The Panchavati Express is the best-known train between Mumbai and Nashik, running daily for over 50 years since 1975. It is the first choice for commuters, students and Shirdi pilgrims making the run between Mumbai CSMT and Manmad Junction. This guide covers timings, fares, halts, classes and booking.
🚆 Quick Information
| Train numbers | 12109 (CSMT to Manmad), 12110 (Manmad to CSMT) |
| Route | Mumbai CSMT ↔ Manmad Junction |
| Distance | About 260 km |
| Journey time | Around 4 hours 35 to 45 minutes |
| Runs | Daily |
| Type | Superfast, seated only |
| Classes | AC Chair Car, Second Class Seating, General Unreserved |
| Coaches | LHB |
| Operated by | Central Railway |
| First service | 1 November 1975 |
Panchavati Express Timings
| Train | From | Departs | To | Arrives |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12110 | Manmad Junction | 06:02 | Mumbai CSMT | 10:45 |
| 12109 | Mumbai CSMT | 18:15 | Manmad Junction | 22:50 |
The timings explain its popularity. The morning service brings people into Mumbai for the working day, and the evening service takes them home. For anyone based in Nashik with business in Mumbai, it makes a same-day return trip genuinely practical.
Route and Halts
The train makes around eight intermediate stops on the Mumbai to Nashik corridor, including:
- Dadar
- Thane
- Kalyan Junction
- Igatpuri
- Devlali
- Nashik Road
- Lasalgaon
- Manmad Junction
Confirm the exact halt list for your date on the National Train Enquiry System, since stops are occasionally revised.
Nashik Road, Not Nashik
A point that catches first-time travellers. The station serving Nashik city is called Nashik Road (NK), and it sits several kilometres from the city centre. Autos and buses cover the last stretch. If your destination is Nashik, this is your stop, not Manmad.
The Thal Ghat Climb
Between Kasara and Igatpuri the line climbs the Thal Ghat, one of the steeper ascents on the network. The train winds up through the Sahyadri hills, and in the monsoon the whole section runs green with waterfalls off the rock faces.
It is also the stretch most affected by heavy rain, so check live running status during the monsoon.
Classes and Fares
Panchavati is a seated service with no sleeper berths, which suits a journey of under five hours.
| AC Chair Car (CC) | Air-conditioned seating, the most comfortable option |
| Second Class Seating (2S) | Reserved non-AC seating, the usual commuter choice |
| General Unreserved | No reservation needed, cheapest and most crowded |
Fares run roughly ₹130 to ₹460 depending on class. Check the exact amount on IRCTC for your date, since fares are revised periodically.
Book ahead if you want a reserved seat. This is a heavily used commuter train and 2S fills quickly, particularly on Friday and Sunday evenings. The general coaches take unreserved passengers, but expect a crowd.
Getting to Shirdi
Manmad Junction is one of the main railheads for Shirdi, and a large share of passengers on this train are Sai Baba pilgrims. From Manmad, buses and taxis cover the remaining distance to Shirdi.
Sainagar Shirdi has its own station served by some direct trains, so check whether a direct service suits your journey better before defaulting to Manmad.
Fifty Years of Service
The Panchavati Express began running on 1 November 1975 and completed 50 years of service in 2025. Few trains in India have run the same route continuously for that long.
The name comes from Panchavati, the area of Nashik on the banks of the Godavari associated with the Ramayana, where Rama, Sita and Lakshmana are said to have spent part of their exile.
The train has been upgraded over the decades, most recently to LHB coaches, which ride better and are safer in the event of a collision.
Nashik and the Kumbh Mela
Nashik hosts the Simhastha Kumbh Mela, one of the largest religious gatherings in the world, held roughly every twelve years. During Kumbh periods, demand on this corridor rises enormously and Railways runs additional services.
If you are planning travel around a Kumbh year, book far ahead and watch for special trains. See our special trains list.
Booking
- Book through IRCTC or at a reservation counter, up to 60 days ahead.
- AC Chair Car and 2S require reservation. General coaches do not.
- Unreserved tickets can be bought on the RailOne app, at counters or at ATVMs.
Frequently Asked Questions
✅ What is the Panchavati Express train number?
12109 from Mumbai CSMT to Manmad and 12110 from Manmad to Mumbai CSMT.
✅ What are the Panchavati Express timings?
Departs Manmad at 06:02, reaching CSMT at 10:45. The return departs CSMT at 18:15, reaching Manmad at 22:50.
✅ Does it run daily?
Yes, seven days a week.
✅ Does the Panchavati Express have sleeper coaches?
No. It is a seated service with AC Chair Car, Second Class Seating and General Unreserved coaches, suited to a journey of under five hours.
✅ Which station should I use for Nashik?
Nashik Road (NK), not Manmad. It sits a few kilometres from the city centre, with autos and buses covering the last stretch.
✅ Is it useful for Shirdi?
Yes. Manmad Junction is a main railhead for Shirdi, with buses and taxis onward. Some direct trains also serve Sainagar Shirdi.
✅ How long does the journey take?
Around 4 hours 35 to 45 minutes over about 260 km.
✅ How old is the Panchavati Express?
It has run since 1 November 1975, completing 50 years of service in 2025.
Quick Summary
| Trains | 12109 and 12110 |
| Route | Mumbai CSMT to Manmad Junction |
| Timings | 06:02 from Manmad, 18:15 from CSMT |
| Journey | About 4 hrs 40 min, 260 km |
| Classes | CC, 2S and General, no sleeper |
| Fare | Roughly ₹130 to ₹460 |
| For Nashik | Get down at Nashik Road |
| For Shirdi | Continue by road from Manmad |
Fifty years on, the Panchavati remains the train Mumbai and Nashik run on. Book your seat ahead for weekends, and remember Nashik Road is the stop for the city. For more, see our guides on the Deccan Queen Express, live train running status and train fares.
Do you travel on the Panchavati regularly? Tell us in the comments how crowded it gets on weekends.