Pilgrimage Tours
Photo: Thurlapati · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · cropped
Saptashrungi Gad at Vani, about 60 km from Nashik, is the hill shrine of Saptashrungi Nivasini Devi, a form of Durga. The goddess is not an installed idol but a figure roughly eight feet tall carved in relief out of the living rock of the hill, with eighteen arms holding weapons, and kept coated in sindoor which gives her a deep saffron colour. It is counted among the Shakta Peethas, where tradition holds that Sati's right arm fell, and it is one of Maharashtra's "three and a half" Shakti Peethas — whether it is a full or half peetha is disputed between sources, with the temple's own trust treating it as complete. The shrine sits at about 4,659 feet, ringed by the seven peaks that give it its name, and tradition also links the hill to Sage Markandeya, who is said to have meditated on the facing hill.
October to February is the most comfortable stretch for elders, with cool, dry weather on the hill; the monsoon months turn the Sahyadri slopes green but bring heavy rain, mist and slippery steps. The two big draws are Chaitrotsav (Rama Navami to Chaitra Purnima, around March–April) and Navratri in Ashwin (September–October) — both are genuinely packed, with lakhs of devotees over the Chaitra fair, so families travelling with older members may prefer an ordinary weekday instead.
The nearest airport is Nashik's Ozar airport, with Mumbai the nearest large international airport (roughly 220 km). Nashik Road is the usual railhead, around 75 km from the shrine. By road the temple is about 60–65 km from Nashik city via Vani/Nanduri in Kalwan taluka; state buses and shared jeeps run from Nashik and from Vani town, and private vehicles can drive up to the base of the shrine.
The shrine sits on top of a hill and the final approach is a climb of over 500 rock-cut steps. A funicular trolley (opened in 2018) runs to the top in a few minutes and there is also lift access inside the temple, but these are operated by the temple authorities and can be halted for maintenance or in bad weather — confirm they are running before you travel if anyone in your group cannot manage the steps.
Planned around you, not a fixed departure. Holiday Vibez arranges pilgrimages to Saptashrungi Temple in Nashik 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.
Is Saptashrungi one of the Shakti Peethas?
Yes. It is counted among the Shakta Peethas, the spot where tradition holds Sati's right arm fell, and it is one of the "three and a half" Shakti Peethas of Maharashtra. Sources differ on whether it is the half peetha or a full one; the temple trust itself treats it as a complete Shakti Peetha.
Do we have to climb the steps, or is there a ropeway?
There are more than 500 stone steps from the base to the shrine. A funicular trolley carries pilgrims to the top in a few minutes and saves the climb, and an elevator serves the temple interior. Service timings and running status change, so check with the temple before planning around it.
How far is it from Nashik and can it be done in a day?
It is about 60–65 km by road from Nashik, and a day trip from Nashik is comfortable for most families. Many pilgrims combine it with Trimbakeshwar. Darshan timings vary by day and by festival, so confirm with the temple before you set out.
Plan your Saptashrungi Temple yatra
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