What fits in 10 days

Ten days covers two or three groups, or four at the compressed end of our estimate. This page sets out what each group takes and which sets of groups fit in ten days.

There is no official order, so this is not a day-by-day route. Start from the group nearest you and put the groups in whatever order suits you.

Trip length
10 days
Most temples
10 of 12
Groups to choose from
5
Order
Yours to choose

Every day count on this page is our own planning estimate, not an official schedule. Travel times and temple hours change with the season.Data check pending

What each group takes

Days inside the group only, our estimate. The low end is the compressed pace, the high end the comfortable one. Temples are listed by stotram number.

Days each regional group takes, our estimate
GroupTemplesDays, our estimate
NorthKedarnath, Kashi VishwanathKedarnath alone takes the better part of two days once the road and the climb are counted. Open only part of the year.2 to 3 days
WestSomnath, Bhimashankar, Trimbakeshwar, Nageshwar, GrishneshwarTwo coast temples, three hill temples, and the long leg between Gujarat and Maharashtra.5 to 6 days
CentralMahakaleshwar, OmkareshwarTwo temples a short leg apart, both served from Indore.2 days
EastBaidyanathOne temple. A night in Deoghar is the comfortable version.1 to 2 days
SouthMallikarjuna, RameshwaramThe two temples sit far apart, so the leg between them is the main cost.2 to 3 days

Sets of groups that fit in 10 days

Each set is groups that link without doubling back. The day range adds the group estimates; each link between groups adds up to a day more unless it is a night train or an early flight.

West + Central + North + East10 temples · 10 to 13 days in the groups, plus 3 linksWest groupCentral groupNorth groupEast group
  • West and Central: Rail from Mumbai to Khandwa Junction, which sits on the Mumbai-Delhi line via Bhusawal, or a flight to Indore from Mumbai, Pune or Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
  • Central and North: Rail between Ujjain and Dehradun, or between Indore and Haridwar, then the road up from Rishikesh, the railhead for Rudraprayag. Varanasi has direct trains to Indore and Dehradun.
  • North and East: Rail towards Jasidih Junction for Deoghar, which the trust names as a major stop on the Howrah-Delhi line, or a flight to Deoghar from Delhi or Kolkata. Varanasi lists direct trains to Delhi and Kolkata.
Includes Kedarnath, which is open only part of the year.
North + East + South + West10 temples · 10 to 14 days in the groups, plus 3 linksNorth groupEast groupSouth groupWest group
  • North and East: Rail towards Jasidih Junction for Deoghar, which the trust names as a major stop on the Howrah-Delhi line, or a flight to Deoghar from Delhi or Kolkata. Varanasi lists direct trains to Delhi and Kolkata.
  • East and South: A flight out of Deoghar, which the trust lists as linked to Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Patna, on to Hyderabad (Shamshabad), the airport the Nandyal district gives for Srisailam, then the road to Srisailam.
  • South and West: A flight or a train between Hyderabad and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, the district of Grishneshwar.
Includes Kedarnath, which is open only part of the year.
East + South + West + Central10 temples · 10 to 13 days in the groups, plus 3 linksEast groupSouth groupWest groupCentral group
  • East and South: A flight out of Deoghar, which the trust lists as linked to Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Patna, on to Hyderabad (Shamshabad), the airport the Nandyal district gives for Srisailam, then the road to Srisailam.
  • South and West: A flight or a train between Hyderabad and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, the district of Grishneshwar.
  • West and Central: Rail from Mumbai to Khandwa Junction, which sits on the Mumbai-Delhi line via Bhusawal, or a flight to Indore from Mumbai, Pune or Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
West + Central + North9 temples · 9 to 11 days in the groups, plus 2 linksWest groupCentral groupNorth group
  • West and Central: Rail from Mumbai to Khandwa Junction, which sits on the Mumbai-Delhi line via Bhusawal, or a flight to Indore from Mumbai, Pune or Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
  • Central and North: Rail between Ujjain and Dehradun, or between Indore and Haridwar, then the road up from Rishikesh, the railhead for Rudraprayag. Varanasi has direct trains to Indore and Dehradun.
Includes Kedarnath, which is open only part of the year.
South + West + Central9 temples · 9 to 11 days in the groups, plus 2 linksSouth groupWest groupCentral group
  • South and West: A flight or a train between Hyderabad and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, the district of Grishneshwar.
  • West and Central: Rail from Mumbai to Khandwa Junction, which sits on the Mumbai-Delhi line via Bhusawal, or a flight to Indore from Mumbai, Pune or Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.

Groups are listed in no particular order. The links on each card are the ones that join that set; which end you start from is up to you.

Who 10 days suits

Ten days suits a couple or a small group who want a bigger share of the twelve without a punishing pace. Pick the sets below that start near you.

What to book ahead

Bhasma aarti at Mahakaleshwar

If your groups include the central pair, this is the slot that genuinely needs booking in advance.

The links between groups

Most links have a rail version and an air version, and the air version needs booking early to stay cheap. Fix the links before booking the hotels around them.

Kedarnath in season

If your set includes the north group and your dates fall in the open season, the rooms near the temple fill first.

Data check pending

What fits in 7 daysWhat fits in 14 daysCovering all 12

Plan the trip

Covering all 12The five groups and how they linkWhat it costsThe three cost bands, line by lineWhere to stayOne stay page per temple