Travel guide · Maharashtra
Maharashtra Travel Guide
Maharashtra tour packages cover Mumbai and the Elephanta Caves, the hill stations of Lonavala, Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani, the Ajanta and Ellora caves, Shirdi and Shani Shingnapur, the Jyotirlingas of Trimbakeshwar, Grishneshwar and Bhimashankar, the eight Ashtavinayak temples, Pandharpur, Tuljapur and Akkalkot, Kolhapur, Matheran, Pune, Satara's Kaas plateau, Igatpuri and Bhandardara, the coast from Alibaug, Kashid and Ganpatipule to Tarkarli, and Tadoba Tiger Reserve. Our itineraries run 3 to 6 days, with standard / 3-star equivalent hotels and breakfast.
By Holiday Guru Travel · Updated 8 Oct 2026
In short: Cave art, pilgrimage, hills and coast and tigers. The painted caves of Ajanta and the Kailasa temple at Ellora, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites. October to March is the best time to visit Maharashtra; the monsoon (June to September) is best for the green Sahyadri hills.
Maharashtra quick facts
- Trip length
- 3–6 days (20 itineraries)
- Best time
- October to March is the best time to visit Maharashtra; the monsoon (June to September) is best for the green Sahyadri hills.
- Key places
- Mumbai, Ajanta and Ellora, Shirdi and Nashik, Mahabaleshwar and Lonavala, Konkan coast, Tadoba
- Tours start in
- Mumbai, Pune, Shirdi
- Hotels
- Standard / 3-star equivalent on all 20 itineraries
- Meal plans
- Breakfast on all 20 itineraries
- Suits
- Pilgrims, Families, Heritage lovers
Best places to visit in Maharashtra
Mumbai, Ajanta and Ellora, Shirdi and Nashik, Mahabaleshwar and Lonavala and Konkan coast are the places our Maharashtra itineraries are built around.
Mumbai
The Gateway of India, CSMT, Marine Drive and the Elephanta Caves.
Ajanta and Ellora
Painted Buddhist caves and the rock-cut Kailasa temple.
Shirdi and Nashik
Sai Baba's Shirdi, Panchavati and the Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga.
Mahabaleshwar and Lonavala
Sahyadri hill stations with viewpoints, forts and caves.
Konkan coast
Ganpatipule, Ratnagiri, Malvan and Tarkarli with the Sindhudurg sea fort.
Tadoba
Tiger safaris in teak and bamboo forest.
Things to do
- See the Kailasa temple at Ellora
- Walk Marine Drive at sunset
- Have darshan at Shirdi
- Take the boat to the Sindhudurg sea fort
- Watch sunrise at Mahabaleshwar
- Go on a tiger safari at Tadoba
How many days do you need?
Three days covers Mumbai, Shirdi, Kolhapur or Lonavala; four days covers Ajanta and Ellora or Mahabaleshwar; allow six for the Jyotirlinga circuit or Mumbai to Pune through the hills.
| Trip length | What it covers | Our itinerary |
|---|---|---|
| 3 days | Mumbai city | Mumbai City Break |
| 3 days | Shirdi and Shani Shingnapur | Shirdi and Shani Shingnapur |
| 4 days | Ajanta and Ellora | Ajanta and Ellora Caves |
| 4 days | Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani | Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani |
| 6 days | Three Jyotirlingas | Three Jyotirlingas of Maharashtra |
Best time to visit Maharashtra
October to March is the best time to visit Maharashtra; the monsoon (June to September) is best for the green Sahyadri hills.
| Months | Season | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| October – March | Best season | Pleasant and dry for sightseeing, caves and beaches. |
| April – May | Summer | Hot on the plains; good for Tadoba and the Alphonso mango season. |
| June – September | Monsoon | The Sahyadri hills are green and full of waterfalls; the coast is rough and boats stop. |
Suggested Maharashtra routes
Routes from our own Maharashtra itineraries, by trip length.
- 2 Nights / 3 Days: Alibaug → Kashid — Alibaug and Kashid Beaches
- 3 Nights / 4 Days: Pune → Lonavala → Narayangaon — Ashtavinayak Yatra: the Eight Ganesh Temples
- 4 Nights / 5 Days: Ganpatipule → Ratnagiri — Konkan Coast: Ganpatipule and Ratnagiri
- 5 Nights / 6 Days: Nashik → Aurangabad → Bhimashankar → Pune — Three Jyotirlingas of Maharashtra
Things to consider
Getting there and around: Packages include road transfers and sightseeing as specified. Ferries to Elephanta and Sindhudurg, safaris and boats are paid locally; flights or trains (including the Konkan Railway) are quoted separately.
Where you stay: Standard / 3-star equivalent hotels with breakfast, as listed on each package; simple stays near Bhimashankar.
- Ajanta is closed on Mondays and Ellora on Tuesdays.
