REVIEW · MUMBAI
Maharashtra Three Jyotirlinga Tour from Mumbai
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Three Jyotirlingas in a tight route. This Maharashtra tour packs Bhimashankar, Trimbakeshwar, and Ghrishneshwar into about three days with private transport, so you spend less time figuring out logistics. You’ll also get a mobile ticket for the trip’s core planning, plus pickup service to start your journey.
What I like most is the emphasis on private AC car comfort and “no-hassle” driving, with help from drivers you can actually name from prior trips, like Sonu and Mr. Shoaib. I also like that the package folds in major trip costs such as tolls/parking/fuel, which makes the price feel more predictable once you’re on the road.
The main thing to plan around is that temple and cave entry is not fully included: Day 1 and Day 2 admissions are listed as not included, and Ellora has an extra ticket and is closed every Tuesday. If your dates land on Tuesday, you’ll want to adjust the plan or accept a different day flow.
In This Review
- Key highlights before you go
- The value of a private Jyotirlinga run from Mumbai
- Day 1: Bhimashankar Temple, plus the long Mumbai-to-temple drive
- Day 2: Trimbakeshwar from Nashik, a shorter hop
- Day 3: Ghrishneshwar Mandir Road and Ellora Caves (watch the Tuesday closure)
- What your private AC car really buys you (beyond comfort)
- Tickets, food, and where people usually get surprised
- Timing and route logic: why this 3-day setup works
- The service factor: drivers, and what names tell you
- Price reality check: does $300.08 per group make sense?
- Should you book it? My straight advice
- FAQ
- How long is the Maharashtra Three Jyotirlinga tour?
- What temples and sights are included?
- Is pickup included?
- Is the entry ticket included for the temples and Ellora Caves?
- What is the Ellora Caves ticket cost?
- Are Ellora Caves open every day?
- What’s included in the tour price?
- What is the tour price and group size?
- What is the cancellation policy?
Key highlights before you go

- Three sacred stops by private AC car, designed as one connected circuit over about three days
- Fuel, tolls, and parking included, so you’re not doing surprise add-ons mid-trip
- Ellora caves are tied to Day 3, with a clear heads-up that they close on Tuesdays
- Mobile ticket included for smoother on-the-day coordination
- Drivers with strong service reputation, including Sonu and Mr. Shoaib mentioned in past bookings
- Group size stays small (up to 4 per group), which helps keep the schedule practical
The value of a private Jyotirlinga run from Mumbai

This tour is built for people who want a serious pilgrimage route without turning it into a full-time planning project. Instead of stitching together buses, local taxis, and shared shuttles, you get one private AC vehicle handling the transfers.
The price is listed as $300.08 per group (up to 4). That matters because the big cost driver on a road-trip like this isn’t just the car ride. It’s the time, the tolls, and the distance—especially on the first leg, where the Mumbai to Bhimashankar drive is about 200 km and around 4 hours.
Also, the package is explicit about what’s covered: air-conditioned vehicle, private transportation, fuel surcharge, and tolls/parking fees. Those items are where tours often get sneaky with “exclusions.” Here, they’re inside the package.
The trade-off is simple: admissions, and basic needs like food and accommodation, are not included. That’s normal for a temple-and-caves itinerary. Your job is to plan your meals and lodging separately, while the drive and core route stay handled.
You can also read our reviews of more tours and experiences in Mumbai.
Day 1: Bhimashankar Temple, plus the long Mumbai-to-temple drive
Day 1 starts with pickup in Mumbai and travel to Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga Temple. The schedule points to roughly 200 km and about 4 hours of driving.
That first day is the one where your comfort choices matter. The tour includes a clean car and an experienced driver, which is exactly what you want after a morning start and before a temple visit. If you’re prone to getting stiff on long drives, this is where AC, sensible driving, and bathroom planning become part of your experience—even if the listing doesn’t spell it out.
One more practical note: admission tickets are not included for this stop. So set aside entry fees and any local charges for the temple area. The upside is that you can keep the day moving without waiting on ticket-buying to become your whole morning.
In plain terms, Day 1 is about getting you to Bhimashankar with minimal friction. You’ll trade some time on the road for a smoother transition into a focused temple visit.
Day 2: Trimbakeshwar from Nashik, a shorter hop

