Maharashtra Tour Packages
Maharashtra combines Mumbai's colonial architecture and street food with the Buddhist and Hindu rock-cut caves of Ajanta and Ellora, hill stations in the Sahyadri ranges and the pilgrimage town of Shirdi.
Maharashtra at a glance
- RegionWest India, India
- CapitalMumbai
- Time zoneIndian Standard Time (UTC+5:30)
- Driving sideLeft
- Calling code+91
- CurrencyIndian rupee (INR)
- LanguagesMarathi
- Emergency112 (all emergencies)
Best time to visit: October to February
Top Maharashtra travel packages
A few of our Maharashtra itineraries in different travel styles. Every one is private and can be changed to suit you.
Food and culinary holidaysMumbaiMumbai City Break3 Days | 2 Nights
Cultural holidaysAurangabad (Ajanta & Ellora)Ajanta & Ellora Caves Tour3 Days | 2 Nights
Hill-station holidaysMumbai · Lonavala · MahabaleshwarMumbai, Lonavala & Mahabaleshwar5 Days | 4 Nights
Pilgrimage toursShirdiShirdi & Nashik Pilgrimage3 Days | 2 NightsEssential tips for travelling to Maharashtra
UPI and cards are widely accepted in cities and hotels; keep some cash for small shops, rural areas, hill towns and tips.
Tipping is not compulsory; around 5–10% in restaurants and a small tip for drivers and guides is appreciated.
Drink bottled or filtered water; it is cheap and easy to find.
112 (all emergencies)
Languages spoken: Marathi.
Mumbai and Pune have the main airports; Aurangabad (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar) serves the caves. The Mumbai–Pune expressway connects to Lonavala.
Ajanta is closed on Mondays and Ellora on Tuesdays, so plan the caves on two different days.
Mumbai local trains are fast but crowded at rush hour; use a car for sightseeing.
General guidance. Local rules and services change; we confirm details for your dates.
Where is Maharashtra?
Open a larger map → · The map frames the 8 places we cover in Maharashtra.
- Mumbai19.08°, 72.88°
- Lonavala18.75°, 73.41°
- Mahabaleshwar17.92°, 73.66°
- Aurangabad (Ajanta & Ellora)19.88°, 75.34°
- Shirdi19.77°, 74.48°
- Pune18.52°, 73.86°
- Nashik20.00°, 73.79°
- Nanded (Hazur Sahib)19.15°, 77.31°
Who should visit Maharashtra?
Plan your Maharashtra trip
Everything you need to know about Maharashtra
Maharashtra combines Mumbai's colonial architecture and street food with the Buddhist and Hindu rock-cut caves of Ajanta and Ellora, hill stations in the Sahyadri ranges and the pilgrimage town of Shirdi.
We plan trips to 8 destinations in Maharashtra: Mumbai, Lonavala, Mahabaleshwar, Aurangabad (Ajanta & Ellora), Shirdi and Pune and more. Highlights include Gateway of India, Tiger's Leap, Arthur's Seat, Ellora Caves and Shri Sai Baba Samadhi Mandir. Local food worth trying: Vada pav, Pav bhaji, Bombay sandwich and Parsi berry pulao. Our Maharashtra itineraries run from 3 to 6 days and every one can be changed to suit you.
When to go
October to February. Dry and pleasant. Hill stations like Lonavala are at their greenest (and wettest) in the monsoon.
Getting around
Mumbai and Pune have the main airports; Aurangabad (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar) serves the caves. The Mumbai–Pune expressway connects to Lonavala.
View all Maharashtra packages
Private, customisable itineraries with prices quoted for your dates, hotel category and group size.
3D / 2NMumbaiMumbai City Break
Two days of Mumbai: the Gateway of India, CSMT, the Elephanta Caves, Marine Drive at sunset and a street-food trail.
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3D / 2NAurangabad (Ajanta & Ellora)Ajanta & Ellora Caves Tour
Two full days for the painted caves of Ajanta and the Kailasa temple at Ellora, planned around the Monday and Tuesday closures.
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5D / 4NMumbai · Lonavala · MahabaleshwarMumbai, Lonavala & Mahabaleshwar
From the city to the Sahyadri: Mumbai's landmarks, Lonavala's caves and viewpoints, then Mahabaleshwar's strawberries and valley views.
View itinerary →3D / 2NShirdiShirdi & Nashik Pilgrimage
Darshan at the Sai Baba Samadhi Mandir with aarti passes, plus Shani Shingnapur and Trimbakeshwar near Nashik.
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3D / 2NLonavalaLonavala Monsoon Weekend
Waterfalls, misty viewpoints and an easy fort hike at Lohagad during Lonavala's green monsoon season.
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6D / 5NMumbai · Aurangabad (Ajanta & Ellora) · Shirdi · PuneMaharashtra Heritage Circuit
Caves, shrines and Peshwa history: Mumbai, Ajanta and Ellora, Shirdi and Pune's Shaniwar Wada.
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4D / 3NMahabaleshwarMahabaleshwar & Panchgani Couple's Break
Three nights in the Sahyadri's highest hill station with Venna Lake, Panchgani's Table Land and Pratapgad Fort.
