SHIRDI

Shirdi (pronunciation^ⓘ; also known as Sainagar) is a town and pilgrimage site in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Shirdi is located in the Rahata taluka of Ahmednagar District. It is most well known for being the home of the 19th-century Indian saint Sai Baba.

In the mid-1850s, a young Sai Baba arrived and settled in Shirdi, then a small village. Although he was initially denounced by the villagers as a madman, over the following decades, he became a prominent spiritual figure, drawing both Hindu and Muslim devotees from the surrounding areas. Following his death in 1918, his remains were placed in Buti Wada, which eventually grew to become what is known today as Sai Baba’s Samadhi Mandir or Shirdi Sai Baba Temple.^[1

As per the 2011 Indian census, the population of Shirdi stood at 36,004. Males constitute 53% of the population, and females make up 47%. Shirdi has an average literacy rate of 70%, which is higher than the national average of 59.5%. Male literacy is 76%, and female literacy is 62%. 15% of the population is under six years of age.^[3]

Being one of the most famous pilgrimage sites in India, much of Shirdi’s population is made up of tourists. Every day, roughly 60,000 religious tourists visit the Samadi Mandir.^[4]

The Sainagar Shirdi railway station became operational in March 2009. As of 2011, there are trains from Chennai, Mumbai, Visakhapatnam, Kakinada, Vijayawada, Hyderabad, Mysore, among others.^[needs

was inaugurated by then-president Ramnath Kovind on 1 October 2017. Major destinations from Shirdi Airport include the airports of Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Mumbai. The airport is located in Kakadi, in the Kopargaon tahsil area, 14 km southwest of Shirdi.^[5] The construction, according to the original plans, was completed in February 2016, and the first trial flight took place on 2 March 2016.^[6] In July 2019, the state government approved extending the runway from 2,500 metres (8,200 ft) to 3,200 metres (10,500 ft), building a new terminal to boost hourly passenger capacity from 300 to 1,000, and adding night-landing facilities.^[7]

The nearest major airports are at Aurangabad and Pune, 115 km (71 mi) and 186 km (116 mi) respectively from Shirdi.

hirdi is accessible via National Highway 160, which runs through Maharashtra and Karnataka. Furthermore, the town is also accessible via State Highway 10, which runs south through Pune, Ahmednagar, Nashik, and Dhule districts.

Amongst the places of deep belief and faith in India, falls Shirdi – the place of Saint Sai Baba. The devotees and followers of Sai Baba are spread all over the world and hence the place has attained importance. A small village in Ahmedanagar district Shirdi ,has acquired a lot of fame & followers for Sant Shree Sai Baba.Sai Baba attained samadhi on Dassera day in 1918.Sai Baba preached at Shirdi all his life & renewned people’s faith in God.Devotees from every faith throng here all year round to pay their respects to his memory.Khandoba Mandir,Samadhi of Shree Sai Baba,Dwarkamai mosque,Mhasoba temple all these places are within a periphery of 1km & can be covered on foot.

The Mandir is built with stones and Baba’s Samadhi is built with white marble stones. A railing is built in marble around the Samadhi and is full of ornamental decorations. In front of the Samadhi are two silver pillars full of decorative designs. Just behind the Samadhi is Sai Baba’s marvelous statue made of Italian marble, which shows him seated on a throne.

Shirdi (Marathi: शिर्डी Śirḍī) is a town in North Maharashtra, in India. It is located 185 km east of the Arabian Sea shoreline. Shirdi was where the saint Sai Baba lived till his samadhi in 1918. Today, it is a pilgrimage centre and millions of his devotees from all over the world come each year to pay their respects.

The best time of the year to visit Shirdi is January through March. April to June is summer, followed by the monsoon. Pilgrim arrival peaks between September and November when many Hindu festivals occur. Baba’s death anniversary is commemorated in the month of October, the exact date depending on the Hindu calendar.

Some of the most important festivals in Shirdi are Dussehra, Guru Poornima and Baba’s death anniversary. During this time lakhs of devotees come to Shirdi.

There are many buses connecting Shirdi to cities such as Mumbai (250 km), Hyderabad, Pune (200 km), and Nashik (80 km). There are abundant, very convenient bus packages from Hyderabad. The road connectivity between Mumbai and Shirdi is good, except in certain stretches. Convenient overnight buses also ply this route. It takes around 4 hours from Mumbai to Shirdi. It takes around 5 hours to travel from Pune to Shirdi by bus.

• From Kopargaon, taxi to Shirdi (₹200-300 on full fare) or a shared van (₹20-30 per person).
• From Manmad, taxi to Shirdi (₹600-800 on full fare) or a shared van (₹50-80 per person).
• From Nasik, taxi to Shirdi (₹800-1000 on full fare) or shared van or MSRTC bus (₹90-100)

• Shirdi is accessible via the Ahmednagar-Manmad State Highway No.10, approximately 83 km from Ahmednagar and 15 km from Kopargaon.
• It is approximately 240 km from Mumbai on the Eastern Express Highway.
• Distance between Pune and Shirdi is about 204 km, and travel time via car is about 3 hours 40 minutes.

