Early start to cover the long Ahmedabad → Pune stretch via Vadodara and Surat; leaving at dawn avoids city traffic and gets you onto the expressways early.
Quick, hearty breakfast at a trusted highway restaurant near Vadodara/Surat — try fresh idli/vada or a Gujarati thepla with chai to refuel for the drive.
Famous Ganpati temple in central Pune; evening darshan is pleasant and the temple is open late (usually until ~10:00pm) — do confirm timings nearer travel.
Darshan at Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga followed by an easy nature walk through Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary to spot endemic flora and mountain views; temple typically opens early and stays open through evening (confirm local times before travel).
If weather is good, take a short trek to a nearby viewpoint or waterfall; confirm seasonal accessibility (avoid during heavy monsoon and check sanctuary rules).
Lunch on arrival in Nashik; choose a clean, popular restaurant or rooftop near the city center (Sula has dining but needs booking if you want winery lunch).
Darshan at Trimbakeshwar (one of the 12 Jyotirlingas) — temple is accessible most of the day with larger crowds in mornings and late afternoons, so allow time for queueing and pradakshina.
Dinner at a popular Nashik restaurant (try local Maharashtrian specialties or a multi-cuisine place); many options near the riverside and main markets.
Morning departure toward Aurangabad (approx 4–5 hrs); comfortable drive that positions you to visit Ellora & Grishneshwar in the afternoon when crowds are moderate.
Visit Grishneshwar temple (near Ellora) — a compact, highly revered Jyotirlinga often paired with an Ellora visit; temple is open throughout the day (confirm exact local hours).
Explore the magnificent Ellora Caves (open ~9:00am–5:30pm) — focus on Kailasa (Cave 16) and the surrounding complexes; arrive early afternoon to beat late crowds and finish before closing.
Stop for breakfast at a reliable highway eatery (suggest a nutritious South Indian or Punjabi breakfast and chai) to stay energized for the day’s drive.
If you feel up to light sightseeing, visit Sabarmati Ashram (usually open ~8:30am–6:00pm) for a calm riverside walk and a cultural closure to the trip.
Itinerary created by
Plantrip Team
AI-assisted, human-reviewed
Plan Your Excellent 🚗🙏! Doing Trip A (Maharashtra Circuit – Bhimashankar, Trimbakeshwar, Grishneshwar) by car from Ahmedabad will give you comfort + flexibility, and you’ll enjoy the ghats and countryside drives. Let me build a day-by-day road trip itinerary for Year 2 (2026–27).
🚗 Trip A – Maharashtra Jyotirlinga Circuit by Car
Jyotirlingas Covered: Bhimashankar, Trimbakeshwar, Grishneshwar
Duration: 6 Days (comfort mode, Ahmedabad round trip)
Best Season: Nov–Feb (cool, safe roads, no monsoon landslides)
Total Drive: ~1,600 km round trip
Day 1: Ahmedabad → Pune (650 km, ~11–12 hrs)
Early morning departure from Ahmedabad by car.
Route: Ahmedabad → Vadodara → Surat → Mumbai–Pune Expressway → Pune.
Check-in at Pune hotel. Evening rest or visit Shaniwar Wada / Dagdusheth Ganpati.
Stay (Pune):
Mid-range: Lemon Tree Premier, Pune / Shree Panchratna
Budget: Hotel Woodland / FabHotel
Day 2: Pune → Bhimashankar → Pune (220 km round trip, 3.5–4 hrs one way)
Morning: Drive Pune → Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga.
Darshan & visit Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary (optional).
Evening: Return to Pune.
Stay in Pune.
Day 3: Pune → Nashik (210 km, 5–6 hrs)
Morning drive Pune → Nashik.
Afternoon: Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga darshan.
Evening: Visit Panchavati area, Ramkund, Sita Gufa.
Stay in Nashik.
Stay (Nashik):
Mid-range: Express Inn Nashik / The Gateway Hotel
Budget: Ginger Nashik / Ibis Nashik
Day 4: Nashik → Aurangabad (200 km, 4.5 hrs)
Morning: Drive to Aurangabad via scenic route.
Afternoon: Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga darshan.
Evening: Explore Ellora Caves (UNESCO site).
Stay in Aurangabad.
Stay (Aurangabad):
Mid-range: Lemon Tree Hotel / WelcomHotel Rama International
Budget: Hotel Shree Maya / Treebo Trend
Day 5: Aurangabad → Ahmedabad (650 km, ~11–12 hrs)
Morning: Start drive back to Ahmedabad.
Route: Aurangabad → Nashik → Surat → Vadodara → Ahmedabad.
Evening/night: Arrive at Ahmedabad.
Day 6: Buffer/Rest Day
Keep this day free in case of long drives, traffic delay Trip