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Voykit pocket guide · India
Sarangkheda
Sarangkheda is a half-day stop for the Dattatreya shrine and the Chetak horse fair (December); otherwise skip unless you are passing through North Maharashtra.
Sarangkheda is a small village in North Maharashtra known for its single-faced Dattatreya temple on a hill and the annual Chetak horse fair in December. The shrine draws pilgrims year-round; the fair brings over 100,000 people and horse traders from across India. Most travellers can see the temple in 1–2 hours and move on.
- Country
- India
- Best months
- Oct–Mar
- Avoid
- Apr–Jun (heat), Jul–Sep (monsoon, though possible)
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- INR
- Money
- Indian rupees (INR, ₹) in small notes for autos, street food, tips and entry tickets.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₹800–1,500 · Mid ₹1,500–3,000 · High ₹3,000+ (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Jio, Airtel and Vi sell tourist SIMs at airport counters and their shops; passport, visa and a photo needed; activation can take a few hours.
- Emergency
- Police 112 · Fire and ambulance 112
- Plugs
- Types C, D, M · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin C plugs fit most sockets; D (three round pins) is the common wall socket; hotels often have universal sockets. UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Street food and dhabas: Nothing.; Restaurant: 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.; Car and driver: ₹300–500 a day at the end of the trip.; Guide: ₹300–500 for a half day.; Hotel porter / housekeeping: ₹50–100.; Auto or Uber: Round up.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Buy sealed bottles (check the cap), or use RO-filtered refill stations in hotels and cafés; avoid ice from street stalls.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels, malls and airports; squat toilets with a water jug or hose in stations and villages. Carry tissue and sanitiser; paid public toilets (Sulabh) cost ₹5–10.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Chai at a local stall | ₹10–20 |
| Simple thali meal | ₹80–150 |
| Auto-rickshaw Shahade → Sarangkheda | ₹250–350 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- N/A · Nearest airport: Surat (STV) or Aurangabad (IXU)
- Surat is about 160 km (99 mi); Aurangabad about 200 km (124 mi). Both have limited domestic flights.Surat is about 99 mi (160 km); Aurangabad about 124 mi (200 km). Both have limited domestic flights.
Typical fares
- Shahade → Sarangkheda auto
- ₹250–350, about 20 min
- Dhule → Shahade bus
- ₹50–80, about 1 h
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Sarangkheda is walkable. For the temple, a short uphill walk from the village centre. Auto-rickshaws available from Shahade.
See and do
Known for
- Dattatreya temple
- Chetak horse fair (December)
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Toranmal | Bus or taxi from Shahade, about 2 h | About 2.5 h |
| Dhule | Bus or taxi, about 1 h | About 1 h |
| Nashik | Bus or taxi via Dhule, about 3 h | About 3.5 h |
Sleep
- Shahade (closest town)
- Basic hotels and lodges; 10 km (6.2 mi) from Sarangkheda.Basic hotels and lodges; 6.2 mi (10 km) from Sarangkheda.
- Dhule
- More options, about 50 km (31 mi) away; better for overnight stays.More options, about 31 mi (50 km) away; better for overnight stays.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| How far is the temple? | मंदिर कितना दूर है?mandir kitna door hai? |
| Where can I eat? | खाना कहाँ मिलेगा?khana kahan milega? |
| How much for the ride? | किराया कितना है?kiraya kitna hai? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Namaste (palms together) or a handshake between men; wait for a woman to offer her hand; avoid: Hugging or kissing strangers
- Hands and feet: Give and eat with the right hand; apologise if your foot touches someone; avoid: Pointing feet at people or shrines; touching books or food with your feet
- Temples: Shoes off, walk clockwise around shrines, accept prasad (blessed food) with the right hand; avoid: Leather in Jain temples; entering sanctums that say Hindus only
- Home visit: Bring sweets or fruit; accept tea at least once; avoid: Refusing all food; wearing shoes inside
- Questions: Expect personal questions (married? job? salary?) as friendliness; avoid: Taking offence; answer vaguely if you prefer
- Saying no: A firm, polite 'nahi, dhanyavaad' (no, thank you) and keep walking; avoid: Long explanations to touts
- Dress: Loose clothes covering shoulders and knees; kurta tops are cheap and cool; avoid: Swimwear or shorts away from Goa beaches
Scams and watch-outs
- Chetak fair in December: huge crowds, book accommodation weeks ahead.
- Temple timings may vary; check locally.
- No ATMs in the village; carry cash from Shahade or Dhule.
Sarangkheda is generally safe. During the Chetak fair, watch for pickpockets in crowds. Roads can be rough; travel by daylight.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Sarangkheda yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Dattatreya temple
- Chetak horse fair (December)
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Sarangkheda, revision 5250961 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5250961
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/sarangkheda). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.