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A TO Z OF SHIRDI TRAVEL
GUIDE
Shirdi
Also read:
A TO Z OF SHIRDI TRAVEL GUIDE AND INFORMATION WITH PHOTOGRAPHS
Also read:
Quick guide to Shirdi
Travel options to Shirdi
Population : 15,129
Languages : Marathi, Hindi, and English
Best time to visit : September to April
STD Code : 02423
Shirdi is a small town located in the state of Maharashtra in western
India. The place is around 296 km (around 6 hours drive) from Mumbai.
Sai Baba's shrine has been incorporated as one of the holy places in the
world's map of pilgrimage.
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Events |
Time |
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Bhupali |
5.00 am |
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Kakad Aarti |
5:15 am |
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Holy Bath of Baba |
6:00 am |
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Darshan Begins |
7:00 am |
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Abhishek |
9:00 am |
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Satyanarayanpuja |
9:00 am |
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Afternoon Aarti |
12:00 noon |
| Pravachan |
4:00 pm |
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Dhupa Aarti |
Sun-set |
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Shejarati |
10:00 pm |
Places of Interest
Samadhi Mandir of Shri Sai Baba was actually owned by a millionaire
from Nagpur and a famous Sai devotee Shreemant Gopalrao. He wanted to keep
an idol of Murlidhar here. However, according to the legends, Baba himself
became Murlidhar and the temple became the Samadhi Mandir of Baba. The
Samadhi of Baba is built with white marble stones. The railings around it
are full of ornamental decorations. The idol of Baba is a marvelous statue
made up of Italian marble built by Late Balaji Vasant in 1954. The temple
has an assembly hall for about 600 devotees. The assembly hall also houses
a showcase having various items used by the sage. The first floor of the
temple has the pictures depicting the life of the saint.
The temple opens on 5 AM with morning prayers and close down at 10 PM with
night prayers. Situated on the right side of the entrance of the Samadhi
Mandir is Dwarkamai, a mosque. This was the place where the sage
stayed until the end of his life. Main attraction of the site is the oil
paintings of the sage.
The place from where Sai Baba first came to Shirdi in the form of a Bal
Yogi (child ascetic) is known as Gurusthan. A temple has been
constructed on this site. There is also a small shrine in Gurusthan.
At a short distance lies Baba's Chavadi. Baba used to sleep here
every alternate day. The Chavadi is divided into two parts. One part of
the Chavadi has a large portrait of Baba along with a wooden bed and a
white chair belonging to him.
There is a cottage of Abdul Baba, an ardent devotee of Shri Sai
Baba, in front of the Chavadi. Photos and various items that were handled
by Sai Baba and Abdul Baba are there in the cottage. There is a Maruti
Mandir located at some distance from the cottage of Abdul Baba. This
mandir was visited by Baba for the sat-sang with Devidas, a Bal yogi, who
lived at the Mandir ten to twelve years before Baba arrived.
There are also temples of village deities named Shani, Ganapati, and
Shankar that are worth visiting.
At some distance from Gurusthan, there is the Lendi Baug. This
garden was made and watered daily by Baba himself. It got its name from a
nullah (a drain), which used to flow there. Baba used to come here every
morning and afternoon and take rest under a neem tree. Baba dug a pit, 2
feet deep, under the neem tree and kept a deep (a lighting object) lit in
that pit. An octagonal deepgriha (lighthouse) called Nanda Deep has been
built in marble stone in memory of this place. It constantly burns in a
glass box. On one side of the deepgriha is a pipal tree and on the other
side is a neem tree.
Other sites to visit are Datta Mandir and Khandoba Mandir.
SITES NEARBY
Situated around 5 km from Shirdi is Sakori. The place is home to
the Upasini Maharaj.
Shanisinghnapur is 70 km from Shirdi. A temple devoted to Shani is
located here.
FAIRS AND FESTIVALS
The most important festivals and events that are celebrated in Shirdi are
Guru Poornima, Dussehra, and Ram Navami. These are the only days when the
Samadhi Mandir of Shirdi opens for the whole night. Every Thursday, a
palakhi bearing a photograph of the sage is taken out from the temple.
WHERE TO STAY
Shirdi has accommodation available to every income group, starting from
budget to high-end. STD facilities are available in most of the hotels.
WHAT TO EAT
The administrative body of Shirdi temple runs a prasadalaya to provide
lunch and dinner to the devotees. Nearly one thousand devotees can take
Baba's prasad at the same time. The kitchen of the prasadalaya is equipped
with modern cooking machineries and is free of pollution. Food-packets are
available to the devotees from 8:00 in the morning to 12:00 noon. There is
a canteen service available to the devotees day and night.
