Pilgrimage Tours
Photo: Ashwin Rajesh Pillai · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · cropped
Ekvira Aai Mandir stands on the hill at Karla, near Lonavala in Pune district, right beside the ancient rock-cut Karla caves — so the climb ends at a hilltop where a living Devi shrine and a 2,000-year-old Buddhist chaitya sit side by side, which is what makes this place unlike any other Shakti temple in Maharashtra. The goddess Ekvira is worshipped as a form of Renuka, and is the kuladevi (family deity) of the Agri and Koli fishing communities of the Konkan coast and Mumbai, along with the Chandraseniya Kayastha Prabhu community; families come here to fulfil vows, for first-hair-cutting and other kul rituals as much as for darshan. The complex originally consisted of three similar shrines set in a row facing west, and the main sanctum has a murti of Jogeshvari Devi alongside the goddess. Tradition holds that the Pandavas raised the temple in a single night during their exile, on the goddess's own condition that it be finished before dawn.
October to February is the easiest window — the air is cool, the steps are dry, and the Sahyadri slopes around Karla are still green after the monsoon. The two big occasions are Navratri in Ashwin (Sept–Oct) and Chaitra Navratri with the Ekvira Devi Palkhi Sohala (March–April), when Koli and Agri families arrive in enormous numbers; Navratri here has drawn over five lakh pilgrims and the queue on the steps can begin the night before, so elders and small children are better served by an ordinary weekday. Avoid peak monsoon (late June to August) if anyone in the group is unsteady on their feet — the stone steps get slippery.
The temple is at Karla village, roughly 10–11 km from Lonavala on the old Mumbai–Pune road. Nearest railhead is Malavali, a small halt on the Pune–Lonavala local line about 3 km away, with autos at the station; Lonavala itself is the bigger station and every Mumbai–Pune train stops there. Nearest airport is Pune (about 60–70 km); Mumbai airport is roughly 100–110 km via the Expressway, and cabs from either city take a little over two hours. A road runs up to the base of the steps, so vehicles can drop passengers close to the start of the climb.
There is a climb of roughly 500 stone steps from the base to the temple, with landings and shops along the way but no lift or ropeway. Elderly pilgrims, anyone with knee trouble and families with infants should plan an unhurried ascent with rest breaks, and start early to avoid the afternoon heat. Doli (palanquin) carriers are usually available at the base for a negotiated fee, but this is a private arrangement and not run by the temple. Darshan timings and festival arrangements change — confirm with the temple before you travel.
Planned around you, not a fixed departure. Holiday Vibez arranges pilgrimages to Ekvira Devi Temple in Lonavala for families, elders and temple groups travelling from Chennai, Coimbatore, Kochi and Madurai. Tell us your dates and how many are coming — we build the route around that. 100% customisable.
- Stays near the shrine — so elders aren't driven back and forth at 4am.
- Private transfers — pick-up from your door, not a meeting point.
- Meals that suit the group — including pure-veg and fasting requirements.
- Group travel — 4 people or 40, one coordinator, one itinerary.
- Someone on the phone — when you're in a queue three states from home.
Temple boards run their own darshan queues and quotas. No travel agent can sell you a special one, and agencies that promise "VIP darshan" are either misleading you or breaking the trust's rules. We help you book the official slots and we get everything else right.
Most of the people we send on yatra are over 55, or booking for parents who are. We plan shorter driving days, stays within walking distance where the shrine allows it, and we'll tell you honestly if a site involves a long climb or a trek before you pay — not after.
How many steps are there at Ekvira Devi Temple, and is there any other way up?
About 500 steps lead from the base to the hilltop shrine. There is no ropeway or lift. Vehicles can reach the base of the steps, and palanquin bearers are generally available there for those who cannot climb, arranged privately at the base.
Can we see the Karla caves on the same visit?
Yes — the Buddhist Karla caves are on the same hill, immediately beside the temple, and are protected by the Archaeological Survey of India. Most visitors do both in one trip. The caves have their own entry arrangements and visiting hours, separate from the temple, so check on the day.
Which is the best day to visit if we want to avoid heavy crowds?
A weekday outside the Navratri periods. Both Ashwin Navratri (Sept–Oct) and Chaitra Navratri with the Palkhi (March–April) draw lakhs of devotees and the queue extends far down the steps. Ordinary weekdays in the cool months are far gentler on elders.
Plan your Ekvira Devi Temple yatra
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