Pune to Ashtavinayak — 2 Day Cab Package (Optimized Route)
All eight temples in two days, routed for the least driving — door to door from Pune
- No toll, parking or charging extra
- No driver halt charges
- Fixed at booking — zero surge
About This Trip
A two-day Ashtavinayak cab package from Pune costs ₹14,999 in the Toyota Innova Hycross. The fare is all-inclusive of tolls, parking, fuel and the driver's overnight halt, and covers roughly 738 km across both days. Day 1 takes the five eastern temples — Morgaon, Siddhatek, Theur, Ranjangaon — and halts overnight at Ozar. Day 2 covers Ozar, Lenyadri, Pali and Mahad before returning to Pune. Accommodation and meals are not included and are arranged by you.
The eight Ashtavinayak temples grouped by geography rather than by scriptural order, so you cross the Sahyadri ghats once instead of twice and spend two days on the road instead of three. Day 1 works the eastern cluster and halts at Ozar; Day 2 takes the cave temple at Lenyadri, crosses to Raigad for Pali and Mahad, and returns to Pune by expressway. If you would rather follow the shastrokta order 1 → 8, our 3-day Shastoyukt package does exactly that.
Choose Your Vehicle
Every fare is all-inclusive for the whole trip. Our fleet is electric or hybrid — on this route the driver charges while you are inside for darshan, so it costs you no travel time.
Toyota Innova Hycross
6 seats · AC 2 check-in + 2 cabin (6 seats) · 4 check-in + 4 cabin (3rd row folded)Hybrid MPV — the full-size cabin for a multi-day yatra
Need a different vehicle, extra stops or an overnight version? Message us on WhatsApp and we will quote it.
What's Included
- Door-to-door pickup and drop in Pune, or direct from Pune Airport
- All tolls, parking and fuel for the full circuit
- Driver allowance and overnight halt charges
- Air-conditioned vehicle with drinking water on board
- Driver contact shared the night before pickup
What's Not Included
This is a cab package — vehicle and driver. It is not a tour package, so the following are never part of it.
- Accommodation on the route — you book it directly
- Meals, refreshments and personal expenses
- Darshan passes, poojas, offerings and temple donations
- The nominal monument entry fee at the Lenyadri caves
- Travel insurance
Day Plan
A suggested plan, not a fixed one — the temple order is your choice, and we will run it either way. Timings are typical; the Shirdi darshan queue is the one variable nobody can control.
- 5:00 AM
Pickup in Pune
Door-to-door from your residence, or direct from Pune Airport.
- 6:30 AM
Tea halt
A short stop en route to Morgaon.
- 7:00 AM
Morgaon — Mayureshwar
68 kmFirst in the shastrokta order. Early arrival means a short queue; allow 45 minutes including the pradakshina.
- 8:00 AM
Drive to Siddhatek
82 kmAcross to Ahmednagar district.
- 9:45 AM
Siddhatek — Siddhivinayak
The only right-turned trunk among the eight. The 1.3 km hill pradakshina is optional — skip it if seniors are tiring.
- 11:45 AM
Lunch at Daund
25 kmOwn arrangement. Simple, clean options on the highway.
- 1:45 PM
Theur — Chintamani
58 kmPeshwa Madhavrao's samadhi is inside the complex and worth the few minutes.
- 3:00 PM
Drive to Ranjangaon
42 km - 4:00 PM
Ranjangaon — Mahaganpati
Held to be the most powerful of the eight forms.
- 5:15 PM
Drive to Ozar
65 kmThe last leg of the day, up towards Junnar.
- 7:15 PM
Overnight at Ozar
We drop you at your accommodation; the driver halts separately. Most yatris use the temple trust bhaktiniwas — you book it directly. Hotels at Narayangaon, 15 km away, are the comfortable alternative.
- 5:30 AM
Day 2 — pickup from your Ozar stay
The driver collects you at the time you agree the previous evening.
- 6:30 AM
Ozar — Vighnahar
The gold-plated shikhara is at its best in early morning light.
- 8:00 AM
Drive to Lenyadri
15 km - 8:30 AM
Lenyadri — Girijatmaj
307 steep stone steps to the cave temple. Allow 90 minutes for the climb, darshan and descent. Anyone not climbing waits comfortably at the base.
- 11:00 AM
Cross the Sahyadri ghats to Pali
178 kmThe long leg of the yatra — roughly four and a half hours including the lunch halt.
- 1:00 PM
Lunch at Khopoli
Own arrangement, en route.
