Start early by car or train toward Surat to avoid city traffic; the road distance is ~210–240 km and takes about 4–5 hours by road. This gives a relaxed arrival in Surat for the evening.
Check into your Surat hotel and eat lunch at a popular local restaurant; recommend trying Surti specialties such as locha and undhiyu or a trusted restaurant like ‘The Grand Bhagwati’ food court or a local veg thali restaurant (many open 12:00pm–11:00pm).
Evening dinner at a recommended eatery — try local seafood dhabas or a popular vegetarian place; Surat has many late‑night restaurants open till 10:30pm–11:00pm.
Leave Surat by car (or train to Pune) to cover distance to Pune; road travel is ~330–380 km and will take ~6–8 hours depending on route and traffic—start early to arrive comfortably.
Stop at a highway restaurant or dhaba for a substantial breakfast — try idli‑sambar or a Maharashtrian poha/khichdi breakfast; highway eateries open from 6:00am.
Arrive Pune, check into hotel and have lunch. Pune has excellent cafes and thali restaurants—Vaishali (Fergusson Rd) is a good casual option if you want a quick local experience (open 9:00am–11:00pm).
Use the afternoon to refuel, get any supplies for Bhimashankar (e.g., water, hiking shoes), and explore a little of Pune (Shaniwar Wada exterior or a relaxed café).
Leave very early for Bhimashankar (approx 110–130 km from Pune, ~3–4 hours by road) to reach for morning darshan and to avoid afternoon clouds in the ghats.
Visit Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga temple (typical temple hours roughly 5:00am–9:00pm). Bhimashankar is both a pilgrimage site and a wildlife sanctuary with scenic ghats—do darshan and short local walks.
Explore nearby viewpoints and short treks (45–90 minutes) within the sanctuary for misty Western Ghats scenery—carry water and shoes. Check with local forest office for access and timings (forest office hours ~9:00am–5:00pm).
Begin long drive toward Aurangabad/Grishneshwar region (expect 5–7 hours depending on route). Overnight in Aurangabad to visit Grishneshwar & Ellora next day.
Drive to Ellora Caves (very close to Grishneshwar). Ellora Monuments are typically open 9:00am–5:30pm—explore Kailasa temple (Cave 16) and surrounding caves; allow 2–3 hours.
Early drive to Trimbakeshwar near Nashik — distance ~170–220 km depending on route and takes ~3.5–5 hours; aim to reach for midday darshan or the afternoon aarti.
Darshan at Trimbakeshwar Shiva Temple (a Jyotirlinga) — temple hours typically 5:00am–9:00pm. Plan for darshan and a walk around the holy Godavari headwaters nearby.
Lunch in Nashik city—if interested, visit Sula Vineyards for a winery tour and lunch (check Sula opening hours and booking; vineyard tours usually start mid‑morning and require advance booking).
Breakfast in South Mumbai—recommended iconic choices include Britannia & Co. (Parsi fare) or Café Mondegar; check opening times (many open 8:00am onwards).
Visit the Gateway of India and take a brief harbour walk; this area is open to visitors all day and best visited in late morning or early evening for pleasant weather.
Lunch in Mumbai—for street‑style kebabs try Bademiya (Colaba) or for local chaat/seafood try Chowpatty area; many establishments open midday to late evening.
Afternoon options: relax on Marine Drive (free) or take a ferry to Elephanta Caves (ferry timings vary; ferries usually run morning‑afternoon and return by early evening) — choose based on energy level and ferry schedules.
Dinner at a recommended Mumbai spot — try local seafood or famous eateries (Bademiya for late night, or a rooftop multi‑cuisine restaurant). Many places open till 11:00pm–12:00am.
Take a morning flight from Mumbai to Rajkot (flight time ~1h20m). Book earlier for best fares—typical one‑way fares vary; this is the fastest return option. Alternative: overnight train if preferred (longer journey).