 seater AC bus at ₹50/km: about ₹45,000, roughly ₹1,400 per person
• 40 seater AC pushback bus at ₹58/km: about ₹52,200, roughly ₹1,300 per person

5 Day, Panch Jyotirlinga Yatra (billed on 1,500 km)

• 32 seater AC bus: about ₹75,000, roughly ₹2,350 per person
• 40 seater AC pushback bus: about ₹87,000, roughly ₹2,175 per person

These figures are for the bus only. Hotels, food and darshan charges are separate, which lets your group choose its own budget for stay. Rates can change on festival dates, so always take the final written quote before paying the advance.

Best Time for a Jyotirlinga Tour from Pune

October to February is the most comfortable season. The weather is pleasant, ghat roads are dry and darshan queues are manageable on weekdays.

Shravan month (July to August) and Mahashivratri are spiritually special, but the crowd is huge and Bhimashankar gets heavy rain and fog in the monsoon. If you plan to travel in Shravan, book the bus at least a month in advance and expect longer darshan time.

Practical Tips for a Smooth Group Yatra

• Keep one coordinator for the group who talks to the driver. It saves a lot of confusion at every stop.
• Carry a printed list of passengers with phone numbers. Hotels and some temples may ask for ID, so keep Aadhaar copies handy.
• Book hotels near the temples in Nashik, Shirdi and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar early, especially for weekends.
• Plan darshan in the morning and travel in the afternoon. It keeps the day relaxed for elders.
• Ask the driver to stop for meals at clean highway restaurants with proper washrooms. Our drivers know these spots on every route.

If your group also wants to cover Ganpati temples, have a look at our Pune to Ashtavinayak bus hire guide. For a short one day Sai Baba trip, read our Pune to Shirdi group trip guide.

Book Your Jyotirlinga Tour Bus with Shelke Travels

Shelke Travels has been running group trips from Pune for more than 30 years. Our buses are cleaned before every trip, driven by experienced drivers who know the Bhimashankar and Marathwada roads, and priced with no hidden charges. You can see all our options on the bus on rent in Pune page.

Call or WhatsApp 84840 68364 with your travel dates, group size and pickup point, or fill the form on our contact page. We will share a clear day wise quote within a few hours.

Frequently Asked Questions