- 4:00 PM
Pali — Ballaleshwar
35 kmThe only one of the eight named for a devotee rather than a form.
- 5:15 PM
Drive to Mahad
25 km - 6:00 PM
Mahad — Varadvinayak
Sanctum entry is permitted here — you receive darshan directly.
- 7:00 PM
Return to Pune
145 kmBack over the Mumbai–Pune expressway.
- 10:00 PM
Drop in Pune
Door-to-door at your residence.
Temple Guide
What to expect at each darshan — timings, dress code and the practical details.
Shri Mayureshwar, Morgaon
Shri Mayureshwar Ganpati (1st in shastrokta order)The starting and closing point of the traditional Ashtavinayak circuit. Ganesha is said to have taken form here riding a peacock to defeat the demon Sindhurasur — hence Mayureshwar, lord of the peacock. The temple sits on the bank of the Karha river behind a fortified wall with four minarets.
- Hours
- 5:00 AM – 10:00 PM, open all days
- Aarti
- 7:00 AM — Kakad aarti · 12:00 PM — Madhyahna aarti · 8:00 PM — Sandhya aarti
- Darshan & passes
- Darshan is open to all and the temple does not operate a paid pass system. Poojas such as Sankalp and Abhishek are booked at the temple counter on the day, at the trust's published rates.
- Dress code
- Modest attire. Full-length trousers or sarees, shoulders covered.
- Photography
- Mobile photography is allowed in the outer hall. No photography of the garbhagriha or the main idol.
- Seniors
- Four stone steps to the main hall and a five-minute walk from parking. Wheelchair access is limited.
- Busiest days
- Bhadrapad Ganesh Chaturthi week (Aug–Sep) draws the heaviest crowds of the year.
- Official site
- mayureshwarmorgaon.com ↗
Shri Siddhivinayak, Siddhatek
Shri Siddhivinayak (2nd)The only Ashtavinayak whose trunk turns to the right — considered the most difficult form to propitiate and, by tradition, the most powerful. It stands on a hillock across the Bhima river in Ahmednagar district.
- Hours
- 5:00 AM – 9:30 PM, open all days
- Aarti
- 7:00 AM — Kakad aarti · 8:00 PM — Sandhya aarti
- Darshan & passes
- No pass system. The temple is run simply and darshan is open to all. Poojas are arranged at the counter inside.
- Dress code
- Modest attire. The pradakshina runs over a kilometre — wear comfortable footwear.
- Photography
- No photography inside the garbhagriha.
- Seniors
- About 25 stone steps. The full hill pradakshina is 1.3 km and optional; a bullock cart is usually available.
- Busiest days
- Monsoon months (Jul–Sep) — Bhima river flooding can affect road access.
- Official site
- ashtavinayak.in ↗
Shri Ballaleshwar, Pali
Shri Ballaleshwar (3rd)The only Ashtavinayak named after a devotee rather than a form of the deity. The boy Ballal worshipped a stone as Ganpati with such conviction that the deity took the name. Rebuilt in stone by Shri Phadnis in 1773, it sits between the Sarvatadi and Aamba hills in Raigad district.
- Hours
- 5:00 AM – 9:30 PM, open all days
- Aarti
- 7:00 AM — Kakad aarti · 12:30 PM — Madhyahna aarti · 8:00 PM — Sandhya aarti
- Darshan & passes
- Darshan is open to all with no pass system. Poojas are booked at the temple counter.
- Dress code
- Modest attire. The halls are covered, so weather is less of a factor here.
- Photography
- Permitted in the outer mandap. Not in the sanctum.
- Seniors
- Step-free to the outer mandap, with a few steps at the sanctum threshold.
- Busiest days
- Bhadrapad Chaturthi week sees very heavy footfall.
- Official site
- ashtavinayak.in ↗
Shri Varadvinayak, Mahad
Shri Varadvinayak (4th)The granter of boons. The idol was discovered in the adjoining lake in the 18th century by Shri Dhondu Paudkar. A nandadeep — a perpetually burning oil lamp — has been alight here without interruption since 1892.
- Hours
- 5:00 AM – 9:30 PM, open all days
- Aarti
- 6:00 AM — Kakad aarti · 12:00 PM — Madhyahna aarti · 8:00 PM — Sandhya aarti
- Darshan & passes
- No pass system. Unusually among the eight, devotees are permitted to step inside the sanctum for direct darshan.
- Dress code
- Modest attire. Shoulders covered.
- Photography
- No photography inside the sanctum, even though entry is permitted.
