The Solapur highway route
From Pune, the road runs east on the Pune–Solapur highway past Hadapsar, Yavat, Indapur and Mohol to Solapur, a wide and busy highway for most of the journey. From Solapur, Akkalkot is only about 40 km further south-east, close to the Karnataka border.
Because Akkalkot is a full morning’s drive away, most families leave Pune before dawn and have breakfast on the highway. Starting from the eastern side of Pune, like Kharadi, Wagholi or Hadapsar, gets you onto the highway quickly.
Shri Swami Samarth Maharaj
Shri Swami Samarth is revered by his devotees as an incarnation of Lord Dattatreya. He lived in Akkalkot in the 19th century, and his words “Bhiu nakos, mi tuzhya pathishi aahe” (do not fear, I am always behind you) are known in homes across Maharashtra.
The Vatvruksha Mandir stands where the banyan tree under which Swami Samarth often sat still grows. The Samadhi Math marks the place of his samadhi. Both are in the town and are easy to visit on foot once you are dropped near the temple area.
Mahaprasad and seva
The Shri Swami Samarth Annachhatra Mandal serves mahaprasad to devotees, and for many families taking prasad there is as important as the darshan itself. It can be very busy on Thursdays and festival days, so allow time in your plan. Many satsang and seva groups also travel here regularly for special occasions.
When to plan your visit
Akkalkot is busy through the year, but some days are special. Thursdays, considered Guru’s day, bring the most devotees every week. Guru Purnima, Swami Samarth’s Prakat Din in the month of Chaitra and his Punyatithi draw very large crowds, with bhajans, palkhis and long queues. If you want to be part of these celebrations, book your vehicle and stay well in advance.
For a calmer visit with elderly parents, a weekday morning outside festival time is best. The weather is also kinder between October and February, as summer in the Solapur region gets very hot.
Stops along the way
The long highway drive has its own small pleasures. Many groups break for breakfast near Indapur and stop in Solapur for the famous shenga chutney and kadak bhakri to take home. Solapur’s Siddheshwar temple, set in the middle of a lake, is a peaceful stop on the way in or out of town.
Turning it into a longer yatra
Akkalkot is the centre of a very popular Solapur-region circuit. Tulja Bhavani at Tuljapur is a short drive away, and Vithoba’s Pandharpur can be visited on the way there or back. Datta devotees often also add Ganagapur across the border in Karnataka. A Pune to Akkalkot tempo traveller gives you the freedom to change the order or add a stop without any fuss.
Seats, luggage and fares for a yatra group
If you are booking a Pune to Akkalkot tempo traveller for a group of 10 to 14, the 14 or 17-seater offers plenty of space for luggage on a two or three day trip. Fares are per km with a daily minimum distance, and toll, parking, any state permit and the driver’s allowance are usually extra. The price page explains it simply.
