[Rajiv-Bang]

Originally Posted by IndianNomad

Ashish please suggest

Checked the route and distance on mapmyindia.com

First route suggested by you - Shirdi - Ahmednagar - Daund - Kurkumbh - Baramati - Phaltan - Satara - Nh4 - Kolhapur Total distance - 415Kms
As you mentioned this is your regular route and also safe and good road.

Third route - Shirdi - Sangamner - Narayangaon - Chakan - Talegaon Dabhade - NH4 old highway - Dehu road - Katraj Bypass - Shindewadi Tunnel - NH4 - Satara - Kolhapur. Total distance - 440kms.
If the road condition is good, I dont mind travelling that extra distance. Else I will stick to the first route.

Ashish,

I drove down from Goa to Shirdi in May this year, I tried to avoid Pune traffic by taking the Katraj Road but somehow lost my way and ended up spending almost three hours in reaching Nagar road.

I took a right before Bharati Vidyapith on the Bangalore-Pune highway (shown as Katraj road in mapmyindia.com), is that the Katraj bypass you are referring to in your route 3 above. Will it be possible for you mention some landmarks.

I normally travel to Shirdi -Shani Shignapur- Aurangabad almost every year and always have problems crossing Pune.

[MCR]

Hello Guys,

I wanted to Travel to Shirdi from Bangalore by end of June for 3 days. I wanted to know the best option. The most important factor is comfort. So I assume that these are the options available:

1. Bangalore to Pune by Flight and later hire a Taxi from Pune Airport to Shirdi. Return in the same taxi to Pune airport and take a flight to Bangalore. Utilize the taxi for Nashik and Shignapur in between.

2. Take karnataka express train till Kopergoan and later travel by taxi to Shirdi.

3. Take a package tour from Bangalore to Shirdi by a Volvo bus.

So I will be travelling with my family. Also please recommend a suitable hotel for stay at Shirdi. Request you to recommend the best option.

[speedsatya]

Option 1 anytime.Bus or train journey will take up most of your 3 days.

[roamingrao]

Train no. 0685 - Yeshwantpur( YPR ) - Sainagar( shirdi )( SNSI ) Garib rath express - departs every tuesday at 0730 hrs and reaches Sainagar at 0800 hrs on wednesday. The same train ( 0686 ) departs Shirdi on Wednesday at 1820 and reaches Yeshwantpur at 2000 hrs on Thursday. One way journey could be by Karnataka express ( 2627 / 2628 ) ( alight / board at kopergoan -KPG ) for a 3 day trip.

KSRTC airavat - Bangalore departure - 1300, reaches shirdi - 0930. The same timings are followed for return trip. 1200 INR apprx. comfortable. KSRTC have stopped shirdi package tour by the same bus.

Utilise a local taxi for Nashik / Shani shingnapur visit.

Shirdi hotels :

Garodia - 02423 255234 / 235 - all AC rooms
Sai sahavas - 02423 256363 / 64 / 65 / 66. hotelsaisahavas@rediffmail.com
MTDC Pilgrims inn - 02423 255194 / 97. book online - www.maharashtratourism.gov.in

All these hotels are very close to the Baba mandir.

Hope this helps..

[MCR]

Originally Posted by speedsatya

Option 1 anytime.Bus or train journey will take up most of your 3 days.

Originally Posted by roamingrao

Train no. 0685 - Yeshwantpur( YPR ) - Sainagar( shirdi )( SNSI ) Garib rath express - departs every tuesday at 0730 hrs and reaches Sainagar at 0800 hrs on wednesday. The same train ( 0686 ) departs Shirdi on Wednesday at 1820 and reaches Yeshwantpur at 2000 hrs on Thursday. One way journey could be by Karnataka express ( 2627 / 2628 ) ( alight / board at kopergoan -KPG ) for a 3 day trip.

KSRTC airavat - Bangalore departure - 1300, reaches shirdi - 0930. The same timings are followed for return trip. 1200 INR apprx. comfortable. KSRTC have stopped shirdi package tour by the same bus.

Utilise a local taxi for Nashik / Shani shingnapur visit.

Shirdi hotels :

Garodia - 02423 255234 / 235 - all AC rooms
Sai sahavas - 02423 256363 / 64 / 65 / 66. hotelsaisahavas@rediffmail.com
MTDC Pilgrims inn - 02423 255194 / 97. book online - www.maharashtratourism.gov.in

All these hotels are very close to the Baba mandir.

Hope this helps..

Thanks Speedsatya and roamingrao.

@ speedsatya, I am getting a fare of 18,072/- on Kingfisher airlines for the return trip BLR-PNQ. I will have to check out Indigo and Spicejet.

@ roaminrao. Is hiring a taxi at Shirdi viable? My friends told me that the taxi"s quote exorbitant rates for Triambakeshwar and Shignapur visit.
Is it better to hire a taxi for the roundtrip from Pune to Shirdi via a decent travel agency in Pune?

