Mumbai & Three Jyotirlinga Temples in Maharashtra (Self-Launched)
8 days · Maharashtra, India
Agora Voyages charges £1,300
No-markup version: ~£495 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched take on Agora Voyages' 8-day Mumbai-and-Maharashtra temple circuit — same UNESCO cave complexes, same three Jyotirlinga temples, same Mumbai highlights, but booked independently. You'll base yourself in Colaba, use local trains, buses and shared cabs between Nashik, Aurangabad and Bhimashankar, and join day tours or hire local guides on the ground. Expect backpacker-grade guesthouses and budget hotels, sleeper buses and state-run MSRTC connections instead of private cars, and a total cost around £500 vs US$1,681 (£1,300+) for the guided group version. All figures are approximate and assume you book 2-4 weeks ahead.
Day-by-day
Arrive Mumbai — Colaba & the City's Colonial Core
Mumbai
Land at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport and take a pre-paid taxi or the AC Airport Express bus to Colaba (~£3-5). Check into a budget guesthouse around Colaba Causeway or Fort. In the late afternoon walk to the Gateway of India, then continue to Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) — a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the world's great Victorian railway stations. Grab an early dinner of vada pav and pav bhaji at a local stall.
🚌Pre-paid taxi or BEST AC bus from CSMIA to Colaba (~£3-5)
🛏Budget guesthouse/hostel in Colaba or Fort (~£12-18/night, e.g. dorms near Colaba Causeway)
- →Gateway of India at sunset
- →Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (UNESCO)
- →Colaba Causeway street shopping
Elephanta Caves & South Mumbai Museums
Mumbai
Catch the morning ferry from the Gateway of India jetty to Elephanta Island (return ticket ~£3; island entry fee ~£1.50 for foreigners). Climb the steps to the UNESCO-listed rock-cut caves, famous for the Trimurti sculpture of Shiva. Back on the mainland, visit the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (Prince of Wales Museum, ~£3) and stroll Marine Drive — locally known as the Queen's Necklace. Finish at the Hanging Gardens on Malabar Hill before an evening train or auto-rickshaw back to Colaba.
🚌Ferry to Elephanta (~£3 return), suburban train/auto-rickshaw around the city (~£2 total)
🛏Budget guesthouse/hostel in Colaba or Fort (~£12-18/night)
- →Elephanta Caves (UNESCO)
- →Ferry to Elephanta Island
- →Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya
- →Marine Drive promenade
- →Hanging Gardens
Mumbai to Nashik — Trimbakeshwar & Panchvati
Nashik
Take the morning train from Mumbai CSMT or Dadar to Nashik Road (2.5-3.5 hrs, ~£2-4 in sleeper/chair car — book on IRCTC). Check into a guesthouse near Panchvati or the bus stand. In the afternoon take an auto-rickshaw or shared cab to Trimbakeshwar (Jyotirlinga #1, ~15 km), set in a valley beside the Godavari. Note phones and cameras are banned inside; wear traditional dress. On the way back explore the Panchvati temple complex — Kalaram Temple, Sita Gufa and Kapileshwara Temple. If time allows, squeeze in the rock-cut Pandavleni Caves overlooking the city.
🚌Indian Railways Mumbai CSMT/Dadar–Nashik Road (~£2-4), auto-rickshaw to Trimbakeshwar and back (~£6-8 shared)
🛏Budget hotel/guesthouse in Nashik (~£12-20/night)
- →Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga Temple
- →Kalaram Temple & Sita Gufa
- →Kapileshwara Temple
- →Pandavleni Caves
Nashik to Aurangabad — Ellora Caves & Grishneshwar
Aurangabad
Morning bus or train to Aurangabad (MSRTC bus 4-5 hrs, ~£3; or train via Manmad). Drop bags at a budget hotel near the station or CIDCO. Hire a shared cab or auto to Ellora (~30 km, ~£10-15 return split between 2-4 people) to see the UNESCO rock-cut caves — above all the Kailasa Temple, carved top-down from a single rock. Adjacent to Ellora is Grishneshwar Temple (Jyotirlinga #2). On the way back stop at Daulatabad Fort for the climb to the Chand Minar viewpoint.