- Seniors
- Step-free entrance and suitable for wheelchairs — the easiest of the eight.
- Busiest days
- Bhadrapad Chaturthi week and Magh Chaturthi day.
- Official site
- ashtavinayak.in ↗
Shri Chintamani, Theur
Shri Chintamani Ganpati (5th)Where Ganesha recovered the Chintamani jewel from the greedy prince Guna. The temple stands where the Mula, Mutha and Bhima rivers meet. Peshwa Madhavrao I died here in 1772 and his samadhi is inside the complex — worth the few minutes it takes.
- Hours
- 5:00 AM – 10:00 PM, open all days
- Aarti
- 7:00 AM — Kakad aarti · 12:00 PM — Madhyahna aarti · 8:00 PM — Sandhya aarti
- Darshan & passes
- Darshan is open to all and no pass is required. Poojas are arranged at the counter.
- Dress code
- Modest attire. Shoulders covered.
- Photography
- Permitted in the outer mandap. No photographs of the idol.
- Seniors
- Mostly step-free, and there is a side entrance that avoids the main steps.
- Busiest days
- Magh Chaturthi day if you want a quiet darshan — beautiful, but very crowded.
- Official site
- ashtavinayak.in ↗
Shri Girijatmaj, Lenyadri
Shri Girijatmaj (6th)The only Ashtavinayak set inside a rock-cut Buddhist cave complex — the 18th of some 30 caves hewn out of basalt around the 1st century CE. The hall is carved from a single rock with no supporting pillars, and the shrine faces north.
- Hours
- 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM, open all days
- Aarti
- 7:30 AM — Morning aarti · 5:00 PM — Evening aarti
- Darshan & passes
- No pass system. There is a nominal state-monument entry fee at the cave complex.
- Dress code
- Modest but comfortable clothing. Wear proper walking shoes for the climb.
- Photography
- Permitted in the cave complex. Not of the idol itself.
- Seniors
- This is the hard one. 307 steep stone steps with no lift and no alternative route. Not advisable for anyone with knee trouble, a heart condition or breathing difficulty — plan to wait at the base while the rest of the group climbs.
- Busiest days
- Bhadrapad Chaturthi week for crowds, and mid-summer afternoons for heat on the exposed steps.
- Official site
- ashtavinayak.in ↗
Shri Vighnahar, Ozar
Shri Vighnahar / Vighneshwar (7th)The remover of obstacles, where Ganesha defeated the demon Vighnasura. The golden shikhara was given by Chimaji Appa after the Maratha victory at Vasai in 1739. The compound sits on the bank of the Kukdi river and is among the best-kept of the eight.
- Hours
- 5:00 AM – 10:00 PM, open all days
- Aarti
- 7:00 AM — Kakad aarti · 12:00 PM — Madhyahna aarti · 8:30 PM — Sandhya aarti
- Darshan & passes
- Darshan is open to all with no pass system. The temple trust also runs a bhaktiniwas for pilgrims, booked directly with the trust.
- Dress code
- Modest attire. Shoulders covered.
- Photography
- The gold shikhara photographs well from the compound. No photography inside the sanctum.
- Seniors
- Mostly step-free and comfortable. The trust bhaktiniwas is close by.
- Busiest days
- Bhadrapad Chaturthi week.
- Official site
- ashtavinayak.in ↗
Shri Mahaganpati, Ranjangaon
Shri Mahaganpati (8th)Held to be the most powerful of the eight forms — Shiva is said to have worshipped Ganesha here before facing the demon Tripurasura. The temple is built so that the sun's rays fall directly on the idol from Dakshinayan onwards, and the original idol is believed to be concealed in a vault beneath the one on display.
- Hours
- 5:00 AM – 10:00 PM, open all days
- Aarti
- 7:00 AM — Kakad aarti · 12:00 PM — Madhyahna aarti · 8:00 PM — Sandhya aarti
- Darshan & passes
- No pass system and darshan is open to all. Poojas are booked at the temple counter.
- Dress code
- Modest attire. Shoulders covered.
- Photography
- Welcomed in the outer compound and mandap. Not in the sanctum.
- Seniors
- Step-free entry and a wide compound — among the easiest of the eight.
- Busiest days
- Bhadrapad Chaturthi week.
- Official site
- ashtavinayak.in ↗
Before You Book
Timings are indicative, not guaranteed
The hour-by-hour plan above is built on normal traffic and normal darshan queues, and both vary a great deal. A festival day, a long queue at Morgaon, roadworks on the ghat section or heavy rain will all move the clock, so arrival and departure at each stop will differ on the day. What stays fixed is the list of temples — your driver re-sequences on the road so every darshan fits. If a delay means a temple would be reached after closing, we tell you early and adjust the plan with you rather than rush a darshan. Please keep the return evening flexible.
