How to Reach Pune to Shirdi

Shirdi is a popular pilgrimage town located in the Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra, about 258 km from Pune. It is most well known as the home of the late 19th-century saint Sai Baba. Every year, millions of devotees and tourists visit Shirdi to offer prayers at Sai Baba's temple called Samadhi Mandir.

If you are planning to travel from Pune to Shirdi, you have a few convenient transportation options to choose from. This article provides information on the best ways to reach Shirdi from Pune along with approximate travel time, routes and costs.

By Train

One of the most popular ways to reach Shirdi from Pune is. Pune Railway Station has regular train connectivity to Manmad Junction Railway Station which is about 85 km from Shirdi. From Manmad, you can easily find buses, taxis and auto-rickshaws to complete your journey to Shirdi. Some of the convenient train options from Pune to Manmad are:

• Pune - Manmad Express - Takes around 5 hours

• Sahyadri Express - Takes around 5.5 hours

• Tapovan Express - Takes around 6 hours

Train tickets can be booked in advance through the IRCTC website or mobile app. You can also opt to book at the railway station counters. The approximate cost of second-seating train tickets ranges from INR 100 to INR 300 depending on the train.

Also read - The Sacred Trek to Anjaneri Fort: Birthplace of Lord Hanuman

By Road

Many tourists prefer to take the road route to reach Shirdi from Pune by bus, taxi or private vehicles. The total distance is around 258 km which takes 5-6 hours approximately. Some routes you can consider are:

Pune - Nagar Road - Rahata - Shirdi

Pune - Ahmednagar - Rahata - Shirdi

MSRTC operates regular bus services from Pune to Shirdi daily. Buses start from Pune's Shivajinagar bus stand and drop passengers at the main bus stand in Shirdi which is about 1.5 km from the temple. Volvo AC buses are also available and take around 5.5 hours. Bus ticket prices start from INR 250 onwards. You can also hire a private taxi or travel in your own car by road.

Combined Train/Road Option

Another convenient way to plan your Pune to Shirdi trip is by combining train and road journeys. You can first travel from Pune to nearby towns like Ahmednagar by train or bus. Further, take a taxi or bus to cover the remaining 85-100 km distance to Shirdi. This saves time as you avoid traveling the entire 258 km stretch by road.

Also read - Prati Kedarnath: A Replica of the Kedarnath Temple in Nashik

Conclusion

In summary, railway and road transport offer the best connectivity from Pune to Shirdi. Trains are economical and fastest if you are not traveling in your vehicle. For flexibility, many tourists opt for taxis or private cars to take halts whenever needed.

Depending on your budget and comfort needs, you can choose from trains, state transport private buses, taxis or private cars to reach your destination smoothly. Booking for trains and buses is always advisable during festival seasons when Shirdi gets very crowded.