Pandharpur has no airport of its own. The nearest is Solapur, about 72 km away according to the Shri Vitthal Rukmini Temple’s own page, but flights there are limited and change often. Kolhapur is roughly 180 km by road and Pune, which has the widest choice of flights, is about 210 km by road. From any of them, you finish the journey by road.
Updated October 2026 · HappyFares
Pandharpur in Solapur district, Maharashtra, is the home of the Vitthal and Rukmini temple and one of the state’s most important pilgrimage towns. Planning the trip by air takes a little care, because the town itself has no runway.
Does Pandharpur have an airport?
No. Pandharpur has no airport, and the temple’s own visitor information names Solapur Airport as the nearest, at about 72 km. It also lists Pandharpur railway station as the local rail point, which is why many pilgrims reach the town by train or bus even when they fly for part of the journey.
Because the distance figures published online vary by a few kilometres depending on the route and the starting point, treat the numbers in this guide as approximate and check a live map on the day.
Which airport should you choose: Solapur, Kolhapur or Pune?
Here is how the three options compare, using approximate road distances from published sources.
- Solapur (SSE): the closest at roughly 72 to 78 km, usually a drive of around an hour or a little more. The catch is the flight schedule. Reports on Solapur service have conflicted on frequency and start dates, with Star Air reported as the airline on the Mumbai route, so confirm that a flight actually operates on your dates before relying on it.
- Kolhapur (KLH): roughly 180 km by road. It is a regional airport with fewer flights than a metro airport.
- Pune (PNQ): about 210 km by road, with a typical drive of two and a half hours or a little more. It is the farthest of the three but the largest, so it usually has the most flights and fare choices.
If a Solapur flight fits your dates and your budget, it saves the most road time. If it does not, Pune is the dependable fallback, and many travellers accept the longer transfer for the better selection of flights.
What is the significance of Ashadhi and Kartiki Ekadashi at Pandharpur?
Pandharpur is best known for its two major Ekadashi observances. Ashadhi Ekadashi falls in the monsoon month of Ashadha, around July, and is the culmination of the wari, the pilgrimage in which devotees known as warkaris walk to Pandharpur in processions, many of them over several days. Kartiki Ekadashi falls in the month of Kartik, around November, and also draws large numbers of devotees. Both are linked to Vitthal, the form of Vishnu worshipped here.
Many pilgrims on foot arrive in large groups, so the town becomes very crowded on and around these days. If you are flying in, expect heavier traffic on the final road stretch and tighter rooms than usual.
When is Kartiki Ekadashi in 2026?
Kartiki Ekadashi is the same observance as Dev Uthani (Prabodhini) Ekadashi, and in 2026 the date commonly listed is Friday, 20 November. Some calendars list Saturday, 21 November for the Vaishnava observance, and the exact day of the main observance at Pandharpur is announced locally, so check the Vitthal Rukmini temple’s announcement before you fix your tickets.
Because the day can shift by a calendar, a safe plan is to arrive a day early. Book your flights and road transfer with some flexibility, since fares and rooms around a major Ekadashi tend to tighten as the date nears.
How do you travel from the airport to Pandharpur?
Taxis are the most direct option from all three airports, and regular buses run to Pandharpur from cities such as Pune, Mumbai and Solapur, according to the temple’s visitor information. From Pune, some travellers prefer to take the train to Pandharpur railway station instead of driving the full distance.
Did you know? Solapur’s airport code is SSE, which does not match the spelling of the city name, so double check the code on your booking. Kolhapur is KLH and Pune is PNQ.
Whichever airport you pick, build in a buffer. Road travel time in Maharashtra can stretch during festival weeks, so avoid booking a tight connection on the day you return, and keep your onward flight at least several hours after your planned departure from Pandharpur.
Common Questions
What is the nearest airport to Pandharpur?
Solapur, about 72 km away according to the temple’s own page. Flights there are limited, so check the current schedule.
Is Pune a good airport for Pandharpur?
Yes, if you want more flight choices. It is roughly 210 km by road, so allow around two and a half hours or more for the drive.
Is there an airport in Kolhapur?
Yes, Kolhapur has a regional airport, roughly 180 km from Pandharpur by road. It has fewer flights than Pune.
When is Kartiki Ekadashi in 2026?
Commonly listed as Friday, 20 November 2026, with some calendars giving 21 November. Confirm with the temple.
Can I reach Pandharpur by train?
Yes. Pandharpur has its own railway station, which the temple describes as well connected to major cities.
Which is busier, Ashadhi or Kartiki Ekadashi?
Both draw big crowds. Ashadhi Ekadashi is the better known because of the wari. Either way, book early.
Heading to Pandharpur? Search and compare flights to Pune, Kolhapur or Solapur on HappyFares, with zero convenience fee on domestic bookings, and set a price alert for your dates.
Distances, flight schedules and festival dates change. Verify current details with the airline, the airport or the temple authorities before you travel.