Lenyadri needs a degree of fitness
307 steep stone steps, with no lift and no alternative route to the cave. Anyone with knee trouble, a heart condition or breathing difficulty should plan to wait at the base while the rest of the group climbs — it is a comfortable wait and costs you nothing of the rest of the circuit. Tell us in advance and the driver plans the day around it.
Day 2 is the longer day
Day 1 runs about 340 km and reaches Ozar by early evening. Day 2 is 398 km, includes the Lenyadri climb and the long ghat crossing to Raigad, and returns to Pune around 10 PM. If that is more than your group wants in one day, the 3-day Shastoyukt package spreads the same eight temples across three unhurried days.
We do not book your accommodation
The overnight halt at Ozar is yours to arrange. Most yatris use the temple trust bhaktiniwas — donation-based, simple and clean — and book it directly with the trust. Hotels at Narayangaon, 15 km away, are the comfortable alternative. Tell us where you are staying so the driver knows the Day 2 pickup point.
We are a cab service, not a tour operator
We provide the vehicle and driver. We do not arrange darshan passes, priests, poojas, guides, meals or accommodation, and we cannot shorten a darshan queue. Everything inside the temple is yours to arrange.
Avoid Bhadrapad Chaturthi week
Ganesh Chaturthi week, typically August or September, is the single busiest period at all eight temples — crowds run several times normal and the two-day plan becomes very difficult to hold. If your dates are flexible, October to February is the best window on this circuit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the itinerary timings guaranteed?
No — they are indicative. The plan assumes normal traffic and normal darshan queues, and both vary a great deal. A festival day, a long queue, roadworks on the ghat section or heavy rain will all move the clock, so arrival and departure at each stop will differ on the day. What stays fixed is the list of temples: your driver re-sequences on the road so every darshan fits. If a delay means a temple would be reached after closing, we tell you early and adjust with you rather than rush a darshan.
Why does the route not follow the scriptural order?
Because the shastrokta order 1 → 8 crosses the Sahyadri ghats twice, which adds a full day of driving. This package groups the eight temples by geography instead, so you cross once and finish in two days. If completing the circuit in the prescribed sequence matters to you — and for many yatris it does — book our 3-day Shastoyukt package, which follows the order exactly.
Does the package include meals or accommodation?
No. The fare covers the vehicle, driver, fuel, tolls, parking and the driver's overnight halt. Your own accommodation at Ozar and all meals are arranged by you and paid on your own. Most yatris use the temple trust bhaktiniwas at Ozar, booked directly with the trust. We are happy to suggest options.
Can senior travellers manage this circuit?
Six of the eight temples are step-free or close to it. The two physical ones are Lenyadri, with 307 steep steps, and Siddhatek, with about 25 steps plus an optional 1.3 km pradakshina. Anyone not climbing Lenyadri waits comfortably at the base. Tell us about any mobility constraints when booking and the driver plans the day around them.
Can we do all eight temples in a single day?
Technically yes, but it is a punishing day — the circuit is about 738 km, so a single-day attempt runs 18 to 19 hours with almost no time at any temple. We do not recommend it, particularly for senior yatris. If your group still wants it, message us and we will quote a custom itinerary.
What happens if it rains or the route is blocked?
We run year-round. Monsoon flooding on the Bhima river can occasionally affect the Siddhatek approach — in that case we re-sequence the day, or if the circuit genuinely cannot be completed we rebook you for another date at no charge.
Can we add a pooja at any of the temples?
Yes, but you arrange it directly at the temple counter — we do not book poojas. Most of the eight offer Sankalp, Abhishek or an Atharvashirsha recital, typically between ₹500 and ₹2,500, paid at the temple. Your driver will point you to the right counter.
Is the fare fixed?
Yes. Tolls, parking, fuel and the driver's overnight halt are all inside the quoted figure, and there is no surge pricing on any date. The only variable is if you ask to add a stop that is not on the route.
Can you pick us up from Pune Airport?
Yes. We pick you up directly from Pune Airport with 30 minutes of free waiting included — share your flight number when you book and we plan the pickup around it. This package starts from Pune only; we do not run it from Mumbai or Navi Mumbai airports.
Ready for this yatra?
All-inclusive from ₹14,999 · 738 km · Tolls, parking & charging included