If you want to tour the country, there is no better option than Indian Railways. To avoid the hassle of booking individual tickets, the Railways offers special tour packages for travel. One such great option – if you want to visit major religious places in Maharashtra in a short period of time – is the IRCTC tour package that includes Shirdi, Shani Singhanapur and Nashik. This 2-night, 3-day package offers pilgrims a chance to visit Shirdi (abode of Sai Baba), Shani Shingnapur (famous temple of Lord Shani) and Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga.
Where does the journey start?
The journey starts from Mumbai. Tourists will reach Shirdi by Vande Bharat Express. Shirdi is one of the most famous pilgrimage destinations in the country, where lakhs of devotees come every year to seek blessings from Sai Baba. Sai Baba is revered by people of all religions and communities and his teachings inspire people even today. Pilgrims will be taken to Shani Singhanapur on the second day of the journey. This village situated in Ahmednagar district is famous all over the world for the temple of Shani Dev. A unique feature of this place is that many houses do not have traditional doors; Local people believe that Shanidev himself protects this village.
Visit to Trimbakeshwar Temple
Thereafter, the journey moves towards Nashik, a city of great religious and cultural importance. The Trimbakeshwar temple located here is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. A unique feature of this Jyotirlinga is that three faces symbolizing Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh are visible in it. This is the reason why this temple holds a place of special respect among the devotees.
What’s included?
This package from IRCTC includes round-trip train fare, hotel accommodation in Shirdi and Nashik, two breakfasts and two dinners, local sightseeing, transfers, GST and travel insurance. The tour operates every Friday, and passengers can choose between chair car or executive chair car categories depending on their preference. However, the pilgrims will have to bear the cost of temple entry tickets, special darshan fees, personal expenses, room service and other personal amenities.
What is the price?
The package price varies depending on the category and accommodation chosen. For Executive Chair Car (Deluxe) category, the charges are ₹22,850 for single occupancy, ₹16,100 for twin sharing and ₹14,850 for triple sharing. Meanwhile, in the chair car (comfort) category, the fare is ₹20,350 for single occupancy, ₹13,475 for twin sharing and ₹12,250 per person for triple sharing. For children, the price is ₹11,975 in deluxe class and ₹9,350 in chair car class; It applies to children aged 5 to 11 years.
