Getting Around Ahilyanagar
Ahilyanagar (formerly Ahmednagar) is a relatively small city in Maharashtra, and it shows less development than the nearby western Maharashtra cities of Mumbai and Pune. That means getting around is generally simple and low-key rather than fast and high-tech: you rely on road transport, local buses, auto-rickshaws and taxis, and the city is compact enough that some areas are pleasant to cover on foot. Marathi is the primary language for daily-life communication, so a few words of Marathi go a long way when asking directions or buying tickets.
How Tourists Move Around the City
Most visitor movement in Ahilyanagar happens by road. The city's sights are spread out, and several of the best-known attractions lie outside the main urban area, so visitors typically combine short local trips with longer day excursions by road. Practical points to keep in mind:
- Local buses, auto-rickshaws and taxis are the main ways of covering ground within the city.
- Several key sites are well outside town — for example, Meherazad, Meher Baba's later residence, is near Pimpalgaon village roughly nine miles north of the city; the Tomb of Salabat Khan II (also called the Chand Bibi Palace) sits on a hill about 13 km from the city; and Mula Dam is about 52 km away. Plan these as road trips rather than walks.
- Some attractions are further still: Shri Munjaba Temple at Ukkadgaon in Shrigonda Taluka is about 60 km from the main city, and Pimpri Gawali in Parner taluka is about 25 km away.
- Because the city often suffers from drought and has a hot semi-arid climate that is sweltering in the pre-monsoon months from March to mid-June, it is worth timing your outings for the cooler parts of the day and carrying water.
Rail Network
Ahilyanagar is served by its own railway station, and trains are a straightforward way to arrive from elsewhere in the region. Regular daily trains connect the city with Shirdi, Mumbai (Dadar), Pune, and many other cities. For a visitor, this makes the train a sensible option for day trips to Shirdi or for onward travel to Mumbai and Pune. Note that the state government's renaming of Ahmednagar to Ahilyanagar also covered railway stations in a separate Mumbai announcement, so you may still see the older name "Ahmednagar" used on tickets, timetables and signage.
Metro and Tram
There is no metro or tram network in Ahilyanagar. The city is a relatively small town, and its public transport is road- and rail-based rather than a rapid transit system. Visitors should not expect metro-style services here; plan around buses, trains, auto-rickshaws and taxis instead.
Buses and Other Public Transport
Buses are the backbone of public transport for reaching Ahilyanagar and for getting around the region.
- From other cities: Ahilyanagar is reachable by road via state transport and private tour buses from most cities in Maharashtra. For reference, the road distance from Ahilyanagar to Mumbai is about 258 km.
- Within the city: local bus services are one of the main ways tourists move around, alongside auto-rickshaws and taxis.
- Buying tickets: for state transport and private tour buses, tickets are purchased at the time of travel — at the bus stand or from the conductor on board. For local city buses, pay the conductor on the bus.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxis and auto-rickshaws are the most flexible way to get around Ahilyanagar, particularly for reaching sites that lie outside the city centre. Because many attractions — the fort, the hilltop tomb, the pilgrimage sites and the dam — are spread across the district, hiring a vehicle by the day is often the most practical approach. Agree on the fare before you set out, especially for out-of-town trips, and confirm whether the price covers waiting time and the return journey.
Walkability
Ahilyanagar is a relatively small town, so walking works well for short hops within the central area, and it is a good way to take in the Nizam Shahi-period buildings and sites scattered around the city. That said, the city is hot throughout the year and swelters during the pre-monsoon months, so long walks are best avoided in the middle of the day. For anything beyond the immediate centre — and certainly for the fort, the hilltop tomb or any of the outlying temples and villages — you will want a bus, auto-rickshaw or taxi.
Getting from the Airport into the City
Ahilyanagar does not have its own airport, so arrivals come through one of the nearby airports and continue by road or rail.
- Nearest domestic airports: Pune Lohegaon Airport and Aurangabad (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar), each about 113 km away.
- Nearest international airport: Chhatrapati Shivaji Airport, Mumbai.
- Onward travel: from any of these airports, the practical options are a taxi or hired car for the road journey, or a train into Ahilyanagar — regular daily trains connect the city with Mumbai (Dadar) and Pune, among other places. State transport and private tour buses from most cities in Maharashtra are another option.
Whichever airport you use, treat the final leg as a road or rail journey of a few hours rather than a quick city transfer, and arrange your onward transport in advance where possible.