Road Trips to The 10 Famous Temples in Maharashtra
Home to several metropolitan and cosmopolitan hubs, Maharashtra stands among India’s fastest-developing states. Apart from the busy cities, there are numerous opportunities to explore a variety of other attractions in the state, making your vacation memorable. From some of the best trails to trek on, to forts for the history buffs, and from wildlife sanctuaries for the wildlife enthusiasts to wineries for the classy wine lovers, there is something for everyone in Maharashtra.
However, if you are in the mood to visit the pilgrimage sites in Maharashtra, you will be surprised to know the number of temples located in this state. A road trip to the famous temples in Maharashtra will undoubtedly make your holiday a worthwhile one. A car rental in Maharashtra can provide you with the perfect ride to these famous temples across the state. Let us take a look at some of them.
Road Trip to 10 Renowned Temples in Maharashtra
Temple | Location | Best Road Trip Tip |
---|---|---|
Shirdi Sai Baba Temple | Shirdi, Ahmednagar District | Well-connected via Pune and Nashik highways |
Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga Temple | Ellora, Aurangabad | Combine the temple visit with Ajanta-Ellora sightseeing |
Yamai Devi Temple | Aundh, Satara District | Scenic drive via Satara–Pune route |
Moreshwar Temple | Morgaon, Pune District | Easy access from Pune city |
Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga | Trimbak, near Nashik | Drive via Nashik road with scenic ghats |
Chintamani Temple | Theur, Pune District | Just 25 km from Pune, a popular weekend trip |
Shani Shingnapur | Ahmednagar District | Accessible from Shirdi |
Bhimshankar Temple | Pune District | Great monsoon drive |
Siddhivinayak Temple | Prabhadevi, Mumbai | Busy city roads; best visited early morning |
Harihareshwar Temple | Raigad District, Konkan Coast | Scenic coastal road trip from Mumbai/Pune |
1. Shirdi Sai Baba Temple
The Sai Baba temple in Shirdi is one of the most famous temples in Maharashtra, attracting pilgrims from across the country. It is believed that Sai Baba came to this village at the age of 16 and stayed here for the rest of his life. He even attained Samadhi here. The temple covers an area of 200 square meters, and you can find Samadhi Mandir, Chavadi, Gurusthan, Lendi Baug, and many more in the temple complex today.
- Opening time: 4.30 am to 4 pm
2. Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga Temple
The Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga Temple is situated in the Aurangabad district and is another renowned temple to visit in Maharashtra. It is one of the jyotirlingas, and the temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple is also known by other names such as Ghushmeswara, Kusumeswarar, Ghrushmeswara, and Grishneswara. This is one of the oldest temples in the state, featuring an antarala, a garbhagriha, and a sabha mandapa. You must visit this temple during Shivratri to see the beauty of the place.
- Opening time: 3 am to 9 pm
3. Yamai Devi Temple
Located in Aundh, Yamai Devi Temple is one of the most highly visited temples in Maharashtra, attracting both pilgrims and tourists. The temple is dedicated to Yamai Devi, and you can find a black stone-made statue of Devi Mahishasur Mardini here.
- Opening time: 8 am to 6.30 pm
4. Moreshwar Temple
If you visit Pune, make sure to visit the Moreshwar Temple. It is one of the Ashtavinayak temples dedicated to Lord Ganesha. The temple is made of black stone, has four minarets, and a 50-foot-tall wall. You can also find several other deities in this temple.
- Opening time: 5 am to 10 pm
5. Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga
Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga in Nashik is one of the oldest temples not only in Maharashtra but in the country. The temple is surrounded by verdant greenery and has idols of Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu, and Lord Brahma. You can also find three separate water bodies in the temple premises, such as Viswananthirtha, Bilva Theertha, and Mukundathirtha.
- Opening time: 5.30 am to 9 pm
6. Chintamani Temple
Built by Shri Dharanidhar Dev, Chintamani Temple is dedicated to Lord Ganesha. It is one of the Ashtavinayak temples to visit in Maharashtra, housing an idol of Lord Ganesha that is over 100 years old. Within the premises of this temple, there are several other temples, including the Mahadev Temple, the Hanuman Temple, and the Vishnu-Lakshmi Temple. Some of the festivals exclusively celebrated here include Rama-Madhav Punyostav, Mahotsav Festival, and Ganesh Prakatostav. You can book a car rental in Pune or a self-drive car rental to reach this temple, which is located over 25 km from the city.
- Opening time: 5 am to 10 pm
7. Shani Shingnapur
The location of this famous temple is very close to Shirdi. It is one of the most popular temples in Maharashtra, and it is also believed that the deity, Lord Shani, still resides in the temple. Devotees from across the country visit this temple all through the year.
- Opening time: 12 am to 12 pm
8. Bhimshankar Temple
Bhimshankar has gained considerable popularity due to both the temple and the trek to reach it. Perched in the lush Sahyadri hills, the Bhimshankar temple is one of the most frequented temples in the state, dedicated to the Hindu deity Lord Shiva. It is also one of the 12 jyotirlingas. The architecture of the temple is admirable, and one can feel a sense of divinity in the environment. Once you visit the temple, you can trek and explore the area.
- Opening time: 4.30 am to 9.30 pm
9. Siddhivinayak Temple
Dedicated to Lord Ganesha, Siddhivinayak Temple is one of the wealthiest temples in India and in Maharashtra. The temple witnesses millions of pilgrims and tourists throughout the year. Many pilgrims walk from their homes to this temple, as it is considered a propitious destination.
- Opening time: 5.30 am to 10 pm
10. Harihareshwar Temple
Situated in the Raigad district, Harihareshwar temple is one of the most beautiful temples in Maharashtra, surrounded by a serene ambience. The temple is surrounded by four hills on its four sides, including Harshinachal, Harihareshwar, Bramhadri, and Pushpadri. You can book a car rental in Mumbai to reach this temple while enjoying a scenic coastal road trip.
- Opening time: 9 am to 4.30 pm
Takeaway
If you want to reach these temples and do your pilgrimage smoothly, it is highly recommended that you opt for a Revv Self-drive car rental. You can even hire some of the best SUVs in India, which will make your ride comfortable and safe. You can also be free from the worries of taking all the people you want due to the larger seating capacity. Revv promises you one of the most dependable, premier, safe, and sanitised car rentals, with each vehicle thoroughly sanitised inside and out before each delivery. Download the Revv app or browse through the Revv website to find a comfortable ride for your religious road trip today.