Shirdi

Shirdi: The holy hamlet

The beatific land of Sai makes you feel the omnipresence of God. The soothing sound of the temple bells ringing amidst the clamour of devotees, and the divine garlanded idol of Sai Baba smiling benignly, makes the search  for peace worthwhile. Shirdi tourism is a religion by itself.

Highlights of Shirdi:

Temples and villages

The Sai Baba temple is one of the most famous places in Shirdi. This temple is dedicated to Sai Baba, who is worshipped as an incarnation of God, by lakhs of devotees. Located in the heart of the village, this temple sees at least 60,000 devotees each day. Have you ever slept at night leaving the doors of your house open? Well, the villagers of Shani Shingnapur, a village a mere 65 kms from Shirdi, have no doors in their homes or shops at all! They have tremendous faith in their Lord Shaneshwar to protect them from all evils.

Shirdi Cuisine

Being a religious destination, Shirdi’s local cuisine is vegetarian. You will find quite a few restaurants around the temple. Hotels have in-built restaurants offering the tourists Marathi, Gujarati Continental cuisines. However, your trip to this town would be incomplete without visiting the Prasadalya at the Sri Sai Baba Sansthan Trust. The Prasadalya is a spacious dining room which accommodates 5,000 people. Like the langar that devotees get in Gurudwaras, the devotees visiting the Sai Baba Samadhi Mandir have access to free meals. Prasadalya is just a kilometre’s walk away from the temple. Indian food never disappoints and is always a safe option, and that is what Prasadalya provides; simple Indian food. The prices are as low as Rs 40 for adults and Rs 20 for children.

Shop and explore

You will be overwhelmed by the holy spirit that engulfs this town. It indeed is contagious. However, along with the spiritual experience that you will take back home, do not forget to return with some souvenirs and trinkets as well. Even though Sai Baba idols are available all over the country, getting one from Sai Baba’s place of home is a different thing altogether. Outside the Samadhi Mandir, you will find miniature idols and laminated photo frames that you can choose from. These shops are at the Temple Road in Kopergaon and usually open from 7 am till 10:30 pm.

Interesting facts about Shirdi: the contagious spirituality

• Shirdi is the most crowded destination with 60,000 devotees every day.
• This holy temple that is open to one and all, was once owned by a millionaire from Nagpur called Shrimant Gopalrao.
• With Shirdi being an international tourist attraction, its literacy rate is much more than all the other cities in the country.
• The Shri Sai Baba Sansthan also offers various facilities to those in need. This trust has started schools and hospitals. The temple also provides food to the devotees and visitors.

Location: Land of Sai

This sacred town is a village of Ahmednagar district in the state of Maharashtra. It is 296 kms from the city of Mumbai and 110 kms from Aurangabad. Nashik is the closest city which is approximately 90 kms away.

Click here to view Shirdi on Google Map

Timings: Best time to visit

Depending upon the strength of your devotion, you can explore Shirdi at any time. If you would rather have the rain be your natural cooler, the months of June to August are the most suitable. March to May would be the best time for you to travel if you are looking to enjoy your pilgrimage without the rush of crowds. The winter season brings with it pleasant cold winds and temperatures ranging from 8 C to 37 C.

How to reach Shirdi: The sacred world awaits you

By Road - Shirdi is well connected to the major cities around it such as Nashik, Pune, Mumbai and Aurangabad. You will easily find private and state governments to and from Shirdi.

By Rail - Kopergaon Railway station is 16 kms away from Shirdi, making it the nearest railway station.  You will find taxis and buses from the station to Shirdi.

By Air - The closest airport to Shirdi is the Aurangabad airport, which is 130 kms away from the town. There are cabs and buses easily available from the airport to Shirdi.

History of Shirdi: The penance of Sai Baba

An untouched suburb in the hinterlands of Maharashtra, Shirdi was almost unnoticed before Sai Baba set foot in the village. He continued to live here till 1918, until his death. Legend has it that Sai Baba was just 16 years old when he was found sitting under a neem tree in deep thought. He then dedicated himself to help those in need for the next 50 years. Nobody knew who he was, or where he had come from; he was an unexpected messiah. Anything and everything about him is now associated with this little hamlet, i.e Shirdi. Despite the many places to visit in Shirdi, the Sai Mandir continues to be a major tourist attraction.

If you are on a spiritual quest, Shirdi is the place to be. If you choose Shirdi tourism as your holiday destination, this religious hamlet will calm your senses and soothe your soul for this is one of the places where you truly feel the presence of God. So, head to the Thomas Cook website and book your tickets right away!