Day 2 shifts gears. You’ll go to Shri Trimbakeshwar Temple with pickup from Nashik. The transfer described here is about 40 km and roughly 1 hour.
This day usually feels easier on your body than Day 1, because you’re not stacking hours of driving. That matters if you’re traveling with family members or if you simply don’t want to feel like you’re constantly in transit.
Just like Day 1, temple admission is listed as not included. So again, plan for entry costs separately. The tour’s job is getting you from point to point with private transportation, and it does that without adding complexity.
Also, note the rhythm of the itinerary: you’re not spending your second day trying to squeeze in too many random stops. It’s a straight, purpose-driven second day. That’s the real value if your goal is to see these Jyotirlinga sites efficiently.
Day 3: Ghrishneshwar Mandir Road and Ellora Caves (watch the Tuesday closure)
Day 3 is the “two-in-one” day. You’ll visit Ghrishneshwar Jyotirlinga Temple and also explore Ellora Caves.
Pickup is listed from Aurangabad city, and then you travel to the Ghrishneshwar temple area, with an indicated driving time of about 2 hours. The cave stop is part of the same day, so you’ll want to keep your energy in check after arriving and settling.
Here’s the key detail that affects planning: Ellora caves are closed every Tuesday. If your tour date falls on Tuesday, you should expect that the Ellora part won’t be available. The temple stop is still part of the plan, but the caves visit will be impacted.
Admission-wise, the information is mixed in a helpful way:
- Ghrishneshwar Mandir admission ticket is listed as free (for the Day 3 temple stop)
- Ellora admission tickets are not included, with ticket costs listed as 40 Rupees for Indian visitors and 600 Rupees for foreigner per person
That’s useful because it lets you budget quickly. If you do Ellora, you’ll pay the ticket at the site. If you don’t, you’ll save that cost—but your itinerary will need to flex around the closure.
What your private AC car really buys you (beyond comfort)

Sure, AC is great. But for a route like this, the biggest payoff is time control. With private transport, you’re not waiting for other passengers, dealing with unclear pickup points, or shifting plans because a shared vehicle filled up.
The tour also includes:
- Fuel surcharge
- Tolls and parking fees
- Parking fees (listed again, which signals the organizer accounts for these costs)
That combination is what keeps the tour from turning into a “pay later” situation. Road travel in India can involve frequent tolls and city parking costs, and those small charges add up. Bundling them is a real value point.
You’ll also appreciate the small-group nature: the price is per group up to 4 and the tour is private, meaning only your group participates. If you’re traveling as a family or a tight group of friends, this layout often makes more sense than individual rides or shared tours.
Tickets, food, and where people usually get surprised
The package is very clear about exclusions:
- No food
- No accommodation
- All personal expenses are on you
The admissions are also not blanket-included:
- Day 1 temple admission: not included
- Day 2 temple admission: not included
- Day 3 temple admission: listed as free
- Ellora caves admission: not included (with prices given)
So what should you do with that information? Budget for admissions and carry a little cash. For Ellora, you have clear numbers to plan with. For temples, the exact amounts aren’t provided here, so it’s smart to bring a buffer.
For food, treat this as a road-trip day. You’ll likely be stopping where it’s convenient for your driver and timing. If you have dietary restrictions, plan ahead and don’t assume restaurant stops are part of the package.
If you want fewer worries on the ground, bring:
- comfortable walking shoes (temple-cave environments are usually not “flip-flop friendly”)
- a light layer (AC cars are cold; cave areas can feel cooler)
- basic cash for entry and small purchases
Timing and route logic: why this 3-day setup works

