Maharashtra Tour Packages

Maharashtra Tour Packages

Maharashtra is two states in practice. There is Mumbai and the coast, and there is the interior – the Deccan plateau, where Ajanta and Ellora hold rock-cut architecture that has no real equivalent anywhere. Most visitors do the first and skip the second, which is the wrong way round if you care about what you are looking at.

To be straight: our own fleet and drivers are in Rajasthan. For Maharashtra we arrange the vehicle and driver locally and manage the itinerary and bookings – one contact, one quote.

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The Main Destinations

Place What it is Allow
Ajanta Caves UNESCO. 30 Buddhist rock-cut caves, 2nd century BCE onward, with surviving murals 1 day
Ellora Caves UNESCO. 34 Buddhist, Hindu and Jain caves, including the monolithic Kailasa temple 1 day
Aurangabad Base for Ajanta and Ellora; Bibi ka Maqbara and Daulatabad Fort 1 day
Mumbai Gateway of India, Marine Drive, the Fort district, Dhobi Ghat, Crawford Market 2 days
Elephanta Caves UNESCO. Rock-cut Shiva caves on an island, an hour by ferry from Mumbai Half day
Pune Aga Khan Palace, Shaniwar Wada, Osho ashram district 1 day
Nashik Vineyards and tastings, plus the Godavari ghats and Trimbakeshwar 1–2 days
Shirdi The Sai Baba temple; one of the most visited shrines in India 1 day
Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani Hill stations in the Western Ghats; strawberries and viewpoints 2 days
Lonavala and Karla Hill stop between Mumbai and Pune, with early Buddhist caves 1 day
Matheran Car-free hill station reached by a narrow-gauge toy train 2 days
Tadoba The best tiger reserve in Maharashtra, in the east near Nagpur 2 days
Konkan coast Ganpatipule, Tarkarli, Alibaug – beaches with little development 2–3 days

Ajanta and Ellora: the Practical Detail That Matters

These are the reason to come, and they are two separate days from Aurangabad – Ajanta is about 100 km out, Ellora about 30 km. The detail that catches people: Ajanta is closed on Mondays and Ellora is closed on Tuesdays. Arrive on a Sunday and you can do both back to back; arrive on a Monday and you lose a day.

Ajanta is Buddhist, cut into a horseshoe gorge, and its murals are the oldest surviving paintings of their kind in India – which is also why the caves are dimly lit and photography is restricted in some. Ellora spans Buddhist, Hindu and Jain over roughly five centuries, and the Kailasa temple there was carved downward out of a single rock from the top – the most extraordinary single object in Indian architecture.

Take a guide at both. Without one you are looking at caves; with one you are reading five hundred years of argument between three religions carved into a hillside.

Routes That Work

Five days, the essentials: Mumbai two days, fly or drive to Aurangabad, Ellora and Ajanta on consecutive days, out from Aurangabad.

Eight days, adding the Ghats: as above, plus Nashik for the vineyards and Mahabaleshwar or Lonavala on the way back to Mumbai.

Pilgrimage: Shirdi, Trimbakeshwar and Nashik, usually from Mumbai or Pune, four to five days.

When to Go

October to February is the season. March to May is hot on the plateau. The monsoon, June to September, is intense in Maharashtra – Mumbai floods, and the Ghats close in on themselves – but it is also when Mahabaleshwar, Lonavala and the waterfall country are at their most dramatic, if you accept the rain as the point rather than an obstacle.

Travelling in Rajasthan too? See our Rajasthan tour packages, which we run with our own fleet.

Frequently Asked Questions: Maharashtra

The Ajanta and Ellora closing days, routes and the monsoon.

What are the best places to visit in Maharashtra?
Ajanta and Ellora above all – two UNESCO cave complexes with no real equivalent anywhere. Then Mumbai and Elephanta, Aurangabad, Nashik for the vineyards, Mahabaleshwar and Lonavala in the Ghats, Shirdi for pilgrimage, and Tadoba for tigers.
Are Ajanta and Ellora closed on any day?
Yes, and this catches people out: Ajanta is closed on Mondays and Ellora is closed on Tuesdays. Arrive on a Sunday and you can do both on consecutive days; arrive on a Monday and you lose one.
What is the difference between Ajanta and Ellora?
Ajanta is Buddhist, cut into a horseshoe gorge, and holds the oldest surviving murals of their kind in India. Ellora spans Buddhist, Hindu and Jain caves across roughly five centuries, and includes the Kailasa temple, carved downward out of a single rock. Both are worth a full day.
How far are Ajanta and Ellora from Aurangabad?
Ajanta is about 100 km, roughly two to two and a half hours. Ellora is about 30 km, under an hour. Aurangabad is the practical base for both.
Do I need a guide at the caves?
Strongly recommended. Without one you are looking at caves; with one you are reading five centuries of religious argument carved into a hillside. The iconography at Ellora in particular needs explaining to register.
Is the monsoon a bad time to visit Maharashtra?
It is intense – Mumbai floods and travel gets difficult from June to September. But Mahabaleshwar, Lonavala and the Western Ghats waterfall country are at their most dramatic then. Go in the monsoon on purpose or not at all.
How long do I need for Maharashtra?
Five days for Mumbai plus Ajanta and Ellora, which is the essential version. Eight if you want Nashik and a hill station. Add two more for Tadoba if tigers matter to you.
Can I visit Elephanta Caves from Mumbai?
Yes – about an hour by ferry from the Gateway of India, and a half day in total. Note that ferries do not run during the monsoon, and the caves are closed on Mondays.
Is Shirdi worth including?
If pilgrimage is part of your trip, yes – it is one of the most visited shrines in India. Expect long queues, and note that it fits naturally with Nashik and Trimbakeshwar rather than with the caves.
How do I get a quote for a Maharashtra trip?
Email rajasthanonwheeltours@gmail.com or WhatsApp +91 99838 89373 with your dates, the number of travellers and whether the caves, the coast or pilgrimage is your priority. We reply with an itinerary and a price.

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