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Shirdi is wonderfully placed for Lord Shiva's devotees — three of Maharashtra's five Jyotirlingas lie within an easy drive of Sai Baba's town. So if you're at Shirdi and wondering which Jyotirlinga is near Shirdi and how to reach it, this guide has the answer: distances, what makes each shrine special, how to travel, and the popular circuit that combines Sai darshan with three Jyotirlingas.
At a glance
Grishneshwar — the 12th Jyotirlinga, near Ellora · ~110 km · ~2.5-3 hrs
Trimbakeshwar — the three-faced Jyotirlinga, near Nashik · ~110-120 km · ~2.5-3 hrs
Bhimashankar — in the Sahyadris, near Pune · ~180-220 km · ~5-6 hrs
Farther: Aundha Nagnath (Hingoli) and Parli Vaijnath (Beed)
Grishneshwar, in the village of Verul near the Ellora Caves (Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar / Aurangabad district), is the twelfth and last of the twelve Jyotirlingas. Its name means "Lord of Compassion." The present temple — a beautiful example of carved stone architecture — is associated with Ahilyabai Holkar.
Distance from Shirdi: about 110 km, roughly 2.5-3 hours (faster now via the Samruddhi Mahamarg).
Nearby: barely 1 km from the Ellora Caves (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), plus the Bhadra Maruti (sleeping Hanuman) temple and Daulatabad Fort — pairs beautifully with a bit of sightseeing.
Being both close and combinable with Ellora, Grishneshwar is arguably the easiest Jyotirlinga to visit from Shirdi.
Near Nashik, at the foot of Brahmagiri, Trimbakeshwar is unique among all twelve Jyotirlingas — it has a three-faced (Trayambaka) lingam representing Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh, and it sits at the source of the sacred Godavari. Devotees bathe at Kushavarta Kund before darshan.
Distance from Shirdi: about 110-120 km, roughly 2.5-3 hours by road.
Special draws: the Monday crown darshan, the Kushavarta snan, and rituals like Kaal Sarp and Narayan Nagbali that are performed here.
For timings, aarti, the VIP pass and dress code, see our Trimbakeshwar darshan timings guide.
Set deep in the Sahyadri hills near Pune, Bhimashankar is the source of the Bhima river and one of the most scenic of all Jyotirlingas — surrounded by the Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary, home to the rare Shekru (giant squirrel). The ancient temple blends Nagara architecture with the forest around it.
Distance from Shirdi: about 180-220 km, roughly 5-6 hours by road (the last stretch is a winding ghat climb).
Tip: the early-morning Kakad Aarti here is a beautiful experience; an overnight stay nearby makes it easy.
Bhimashankar is farther and hillier than the other two, so it's best planned as its own day rather than squeezed in.
Maharashtra's other two Jyotirlingas lie farther east — Aundha Nagnath in Hingoli district and Parli Vaijnath in Beed district. Both are several hundred kilometres from Shirdi. Wonderful shrines, but suited to a dedicated multi-day Jyotirlinga yatra rather than a quick trip from Shirdi.
Many pilgrims combine Sai Baba's darshan with the three nearest Jyotirlingas — Grishneshwar, Trimbakeshwar and Bhimashankar — in one trip. A comfortable 2-day plan from Shirdi looks like this:
Day 1: Shirdi → Bhimashankar (darshan) → drive to Trimbakeshwar, overnight.
Day 2: Trimbakeshwar darshan (early, with Kushavarta snan) → Grishneshwar (and Ellora, if time) → return to Shirdi.
The order can be flipped to suit your route.
Grishneshwar (Ellora): ~110 km · ~2.5-3 hrs
Trimbakeshwar (Nashik): ~110-120 km · ~2.5-3 hrs
Bhimashankar (Pune ghats): ~180-220 km · ~5-6 hrs
Aundha Nagnath (Hingoli): ~300 km · a longer circuit
Parli Vaijnath (Beed): ~250 km · a longer circuit
Distances vary a little by route — treat them as planning estimates.
Trusted by thousands of Yatris across India.
The Jyotirlingas near Shirdi are best reached by private taxi, especially Bhimashankar's ghat road and if you're travelling with elders or on a tight schedule. Buses and trains reach the nearest towns (Nashik for Trimbakeshwar, Aurangabad for Grishneshwar, Pune for Bhimashankar), but need changes for the final stretch — a cab is simpler for darshan trips.
The pleasant season is October to March, ideal for road travel and the ghats. Shravan (July-August) and Mahashivratri are the most spiritually charged times at every Jyotirlinga — but also the most crowded, so plan and book ahead. The monsoon makes Bhimashankar especially green and beautiful, though the ghat roads need care.
Most travellers base themselves in Shirdi and make day trips, or stay a night near Trimbakeshwar / Nashik on the circuit. Browse verified Shirdi stays below.
Shirdi's location is a gift for Shiva devotees — with Grishneshwar and Trimbakeshwar barely a couple of hours away and Bhimashankar within a day, you can pair Sai Baba's blessings with three of the twelve Jyotirlingas on a single trip. Plan Bhimashankar as its own day, keep the October-March season in mind, and set off early for calm darshan. Om Sai Ram! Har Har Mahadev! 🚩
Trusted by thousands of Yatris across India.
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YATRA GUIDES
Walking distances, darshan timings, where to stay, and how to reach — every yatra question, answered.