🚌MSRTC bus Nashik–Aurangabad (~£3), shared cab to Ellora/Daulatabad (~£12 split)
🛏Budget hotel/hostel in Aurangabad (~£10-18/night)
- →Ellora Caves (UNESCO) & Kailasa Temple
- →Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga Temple
- →Daulatabad Fort
Aurangabad — Ajanta Caves & the City Sights
Aurangabad
Early start for Ajanta (~100 km, ~2.5 hrs). The MSRTC run an affordable Ajanta bus from the central depot (~£3 return) or join a shared day tour (~£15-20 including entry). The 2nd-century-BCE painted caves are the highlight of the whole region — bring a torch and patience. Back in Aurangabad in the afternoon, see Bibi Ka Maqbara (the 'Mini Taj', ~£1.50), explore the Aurangabad Caves and the 17th-century water mill at Panchakki. Evening thali dinner near Kranti Chowk.
🚌MSRTC bus or shared tour to Ajanta (~£3-15), local auto-rickshaws (~£4)
🛏Budget hotel/hostel in Aurangabad (~£10-18/night)
- →Ajanta Caves (UNESCO)
- →Bibi Ka Maqbara
- →Aurangabad Caves
- →Panchakki water mill
Aurangabad to Bhimashankar — Jyotirlinga in the Hills
Bhimashankar
Long travel day. Take a train/bus from Aurangabad back towards Pune (~5-6 hrs, ~£4-6), then a connecting MSRTC bus to Bhimashankar (~3-4 hrs, ~£3). This is remote hill country — download offline maps and carry cash, as ATMs are scarce. Tonight stay at one of the MTDC or private resorts/homestays near the temple — basic but atmospheric, with forest sounds and cool nights. If you arrive in daylight, walk part of the Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary trails around the temple.
🚌Train/bus Aurangabad–Pune (~£5), MSRTC bus Pune–Bhimashankar (~£3)
🛏MTDC resort or forest homestay near Bhimashankar (~£15-25/night)
- →Travel day
- →Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary walks
Bhimashankar Temple to Mumbai via Karla & Bhaja Caves
Mumbai
Visit Bhimashankar Temple (Jyotirlinga #3) early — it's one of the twelve and sits at the source of the Bhima River. Then descend to Lonavala/Karla (~3 hrs) and visit the Karla Caves, home to a spectacular 2nd-century-CE chaitya hall, and the quieter Bhaja Caves nearby (~£1 each entry). Continue by train from Lonavala to Mumbai CSMT (~2.5 hrs, ~£2-4) and check back into your Colaba base. Evening: Bandra or Colaba for dinner.
🚌Shared jeep/MSRTC to Lonavala (~£4), suburban train Lonavala–CSMT (~£3)
🛏Budget guesthouse/hostel in Colaba or Fort (~£12-18/night)
- →Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga Temple
- →Karla Caves
- →Bhaja Caves
- →Evening in Mumbai
Departure from Mumbai
Mumbai
Final morning for last-minute shopping on Colaba Causeway or a slow breakfast at a south Mumbai Irani café. Depending on your flight time, take the AC Airport Express bus or a pre-paid taxi back to CSMIA for your onward journey. Trip ends.
🚌Pre-paid taxi or AC bus to CSMIA (~£3-5)
🛏—
- →Colaba Causeway shopping
- →Airport transfer
Self-launched vs. Agora Voyages
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Agora Voyages | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£495 | £1,300 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £805 per person (62%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Agora Voyages-style trips? Check them out here.~£495
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Mumbai & Three Jyotirlinga Temples in Maharashtra (Self-Launched) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £495 per person for 8 days in Maharashtra, India. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Agora Voyages?+
Yes — Agora Voyages charges around £1,300 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £495 — a saving of roughly £805 (62%) per person.
How long is the Maharashtra, India trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 day-by-day stops through Maharashtra, India.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, budget, backpacker trip through Maharashtra, India, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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