HOW TO REACH
Nearest airports are Mumbai (260 km), Pune (185 km), and Aurangabad (125
km). Flights for all the major cities in India and abroad can be taken
from Mumbai. The nearest railway station is Manmad (60 km) on the Central
Railway, which is connected to many parts of the country with express
trains. Most of the trains touching Nasik Road railway station also touch
Manmad. Shirdi has railway reservation office for trains from Manmad.
Taxis and buses are easily available at Manmad railway station for
transfer to Shirdi. Regular taxi service also operates between Manmad
railway station and bus stand. State Transport Corporation and private
operators run coaches to Shirdi from Mumbai.
Where is Shirdi and How to get there
Shirdi is located approximately 296 Kilometers from Mumbai (Bombay) City
in India. The nearest railway station is Kopargaon 15 kilometers on
Manmad-Daund section of Central Railways.
To get to Shirdi from outside India:
First, you have to travel to India. (Check with the Office of Consulate
General of India in your region for visa and travel requirements.). You
could either go by Sea or by Air. Presuming that you want to go by Air,
the first choice of landing airport should be Mumbai (Bombay) .
Alternatively you could land in any other city which has an international
airport. After reaching India, you have many options to travel to
Shirdi.(see below).
To get
to Shirdi from within India:
1. From Mumbai (Bombay):
a. You could take a Cab, hire a private taxi or drive. (If you are an
international tourist you may want to check the requirements for Driver's
license and road regulations with the Maharashtra State Road Transport
department.)
b. You could take a Maharashtra State Transport Bus.
c. You could take a Bus operated by Private operators.
d. You could take a Central Railway train of the Indian Railways from
Mumbai (Bombay) V.T. station to Manmade station and then take a bus to
Shirdi. State transport buses are available from Manmad to Shirdi.
For Fares, Schedules and other details contact your local travel agent,
the Government of India Tourism Office, the Maharashtra State Tourism
Board Office, the Central Railway booking office or the Maharashtra State
Transport booking office.
2. From any other City within India:
a. You could first go to Mumbai by train, bus or an airplane and then
follow the steps listed above.
b. You could take a train from the city of origin to Manmad. Not all
trains go directly from point to point. You have to check if the train
goes directly to Manmad or if you have to break your journey and change
over trains. From Manmad you have to take a bus or cab to Shirdi.
c. You could drive, hire a cab or private taxi to take you directly to
Shirdi. (If you are an international tourist you may want to check the
requirements for Driver's license and road regulations with the
Maharashtra State Road Transport department.)
For Fares, Schedules and other details contact your local travel agent,
the Government of India Tourism Office, the Maharashtra State Tourism
Board Office, the Central Railway booking office or the Maharashtra State
Transport booking office.
| Getting there: |
Nearest airport is
Aurangabad.
Nearest railhead is Kopargaon, 15 Kms. on the Manmad-Daund section of
central Railway.
 Mumbai-Shirdi,296
kms. (Mumbai-Nashik-Niphad-Yeola-Shirdi) Nashik-Shirdi 112 kms.
Aurangabad-Shirdi 126 kms.(Aurangabad-Vaijapur Yeola-Kopargaon-Shirdi)
Pune-Shirdi,183 kms. (Pune-Kalamba-sangmner-Talegaon-shirdi). State
Transport buses ply regularly from Mumbai, Nashik, Ahmednagar,
Aurangabad, Pune and kopargaon. MTDC runs a bi-weekly round trip bus
service to Shirdi form Mumbai
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Catagory:
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 ( 3 Star Equivalent )
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Address:
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Opp. Gondkar Complex, Pimpalwadi Road, Dist. Ahmednagar,
Shirdi, Maharashtra
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Location:
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City Center
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Property Type:
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Business And Leisure Hotel
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Accessibility:
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Airport: 130KM., Railway Station: 19KM., Bus Station: 1KM.
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Catagory:
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( 3
Star )
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Address:
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Pimpalwadi Road, Shirdi, Maharashtra
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Location:
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Suburban
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Property Type:
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Business And Leisure Hotel
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Accessibility:
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Airport: 144KM., Rail Heads: 123KM.
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Catagory:
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( 3
Star )
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Address:
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9/5A, Pimpalwadi Road, Shirdi, Maharashtra
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Location:
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City Center
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Property Type:
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Motel
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Accessibility:
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Airport: 200KM., Railway Station: 16KM., Bus Station:
0.1KM.
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Catagory:
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 ( 5
Star )
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Address:
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Nihhaj Village , Kopergaon, Shirdi, Maharashtra
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Location:
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Suburban
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Property Type:
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Business And Leisure Hotel
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Catagory:
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 ( 4
Star )
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Address:
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Off. Pimpalwadi Road. Behind Sai Udyan, Tel. Rahata,
Distt. Ahmednagar, Shirdi, Maharashtra
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Location:
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City Center
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Property Type:
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Business And Leisure Hotel
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Accessibility:
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Airport: 120KM., Railway Station: 60KM.
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