Mumbai is perfectly located for pilgrimage trips across Maharashtra. Within a few hours by road, devotees can reach some of India's most revered temples — from the Jyotirlinga at Trimbakeshwar to the Sai Baba shrine at Shirdi, from the Vitthal temple at Pandharpur to the Shakti Peetha at Kolhapur. This guide covers all the major temple pilgrimage routes from Mumbai by cab, with distances, darshan tips and fare estimates.
Famous Temples from Mumbai by Road
1. Shirdi Sai Baba Temple (240 km | 4.5 hrs)
Shirdi is one of India's most visited religious shrines, drawing millions of devotees every year to the samadhi of Sai Baba. The temple complex is open round the clock, and the queue for darshan can range from 30 minutes to 4+ hours depending on the day.
- Best time: Avoid Thursdays (Sai Baba's significance day — maximum crowds) and Ram Navami — wait times can exceed 5 hours
- Cab fare from Mumbai: ₹3,500 – ₹7,000 depending on vehicle
See our dedicated Mumbai to Shirdi cab page for full details and booking.
2. Trimbakeshwar Shiva Temple (175 km | 3 hrs)
One of the 12 sacred Jyotirlingas of India, Trimbakeshwar is located 30 km from Nashik at the source of the holy Godavari river. This is the closest Jyotirlinga to Mumbai, making it a popular one-day pilgrimage trip.
- Kumbh Mela is held here every 12 years (Nasik-Trimbakeshwar Kumbh)
- Dress code: Formal attire required inside the temple — no shorts or sleeveless
- Cab fare: ₹2,800 – ₹4,500 one way depending on vehicle
- Can be combined with a Nashik visit and Sula Vineyards wine tasting on the same day
3. Pandharpur Vitthal Mandir (390 km | 6.5 hrs)
The ancient temple of Lord Vithoba (Vitthal) stands on the banks of the Bhima river in Pandharpur, Solapur district. It is the spiritual heart of the Varkari tradition, one of Maharashtra's most beloved devotional movements.
- Ashadhi Ekadashi and Kartiki Ekadashi see massive Wari pilgrimages — lakhs of devotees walk from across Maharashtra
- Important: Avoid Ekadashi dates if you prefer a peaceful darshan — crowds are immense
- Cab fare: ₹5,500 – ₹8,500 depending on vehicle
4. Kolhapur Mahalakshmi Temple (380 km | 6.5 hrs)
The Mahalakshmi temple in Kolhapur is one of the 18 Mahashakti Peethas — among the most sacred Devi temples in India. The presiding deity, Mahalakshmi (also called Ambabai), is believed to be a self-manifested (swayambhu) form.
- Famous for the unique phenomenon of Kirnotsav — sunlight falls directly on the deity's feet on two specific days each year
- Combine with Panhala Fort (18 km from Kolhapur) for a memorable heritage + pilgrimage trip
- Cab fare: ₹5,500 – ₹8,500 depending on vehicle
5. Tuljapur Tuljabhavani Temple (425 km | 7 hrs)
Mata Tuljabhavani is one of Maharashtra's three and a half Shakti Peethas and was the family deity (Kuladevi) of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The temple town of Tuljapur is in Osmanabad (Dharashiv) district.
- Usually combined with a Solapur visit for those travelling from Mumbai
- Best time: Early morning before 8 AM to avoid long queues
- Cab fare: ₹6,000 – ₹9,500 depending on vehicle
6. Ganpatipule Ganesh Temple (375 km | 6.5 hrs)
The Swayambhu Ganesh temple at Ganpatipule is uniquely set on the Konkan coast — the deity faces the Arabian Sea, making it one of India's most scenic pilgrimage destinations. The pristine beach right next to the temple makes it a perfect blend of spirituality and natural beauty.
- Best combined with a Ratnagiri day trip — Alphonso mango farms, Jaigad Fort and Pawas ashram are all nearby
- Cab fare: ₹5,500 – ₹8,500 depending on vehicle
7. Siddhivinayak Temple (In Mumbai, Prabhadevi)
Mumbai's most famous Ganesh temple needs no introduction. Siddhivinayak at Prabhadevi attracts enormous queues on Tuesdays and festival days. Our local cab service makes the darshan experience significantly more comfortable.
- Book an early morning cab (6 AM slot) to avoid the worst queues
- Combine with Mahalakshmi Temple (5 km away) and Haji Ali Dargah for a full Mumbai darshan circuit in one day
8. Ashtavinayak Circuit from Mumbai
The Ashtavinayak pilgrimage covers 8 ancient Ganesh temples spread across Maharashtra — each believed to be a swayambhu (self-manifested) form of Ganesh. Completing all 8 in sequence is considered highly auspicious.
- Moregaon (80 km) — Mayureshwar (1st Ganesh)
- Siddhatek (210 km) — Siddhivinayak
- Pali (115 km) — Ballaleshwar
- Mahad (170 km) — Varadvinayak
- Theur (160 km) — Chintamani
- Lenyadri (220 km) — Girijatmaj
- Ozar (215 km) — Vigneshwar
- Ranjangaon (195 km) — Mahaganpati
A 2–3 day cab trip covers the full circuit comfortably. Cab fare: ₹8,000 – ₹15,000 for the multi-day circuit depending on vehicle and itinerary.
Tips for Temple Pilgrimage by Cab
- Book your cab the night before departure — early morning availability is limited, especially on auspicious days and Ekadashi
- Start early (4–5 AM) — reaching temples before 8 AM means significantly shorter darshan queues at all major sites
- Ask your driver to wait — all Miles Tours outstation drivers are booked to wait at your temple for as long as needed; this is included in your fare
- Carry valid ID proof (Aadhaar) and wear simple, respectful attire — most temple complexes have strict dress codes; no shorts or sleeveless garments
- For Ekadashi, Shivratri, Ram Navami or other major festival dates, book temple accommodation in advance — towns like Pandharpur and Shirdi fill up weeks ahead
- Many temples offer VIP/paid fast-track darshan — enquire at the temple trust website before your visit if you want to avoid long queues
Plan Your Pilgrimage with Miles Tours
Miles Tours & Travels has driven thousands of devotees to sacred sites across Maharashtra since 2011. Our drivers are familiar with temple routes, parking areas, priest contacts and local accommodation — they are not just drivers but experienced pilgrimage companions.
- Multi-day pilgrimage packages available (Ashtavinayak, Jyotirlinga circuit, Shakti Peetha tours)
- Drivers wait at temples for as long as your darshan takes — no extra charges
- Available 24/7 for early morning departures
- Contact: +91 88790 99744 or book online
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