Jalna is a city in the Marathwada region of Maharashtra, on the banks of the Kundalika River at about 500 m above sea level. It is known mainly for industry, nicknamed the city of steel and the seed capital of India, and it is not a typical tourist stop. That is part of its appeal: the heritage here is small, local and uncrowded.
The old town keeps a handful of monuments from the Sultanate and Nizam periods. The Kali Masjid, a black-stone Deccan mosque of the 16th century, stands in the old city. Jalna Fort, built in 1725 for the first Nizam, occupies the eastern side of town, and the Moti Talab on the west is an old reservoir with a garden beside it. Further out, the hill temple of Matsyodari Devi at Ambad draws crowds at Navratri.
Jalna works best as a short stay or a stop between Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad) and Marathwada's pilgrimage towns. It is on the Secunderabad-Manmad railway line and about an hour from Aurangabad airport. Expect a working city with limited tourist infrastructure, and plan monuments for the cooler hours.
Before you plan
Jalna at a glance
- Best months
- October to FebruaryOctober to February; April and May are very hot, and the monsoon is wet from June to September
- Ideal trip length
- 1 day for the city's sights1 day for the city's sights; 2 days with Ambad and a day to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar
- Airport
- Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar AirportChhatrapati Sambhajinagar Airport (IXU), about 55 to 64 km away, roughly an hour by road
- Railway station
- JalnaJalna (J) on the Secunderabad-Manmad line, South Central Railway, Nanded division
- Getting around
- Autos and hired cars within the cityAutos and hired cars within the city; buses run to Ambad and other towns
- Daily budget
- Roughly ₹1,200 to ₹3,000 per person…Roughly ₹1,200 to ₹3,000 per person per day excluding stay; varies with car hire
- Senior comfort
- Reasonable: the sights are shortReasonable: the sights are short, mostly level stops; the fort has uneven ground and the Ambad temple has steps
- Language
- Marathi locallyMarathi locally; Hindi and Urdu widely spoken; some English in hotels
Prices, opening hours and weather change. Recheck live details before booking.
Best time to visit Jalna: January, February, November, December. Month-by-month weather →
How many days do you have?
Jalna itinerary
One good day
1 day in Jalna
Start in the morning at the Kali Masjid in the old city, then walk or drive to Jalna Fort on the eastern side of town. Break for lunch and a rest, then spend the late afternoon at Moti Talab and the Moti Bagh garden.
Day-by-day plan →Two days
2 days in Jalna
Visit the Kali Masjid and Jalna Fort in the morning, rest at midday, then relax at Moti Talab and the garden in the late afternoon.
Day-by-day plan →Three unhurried days
3 days in Jalna
Do the Kali Masjid, Jalna Fort and Moti Talab at an easy pace.
Day-by-day plan →