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4D / 3NNashik · ShirdiNashik Vineyards & Shirdi
Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga, Panchavati and a vineyard tasting in Nashik, then darshan at Shirdi Sai Baba temple.
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4D / 3NNashik · Aurangabad (Ajanta & Ellora) · PuneMaharashtra Jyotirlinga Yatra
Three of the twelve Jyotirlingas in one trip: Trimbakeshwar near Nashik, Grishneshwar beside Ellora and Bhimashankar in the Sahyadri hills from Pune.
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3D / 2NNanded (Hazur Sahib)Hazur Sahib Nanded Yatra
Two nights at Nanded for darshan and langar at Takht Sachkhand Sri Hazur Sahib, with the riverside gurdwaras of Nagina Ghat and Langar Sahib.
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4D / 3NMumbai · ShirdiMumbai Siddhivinayak & Shirdi
Siddhivinayak, Mahalaxmi and Haji Ali in Mumbai, then two nights in Shirdi for darshan and aarti at the Sai Baba Samadhi Mandir and a day trip to Shani Shingnapur.
View itinerary →11 itineraries
Places to visit in Maharashtra
MaharashtraMumbai
Mumbai is India's financial capital and the home of Bollywood, a city of Victorian Gothic and Art Deco buildings, sea-facing promenades and endless street food.
MaharashtraLonavala
Lonavala and neighbouring Khandala are hill stations on the Mumbai–Pune route, famous for monsoon waterfalls, misty valleys and chikki.
MaharashtraMahabaleshwar
Mahabaleshwar is the highest hill station in the Sahyadri, with viewpoints over deep valleys, strawberry farms and Venna Lake.
MaharashtraAurangabad (Ajanta & Ellora)
Aurangabad, officially Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, is the base for two UNESCO cave sites: Ajanta's painted Buddhist caves and Ellora's Buddhist, Hindu and Jain cave temples, including the Kailasa temple carved from a single rock.
MaharashtraShirdi
Shirdi is the town where Sai Baba lived and is buried, and the Samadhi Mandir attracts millions of devotees of all faiths each year.
MaharashtraPune
Pune was the seat of the Maratha Peshwas and is now a university and IT city with a mild climate.
MaharashtraNashik
Nashik sits on the Godavari and is one of the four cities of the Kumbh Mela, linked to the Ramayana's Panchavati.
MaharashtraNanded (Hazur Sahib)
Nanded, on the Godavari, is home to Takht Sachkhand Sri Hazur Sahib, built where Guru Gobind Singh spent his last days and one of the five takhts of Sikhism.
Top attractions in Maharashtra
Wildlife in Maharashtra
Wildlife experiences
Sightings depend on season and luck and are never guaranteed. Keep your distance, stay with licensed guides and never feed wild animals.
Cultural experiences in Maharashtra
Heritage and landmarks
Experiences
- Street food crawl
- Himroo shawl shopping
- Darshan and aarti
- Museum visit
- Vineyard tour and tasting
- Darshan and langar at Hazur Sahib
On the menuFood to try
- Vada pav
- Pav bhaji
- Bombay sandwich
- Parsi berry pulao
- Chikki
- Corn on the cob in the rain
- Strawberries with cream
- Corn pattice
- Maharashtrian thali
- Naan qalia
- Tahri
- Prasad
Outdoor activities in Maharashtra
Many activities are seasonal. Best time for Maharashtra: October to February. We check operating seasons for your dates.
Maharashtra travel tips
Visa and entry
Indian citizens do not need a visa; carry a government photo ID such as Aadhaar or a passport for hotels and flights.
Health and safety
Travel insurance is a good idea, especially for adventure activities. Carry prescription medicines in their original packaging with a copy of the prescription.
Currency and tipping
The currency is the Indian rupee (INR). Tipping is not compulsory; around 5–10% in restaurants and a small tip for drivers and guides is appreciated.
Best time to visit
October to February. Dry and pleasant. Hill stations like Lonavala are at their greenest (and wettest) in the monsoon.
Getting around
Mumbai and Pune have the main airports; Aurangabad (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar) serves the caves. The Mumbai–Pune expressway connects to Lonavala.
Local etiquette
- Dress modestly at temples, churches and mosques, and remove footwear where asked.
- Ask before photographing people, and follow photography rules at religious sites and museums.
What to pack
Pack a light jacket or sweater for cool evenings, modest clothing that covers shoulders and knees for religious sites, a compact umbrella or rain jacket and comfortable walking shoes.
Phone and internet
Mobile data is good in towns and cities.
Budget
We don't publish fixed prices because the season, hotel category, flights and group size change the cost. Your written quote lists exactly what is included, so you can compare like for like.
Maharashtra FAQs
What is Maharashtra famous for?
What is the best time to visit Maharashtra?
How many days do I need for Maharashtra?
Is tap water safe to drink in Maharashtra?
What are the emergency numbers in Maharashtra?
How much does a Maharashtra tour package cost?
Can Nexara Holidays plan a Maharashtra trip from Chennai?
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Plan your Maharashtra holiday
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