Ancient Cave Temples, Sai Baba's Shrine & Maharashtra's Sacred Godavari
A comprehensive 6-day circuit from Pune that combines Maharashtra's greatest UNESCO heritage sites with two of its most visited pilgrimage destinations — designed as a single, logical loop rather than a series of separate side trips.
The journey begins with the drive to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad), the gateway to the Ajanta and Ellora cave complexes. Ellora's 34 rock-cut temples (including the extraordinary Kailasa Temple, carved from a single rock) and Ajanta's 2nd-century-BCE Buddhist murals are among the most significant ancient monuments anywhere in Asia, each given a full day for proper exploration.
From Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, the route turns to Shirdi — the most visited pilgrimage town in Maharashtra, home to the Samadhi Mandir of Sai Baba, a saint revered across faiths whose teachings of universal tolerance attract several million pilgrims every year. En route, the unique village of Shani Shingnapur — famous across India for its houses that have no doors, a tradition rooted in unwavering faith in the protective power of the local Shani (Saturn) deity — adds a fascinating cultural detour.
The circuit concludes with two nights in Nashik — the sacred Godavari ghats at Panchavati, the Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga, and a visit to the celebrated vineyards of the Nashik Valley, India's premier wine-producing region — before the final drive back to Pune.
What makes this journey special
Your journey, unfolded
Depart Pune early morning by private vehicle for Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (235 km, ~4.5 hrs). Check in to your hotel. Afternoon: the Ellora Caves (30 km, UNESCO World Heritage) — 34 rock-cut Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain temples, with the extraordinary Kailasa Temple (Cave 16), the largest monolithic rock-cut structure in the world, carved top-down from a single basalt hill. En route, visit Daulatabad Fort — a 12th-century hilltop fortress with a deliberately confusing defensive layout.
Full-day excursion to the Ajanta Caves (100 km, ~2 hrs each way, UNESCO World Heritage) — 30 rock-cut Buddhist caves dating from the 2nd century BCE, with cave paintings depicting the life of the Buddha and Jataka tales in extraordinarily preserved colour and detail. On return, visit Bibi Ka Maqbara, the 1660 mausoleum modelled on the Taj Mahal.
Drive from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar toward Shirdi (160 km, ~3.5 hrs), stopping en route at Shani Shingnapur — a village famous across India for the fact that none of its houses, shops, or even the local bank branch have doors, a tradition rooted in deep and unwavering faith in the protective power of the village's central Shani (Saturn) deity, whose open-air black stone idol sits unguarded in the middle of the village. Continue to Shirdi and check in.
Evening: visit the Samadhi Mandir — the shrine and resting place of Sai Baba (1838?–1918), a saint revered by Hindus and Muslims alike for his message of universal tolerance ('Sabka Malik Ek' — there is one God for all). The temple complex, built in 1922, receives several million pilgrims every year and is one of the wealthiest religious trusts in India. The evening aarti ceremony is a moving experience.
Morning darshan at the Sai Baba Temple before the crowds build — a quieter and more contemplative experience than the previous evening. Visit Dwarkamai (the mosque where Sai Baba lived for much of his life) and Chavadi (his alternate resting place). Drive to Nashik (135 km, ~3 hrs). Check in. Afternoon: the Panchavati Ghats on the sacred Godavari River, one of the key sites of the Hindu Kumbh Mela.
Morning: a guided tour of one of Nashik's celebrated vineyards — the Nashik Valley produces the majority of India's wine grapes and is often called the country's 'Napa Valley'; tour the vineyard and enjoy a guided tasting. Afternoon: Trimbakeshwar Temple (28 km) — one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva and the mythological source of the Godavari River.
A final relaxed morning in Nashik — perhaps a last walk by the Godavari or a stop at a local sweet shop for the city's famous 'Nashik misal'. Drive back to Pune (210 km, ~4.5 hrs). Tour concludes at Pune, in good time for onward travel.
Inclusions & Exclusions
Included ✓
- ✓ 5 nights accommodation in handpicked hotels
- ✓ Daily breakfast throughout
- ✓ Private air-conditioned vehicle for all transfers & sightseeing throughout the circuit
- ✓ English-speaking driver-guide throughout
- ✓ Ajanta & Ellora Caves entry fees
- ✓ Vineyard tour & wine tasting in Nashik
- ✓ All applicable taxes
Not Included ✗
- ✗ Flights / trains (not required — included drive from Pune)
- ✗ Travel insurance
- ✗ Lunches & dinners
- ✗ Personal expenses & shopping including temple offerings
- ✗ Gratuities for driver-guide
- ✗ Camera fees at monuments (nominal)
Your questions, answered
Shani Shingnapur is genuinely unlike anywhere else in India. The village's central shrine houses a 5-foot black stone idol of Shani (the planet Saturn, personified as a deity associated with justice and karma) that stands in the open, under the sky, with no roof or surrounding structure. The tradition of doorless homes stems from a centuries-old local belief that Shani himself protects every household from theft, making locks and doors unnecessary — and remarkably, theft in the village is recorded as extremely rare. Even the local bank branch famously operates without a front door, relying entirely on this collective faith. It's a fascinating and genuinely unique stop, typically visited as a brief 30–45 minute stop en route to Shirdi.
Shirdi receives extremely high pilgrim volumes year-round, with particular surges during Ram Navami, Guru Purnima, and the Sai Baba Punyatithi (death anniversary) in October. We schedule the main darshan for early morning, when queues are typically shorter and the atmosphere is calmer. VIP/Special darshan tickets (for a faster queue) can be arranged separately on request, subject to availability.
October to March is ideal — comfortable temperatures throughout (18–30°C), clear skies, and the best conditions for sightseeing. April–June is hot on the Deccan plateau (35°C+) but manageable. The monsoon (July–September) makes the Western Ghats spectacularly green and the Ajanta/Ellora caves dramatic with waterfalls nearby, but heavy rain can affect outdoor sightseeing and road conditions.
Absolutely. Every Discover India tour is fully private and built around your preferences. We can adjust duration, swap destinations, change hotel categories, or add extensions. Submit an enquiry and our specialists will redesign the itinerary for you at no obligation.
Cancellations 60+ days before departure receive a full refund minus a small admin fee. 30–59 days: 75% refund. 15–29 days: 50% refund. Under 15 days: no refund. We strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance.
