PMPML has announced two ₹500 Navratri temple tours in AC electric buses, connecting devotees to 10 shrines across Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad and nearby parts of Pune district. The services will operate under the transport undertaking’s Tourism Bus Service No. 13, with both routes starting and ending at Pune Station.
According to the announcement reported by Pune Mirror, the buses will depart Pune Station at 8.30 am, travel through Swargate and return to Pune Station at 7 pm. The fare is ₹500 per passenger for either circuit. Tickets will be available at designated Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited, or PMPML, pass centres.
The first circuit covers five shrines outside the central city area. Its stops are Taljai Mata Temple at Taljai, Padmavati Temple, Tukai Mata Temple at Kondhanpur, Shrinath Mhaskoba-Jogeshwari Mata Temple at Kodit in Purandar taluka, and Yamai Mata Temple at Shivari, also in Purandar taluka.
The second circuit focuses on temples within Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad. It includes Mahalaxmi Temple at Sarasbaug, Tambdi Jogeshwari Temple in Budhwar Peth, Chatushrungi Mata Temple on Senapati Bapat Road, Vaishnavi Mata Temple in Pimpri Camp and Bhavani Mata Temple in Bhavani Peth.
The tours are part of PMPML’s existing tourism bus network, which has 13 services covering religious and tourist destinations. These services generally operate on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, while operations on other days depend on passenger demand. PMPML said its tourism services have received a positive response, particularly on weekends, when employees of offices, educational institutions, industrial units and IT companies commonly have weekly holidays.
The AC electric bus tours give passengers a single-vehicle option for visiting multiple shrines instead of arranging separate transport for each stop. The service also brings a seasonal religious travel demand within PMPML’s broader public transport and tourism operations.
PMPML has announced additional destination changes on two other tourism services following requests from travellers and devotees. Tourism Bus Service No. 5 will now include Dhayreshwar Temple in Dhayari village and the Jadhav Wada historical museum in Nanded village. Service No. 12 has added Shri Kshetra Pandeshwar, a Shiva temple on Pandeshwar-Nazare Road.
Passengers can purchase tickets at PMPML pass centres at Deccan Gymkhana, Pune Station, Swargate, Katraj, Hadapsar Gadital, Pune Municipal Corporation headquarters, Bhosari Bus Stand and Nigdi. The announced services will follow the 8.30 am departure and 7 pm return schedule from Pune Station.