This kind of pilgrimage-and-caves itinerary succeeds when distances aren’t ignored. Here, the first day is the big distance hit (Mumbai to Bhimashankar: about 200 km / 4 hours). Day 2 becomes much shorter (Nashik to Trimbakeshwar: about 40 km / 1 hour). Day 3 adds the cave component, anchored around Aurangabad.
That rhythm is practical:
- Day 1: big transfer, then a temple stop
- Day 2: shorter hop, another temple stop
- Day 3: one temple plus Ellora caves, but watch Tuesday closures
This setup is also friendly if you don’t want to spend extra days just transferring between cities. It gives you a defined arc without turning your trip into a multi-hotel shuffle.
One more helpful note from prior bookings: people have arranged starts from different points, like beginning from an Aurangabad airport and ending at Pune Airport, and they’ve said you can request service starting from other cities in Maharashtra. The trip is flexible in the sense that the transport provider can adapt when you ask.
The service factor: drivers, and what names tell you
One of the strongest signals from past experiences is the human side: the drivers and planning responsiveness.
Sonu is specifically mentioned as a top driver, and Mr. Shoaib is also named in connection with planning and coordination. Those aren’t random compliments; they’re the kind of detail that usually reflects repeat trips and trust-building service.
You’re booking this type of tour for the road experience as much as for the destination. Good driving, clear communication, and smooth handoffs between stops can make a long route feel manageable.
If you want to set yourself up for an easy trip, message ahead with your preferences:
- preferred pickup timing window
- whether you’d like the tighter schedule or a slower pace
- any must-have stops besides the listed ones (only if you’re asking, since the package is already structured)
Price reality check: does $300.08 per group make sense?
Let’s break it down without overcomplicating it. At $300.08 per group (up to 4), you’re paying for:
- a private AC car
- fuel surcharge
- tolls and parking
- the transfers between the three temple areas and the cave stop
You’re not paying for:
- food and accommodation
- temple admissions for Day 1 and Day 2
- Ellora cave tickets
So the value depends on your group size and your willingness to cover admissions separately.
For two people, you still get the private car. For four people, the per-person cost drops and the package tends to feel much smarter, because car costs are usually the biggest line item on this kind of 3-day road circuit.
If you’re traveling solo and your priority is to keep costs ultra-low, you might compare against alternatives. But if your priority is low stress and private transport, this package is designed to deliver that.
Should you book it? My straight advice
Book this tour if:
- you want private AC transport across the three Jyotirlinga stops
- you prefer a clean, structured route with predictable included costs like fuel and tolls
- you’re okay handling food, accommodation, and admissions on your own
- your dates avoid or account for the Ellora Tuesday closure
Skip or reconsider if:
- your visit date is Tuesday and Ellora caves are a must-have for you
- you’re looking for a package that includes everything like meals, hotels, and all tickets
- you’d rather manage public transport and multiple bookings yourself to maximize savings
If you’re aiming for a focused spiritual route with minimal scheduling chaos, this is a practical way to do it. The car does the heavy lifting, and you show up for the temple moments and Ellora when it’s open.
FAQ
How long is the Maharashtra Three Jyotirlinga tour?
The tour is listed as 3 days (approx.).
What temples and sights are included?
You’ll visit Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga, Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga, and Ghrishneshwar Jyotirlinga, with Ellora Caves on the same day as Ghrishneshwar.
Is pickup included?
Yes, pickup is offered.
Is the entry ticket included for the temples and Ellora Caves?
Temple admission is listed as not included for Day 1 and Day 2. For Day 3, the Ghrishneshwar mandir stop shows admission ticket free, while Ellora cave admission is not included.
What is the Ellora Caves ticket cost?
Ellora cave admission is listed as 40 Rupees for Indian visitors and 600 Rupees for foreigner per person.
Are Ellora Caves open every day?
No. Ellora Caves are closed every Tuesday.
What’s included in the tour price?
The package includes air-conditioned vehicle, private transportation, fuel surcharge, and tolls/parking fees (including parking fees).
What is the tour price and group size?
The price is $300.08 per group, for groups up to 4.
What is the cancellation policy?
You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours in advance of the experience start time. Cancellation within 24 hours is not refunded.

























