Diwali 2026: Going Home by Cab from Mumbai and Pune (Dates, Routes, Traffic Tips)
Diwali Lakshmi Puja is on Sunday, 8 November 2026, and the festival runs from Dhanteras on 6 November to Bhai Dooj on 10 November. For lakhs of families in Mumbai and Pune, that means one thing: going home. Kolhapur, Satara, Sangli, Ratnagiri, Nashik, Solapur, Aurangabad: everyone wants to be with family for Lakshmi Puja and Padwa.
Trains are full months ahead, buses charge festival fares, and driving yourself on the busiest weekend of the year is tiring. A private cab with a driver takes the whole family door to door, with the sweets, gifts and luggage in the boot. This guide covers the 2026 Diwali dates, the most popular routes home from Mumbai and Pune, the best time to leave, and how to plan the drive back after Bhai Dooj.
Diwali 2026 dates
Dates follow the common panchang. Local calendars can differ by a day, so check yours before you fix the trip.
Why families book a cab to go home for Diwali
- Door to door. No auto to the station, no waiting at a crowded bus stand at night with children.
- Everyone travels together. An Ertiga or Innova Crysta takes six or seven people, so grandparents, children and luggage all fit in one car.
- Space for gifts and sweets. Mithai boxes, faral, new clothes and puja items travel safely in the boot, not on your lap.
- You leave when it suits you. Start at 5 am to beat the traffic, stop for breakfast when the children are hungry.
- Nobody drives tired. After a week of office and shopping, a professional driver handles the expressway while you rest.
Routes home from Mumbai
These are the routes our customers book most in the Diwali week. Distances and times are approximate and depend on traffic and the ghat sections. Click the route for the current fare.
For Sangli and Karad, book the Kolhapur or Satara route and tell us the final stop. For anything not listed, see all outstation cabs from Mumbai.
Routes home from Pune
Pune families mostly head to Nashik, Kolhapur, Solapur, Satara and Marathwada. The roads out of Pune jam up at Hadapsar, Katraj and Nashik Phata on the festival days, so an early start makes a big difference.
Book a Pune to Shirdi cab, a Pune to Mumbai taxi, or see all outstation cabs from Pune. Large family? An Innova Crysta or Hycross from Pune seats seven comfortably.
When to leave: beating the Diwali traffic
Most of the traffic comes on two days: the evening of Dhanteras (6 November) and the whole of Naraka Chaturdashi (7 November). Here is how to avoid the worst of it:
- Leave a day earlier if you can. Thursday, 5 November is far easier than Friday or Saturday.
- Start before 6 am. The Mumbai-Pune Expressway, the Nashik highway and NH48 towards Satara are clear early in the morning.
- Avoid the Friday evening exit. Office traffic plus festival traffic at Vashi, Panvel and Thane can add two hours.
- Use the expressway towards Pune and Kolhapur, and take the Khopoli exit only if your driver advises it on the day.
- For Konkan, start at night or very early. The Mumbai-Goa highway (NH66) has slow stretches near Mangaon and the Kashedi ghat.
Travelling with sweets, gifts and luggage
Diwali bags are heavier than any other trip of the year. A few practical tips:
- Tell us the number of bags when you book. For a family of five with Diwali luggage, an Ertiga or Innova Crysta is better than a sedan.
- Keep mithai and faral boxes flat in the boot, away from the bags, so they do not get crushed.
- Do not carry firecrackers in the cab. It is unsafe in a closed car and not allowed.
- Keep the puja items and the children’s snacks in one small bag inside the car.
Planning the trip back after Bhai Dooj
The return rush starts on the evening of Bhai Dooj (10 November) and continues through 11 November. If your office reopens on Wednesday, think about returning on the morning of 11 November instead of the night before. If you want the same car to bring you back, book the return when you book the trip home. Drivers and cars are in short supply in this week, and a return booked in advance is confirmed.
One-way or round trip? If you are staying home four or five days, two one-way bookings usually work out better than keeping a car waiting. If you are back in two days, a round trip is simpler. Call us and we will tell you which works out cheaper for your dates.
Not going home? Short Diwali breaks by cab
The long weekend is also perfect for a short family break:
- Lonavala and Khandala, 2 hours from Mumbai: Mumbai to Lonavala cab
- Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani, for the cool weather: Mumbai to Mahabaleshwar cab
- Goa, for a longer holiday: Mumbai to Goa cab
- Shirdi and Trimbakeshwar, for a Diwali darshan: Mumbai to Trimbakeshwar cab
Staying in Mumbai? Take the family around the lit-up city on a Mumbai darshan cab.
Book early: this is the busiest week of the year
Every year, the cars for 6 and 7 November are booked out first. Book at least a week ahead, and two weeks ahead for an Innova or a tempo traveller. For a big family group, a tempo traveller or mini bus keeps everyone together. For all festival dates and more trip ideas, see our Navratri, Dussehra and Diwali 2026 travel guide.
Book your Diwali cab: call +91 9702747577 or WhatsApp +91 9702545454 with your date, pickup address and destination.
Frequently asked questions
When is Diwali in 2026?
Diwali Lakshmi Puja is on Sunday, 8 November 2026. The festival starts with Dhanteras on 6 November and ends with Bhai Dooj on 10 November.
Which is the best day to travel home for Diwali 2026?
Thursday, 5 November is the easiest day. If you can only leave on 6 or 7 November, start before 6 am to avoid the worst highway traffic.
How early should I book a cab for Diwali?
Book at least one week ahead, and two weeks ahead for an Innova, Ertiga or tempo traveller, because cars for 6 and 7 November sell out first.
Can I book a one-way cab from Mumbai to Kolhapur for Diwali?
Yes. One-way and round-trip cabs are available from Mumbai to Kolhapur, Satara, Ratnagiri, Nashik, Shirdi, Aurangabad and Solapur. The current fare is on each route page.
Which car is best for a family of six with Diwali luggage?
An Ertiga or an Innova Crysta. Both seat six to seven people with luggage. For more than seven people, book a tempo traveller.
Can I carry firecrackers in the cab?
No. Firecrackers are not allowed in the cab because they are unsafe in a closed vehicle on a long drive.
Can I book the return trip after Bhai Dooj at the same time?
Yes, and we recommend it. The return days are as busy as the outward days, so a return booked in advance is confirmed.
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