Shirdi is not a big town. As the town has grown around its main attraction – the Sai Baba temple – almost all major sights and sounds are within walking distance from anywhere in Shirdi. You can ask the travel agent to organise your tour.

he main attractions are the temple where Sai Baba’s samadhi is located, the former dwelling place of Sai Baba called Dwarakamayi, and the place called Chavadi where Baba used to sleep. These 3 are located close to each other.

• Sai Baba Temple – Located at the heart of the town, this houses the samadhi (burial site) of Sai Baba. Entry is free. The waiting time in the queue averages over an hour on weekdays and 2 hours on weekends. The temple opens around 04:00 and stays open till about 22:00. At the samadhi site, one gets to spend a couple of minutes only as everyone needs to be accommodated to get a glimpse of the samadhi.

After the Samadhi Darshan, one can visit the Gurusthan, the tree where Sai Baba was first spotted meditating by the people of Shirdi. After that, one can go to the Udhi counter to collect the Udhi. The temple premises also has the samadhis of some of Sai Baba’s most prominent devotees.

It also has a book store where one can buy Sai Baba’s books (Shri Sai Samartha Satcharitra, Aarti books, etc.) One can also get clothes and Prasadam offered to Sai Baba. Mobile phones and cameras are prohibited within the temple premises.

• Dwarakamayi – Located adjacent to the temple complex, Dwarakamayi is the name of the mosque where Baba resided for an unbroken span of 60 years till his Samadhi in 1918. The structure has been renovated and houses the Dhuni the fire that Baba always kept burning. The flames are never allowed to die and the Dhuni today is the same that Baba lit over 100 years ago. Additionally, some of Baba’s articles such as his grinding stone, fireplace, a stone on which he used to sit are located in the Dwarakamayi
• Chavadi – This is located next to Dwarakamayi. Every alternate day, Baba used to sleep in the Chavadi, a few meters away from the Dwarakamayi. Even today, on Thursday nights, Baba’s footprints are taken in a ceremonial procession from Dwarakamayi to Chavadi.
• Khandoba Raya temple – This is the temple where Mahalsapati first welcomed Sai Baba and recognized that He is no ordinary saint. This is on the highway, approximately 7 minutes walk away from the temple.

Do

Apart from visiting the temple and other places connected to Sai Baba, there is precious little to do in Shirdi. There is a water park nearby the temple where one can enjoy water sports.

• 1 Saiteerth, Post Nighoj, Taluka Rahata, Ahmednagar (near Sun-N-Sand Hotel), ☏ +91 86 03700700, sales@saiteerth.com. 9AM-6PM. Immersive theme park dedicated secular saint Saibaba. Attractions depict the holy lands of India and pilgrimage sites like Badrinath, Dwarka, Siddhivinayak, Jagganath Puri. Sai Baba and his life appear on a giant screen.There’s a blessing experience, created using animatronics and robotics. ₹350. (updated Jul 2018 | edit)

Buy

There are a large number of shops that sell trinkets and souvenirs – statues, magnets, stickers, books, photos of Sai Baba. Prices are generally negotiable.

Eat

Restaurants are liberally dotted over Shirdi. A variety of cuisines including Gujarati, Maharashtrian, South Indian, Continental are available. Most restaurants serve only vegetarian fare. Also you get fresh fruits Guava & Pomegranate.

The world’s largest solar cooker cooks food for thousands of devotees everyday and one can eat this food for a nominal price of ₹10 per meal.

Drink

Cold drinks and bottled water are available in many local stores. Fresh coconut water is also available. However, liquor is available in the town.

Sleep

There is no dearth of accommodation in Shirdi. Hotels of all categories abound. It is advisable to check the facilities in the room before booking and paying. In peak season, it is advisable to have prior reservations, which can be made either over phone or through travel websites.

Some of the good hotels in Shirdi to stay are –

• Sun n Sand
• Sai Leela
• Shraddha Inn
• Dwarawati Bhaktha Nivas (Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust), Near Sai Sanasthan, ☏ +91 2423-258500. Check-in: 11AM, check-out: 11AM. Accommodation can be booked online. Darshan or Aarti can also be booked in advance at this site for ₹100 and ₹300 per person respectively. ₹500 to ₹900. edit
• Hotel Sai Sahavas (Sai Sahavas), Opp. Mahalaxmi Temple Lane, Off Pimplewadi Road (2 Mins from the temple), ☏ +91 2423 256366. A good hotel with a meditating room on the third floor. edit
• Sujal Heritage located opposite Sun n Sand is a good budget hotel with Non AC and AC rooms

Stay safe

• Shirdi is one of the safest towns.
• Violent crime is not at all common in Shirdi but locals informed that there is a big gang of pickpockets who also steal money and valuables from handbags of ladies during darshan in the temple. Take “Beware of pickpockets” seriously, be in group guarding each other.
• Beware of touts who will offer to help you find accommodation and take you on temple tours. While they do not charge for their service, they will expect you to purchase items from their stores as quid pro quo at inflated prices.
• Shirdi can be quite dusty, so those with allergies should carry along a dust m