[roamingrao]

Originally Posted by MCR

Is it better to hire a taxi for the roundtrip from Pune to Shirdi via a decent travel agency in Pune?

Yes, Pune would offer much better options than hiring a taxi at Shirdi. A round trip ( Pune > Triambakeshwar > Nashik > Shirdi > Shani Shingnapur > Pune ) would be possible in 2 days with a night halt in Shirdi.

[kadri007]

VRL has introduced new Isuzu AC buses from Bangalore to Shirdi.

Else fly to Mumbai and take a package tour of Shirdi.

[PAVAN KADAM]

Originally Posted by MCR

Thanks Speedsatya and roamingrao.

@ speedsatya, I am getting a fare of 18,072/- on Kingfisher airlines for the return trip BLR-PNQ. I will have to check out Indigo and Spicejet.

@ roaminrao. Is hiring a taxi at Shirdi viable? My friends told me that the taxi"s quote exorbitant rates for Triambakeshwar and Shignapur visit.
Is it better to hire a taxi for the roundtrip from Pune to Shirdi via a decent travel agency in Pune?

We travelled to Shirdi last November.

1) Bangalore (Yeshwanthpur )Tuesday 7:30 am -- Garib rath . Full A/c . Clean train.

2) Shirdi 9:30 am Wednesday -- Reached Shirdi, finished darshan by afternoon.

3) Shirdi Overnight stay after visiting shani Shingnapur

4) Thursday -- Leave and travel to Nashik for various temple visits, including Panchvati.

5) Thursday --- Travel overnight by VOLVO to Mumbai

6) Friday - Saturday - Sunday - All over Mumbai

7) Sunday -- 9:00 pm Jet Airways - 10:30 pm Back to Namma Bengaluru

[MCR]

Originally Posted by roamingrao

Yes, Pune would offer much better options than hiring a taxi at Shirdi. A round trip ( Pune > Triambakeshwar > Nashik > Shirdi > Shani Shingnapur > Pune ) would be possible in 2 days with a night halt in Shirdi.

Thanks for the suggestion roamingrao.

Originally Posted by kadri007

VRL has introduced new Isuzu AC buses from Bangalore to Shirdi.

Else fly to Mumbai and take a package tour of Shirdi.

Thanks for the suggestion kadri.

Originally Posted by PAVAN KADAM

We travelled to Shirdi last November.

1) Bangalore (Yeshwanthpur )Tuesday 7:30 am -- Garib rath . Full A/c . Clean train.
.
.
.
7) Sunday -- 9:00 pm Jet Airways - 10:30 pm Back to Namma Bengaluru

Thanks for the suggestion Pavan.

can somebody suggest a decent and reliable taxi operator in Pune with contact numbers .

[kadri007]

Originally Posted by MCR

can somebody suggest a decent and reliable taxi operator in Pune with contact numbers .

I think Cell cabs are having services in Pune, You can check it out.

[MX6]

Check out Kingfisher. They have 2N / 3D holiday package inclusive of airfare/ local stay/ taxi.
Here's the link.
KINGFISHER Holidays - Discover the Good Times: Shirdi Shrine - Home of Saint Sai Baba

[MCR]

Originally Posted by kadri007

I think Cell cabs are having services in Pune, You can check it out.

Thanks kadri.

Originally Posted by MX6

Check out Kingfisher. They have 2N / 3D holiday package inclusive of airfare/ local stay/ taxi.
Here's the link.
KINGFISHER Holidays - Discover the Good Times: Shirdi Shrine - Home of Saint Sai Baba

Thanks MX6 for the suggestion.

Well guys I have now almost finalised the travel resources.

Bangalore - Pune - Bangalore: Kingfisher / Indigo / Spicejet. Based on the availability.
Pune - Shirdi - Shingnapur - Nashik - Pune : Toyota Innova.

I am yet to decide on a place to stay in Shirdi. So any recommendation is more that welcome.

I plan to spend one day in Nashik, so I will book in Ginger. I have stayed in ginger nashik a number of times and I really like the place. Its better than Panchavati in Vakil Vadi.
Special thanks to roamingrao for providing me the contact info of reliable taxi operator in Pune.Thumbs Up.

[athalaga]

I am planning to fly in on saturday (date not fixed yet) to Pune. Need a taxi from Pune Airport-shani singhanapur-shirdi-Pune Airport. Any info on reliable Taxi services which BHPians have used earlier would be appreciated.

[siddheshb]

I am planning Pune to Shirdi and back in my Endeavour. Looks like Pune-Ahmednagar-Shirdi is the preferred road, although the NH 50 road is little shorter. Any confirmations/updates on this? Anyone travelled recently and can comment on the road?

[gautom]

Siddhesh, We are just back from Shirdi yesterday. We did a Bangalore-Kolhapur-Shikhar Signapur-Shani Shignapur-Shirdi-Satara-Bangalore on my Alto in 4 days covering 2400 KM.

To reach NH4 at Pune, we took the road via Ahmednagar from Shirdi, and would suggest you to go for the same.