- Elephanta ferries do not run on Mondays or in rough monsoon weather.
- Tadoba's core zone is closed on Tuesdays.
- The ghat roads are slow and misty in the monsoon.
Maharashtra travel questions
What is Maharashtra known for?
Cave art, pilgrimage, hills and coast and tigers. The painted caves of Ajanta and the Kailasa temple at Ellora, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
How many days should I spend in Maharashtra?
Three days covers Mumbai, Shirdi, Kolhapur or Lonavala; four days covers Ajanta and Ellora or Mahabaleshwar; allow six for the Jyotirlinga circuit or Mumbai to Pune through the hills. Our Maharashtra itineraries run 3–6 days.
What is the best time to visit Maharashtra?
October to March is the best time to visit Maharashtra; the monsoon (June to September) is best for the green Sahyadri hills.
Which places should I include in a Maharashtra trip?
Mumbai, Ajanta and Ellora, Shirdi and Nashik, Mahabaleshwar and Lonavala, Konkan coast and Tadoba. Mumbai: The Gateway of India, CSMT, Marine Drive and the Elephanta Caves.
Which Holiday Guru Travel packages cover Maharashtra?
20 itineraries: Alibaug and Kashid Beaches (2 Nights / 3 Days); Igatpuri and Bhandardara (2 Nights / 3 Days); Kolhapur: Mahalaxmi and Jyotiba (2 Nights / 3 Days); Lonavala and Khandala Weekend (2 Nights / 3 Days); Matheran: the Car-Free Hill Station (2 Nights / 3 Days); Mumbai City Break (2 Nights / 3 Days); and 14 more listed below.
Can a Maharashtra itinerary be customised?
Yes. Any of our Maharashtra itineraries can be changed — add or remove nights, change the hotel category or add sightseeing. Tell us what you need and we send a quote for your dates.
Maharashtra holiday packages
All 20 Holiday Guru Travel itineraries for Maharashtra, shortest first. Each can be customised.
| Package ID | Package | Duration | Route |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0435 | Alibaug and Kashid Beaches | 2 Nights / 3 Days | Alibaug → Kashid |
| 0437 | Igatpuri and Bhandardara | 2 Nights / 3 Days | Mumbai → Igatpuri → Bhandardara → Arthur Lake |
| 0428 | Kolhapur: Mahalaxmi and Jyotiba | 2 Nights / 3 Days | Kolhapur → Mahalaxmi Temple → Jyotiba → Panhala |
| 0421 | Lonavala and Khandala Weekend | 2 Nights / 3 Days | Mumbai → Lonavala → Khandala → Karla Caves |
| 0434 | Matheran: the Car-Free Hill Station | 2 Nights / 3 Days | Mumbai → Neral → Matheran |
| 0420 | Mumbai City Break | 2 Nights / 3 Days | Mumbai → Gateway of India → Elephanta Caves → Marine Drive |
| 0425 | Shirdi and Shani Shingnapur | 2 Nights / 3 Days | Shirdi → Shani Shingnapur |
| 0432 | Ashtavinayak Yatra: the Eight Ganesh Temples | 3 Nights / 4 Days | Pune → Lonavala → Narayangaon |
| 0424 | Ajanta and Ellora Caves | 3 Nights / 4 Days | Aurangabad → Ellora → Ajanta → Daulatabad → Grishneshwar |
| 0439 | Kaas Plateau, Satara and Mahabaleshwar | 3 Nights / 4 Days | Satara → Mahabaleshwar |
| 0422 | Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani | 3 Nights / 4 Days | Pune → Mahabaleshwar → Panchgani → Pratapgad |
| 0430 | Malvan and Tarkarli | 3 Nights / 4 Days | Kudal → Malvan → Tarkarli → Sindhudurg Fort → Devbag |
| 0426 | Nashik, Trimbakeshwar and Shirdi | 3 Nights / 4 Days | Nashik → Shirdi |
| 0438 | Pandharpur, Tuljapur and Akkalkot | 3 Nights / 4 Days | Pandharpur → Solapur |
| 0433 | Pune and Lonavala | 3 Nights / 4 Days | Pune → Lonavala |
| 0431 | Tadoba Tiger Reserve | 3 Nights / 4 Days | Nagpur → Tadoba → Moharli |
| 0429 | Konkan Coast: Ganpatipule and Ratnagiri | 4 Nights / 5 Days | Ganpatipule → Ratnagiri |
| 0436 | Shirdi with Ajanta, Ellora and Grishneshwar | 4 Nights / 5 Days | Shirdi → Aurangabad |
| 0427 | Three Jyotirlingas of Maharashtra | 5 Nights / 6 Days | Nashik → Aurangabad → Bhimashankar → Pune |
| 0423 | Mumbai, Lonavala and Mahabaleshwar | 5 Nights / 6 Days | Mumbai → Lonavala → Mahabaleshwar → Pune |