Shirdi is a town which is well known for pilgrimage centre
in India for the temple of Shri Sai Baba. The town is located in Ahmadnagar District
in Indian state of Maharashtra and best known as the late 19th
century home of popular guru Shri Sai Baba which is today, one of the richest
temple organizations in India.
Shirdi temple is a beautiful shrine which was built over the
Samadhi of Shri Sai Baba to caary out his services. Sai Baba remains very
popular saint and he is worshipped by thousands of peoples around the world. He
taught the moral code of love, forgiveness, charity, containment, helping
others and many more. The best time to visit Shirdi temple is January through
March and during the festivals and during festivals most of the devotees visit
this pilgrimage centre.
Shirdi is very popular throughout the country and in this
village Shri Sai lived till his death. In the beginning of Eighteenth century,
a young bearded man came to Shirdi village with sparkling eyes and took a
shelter in a mosque. Nobody knows anything about this man who speaks hardly a
single word with anyone. Gradually the curious villagers started offering him
food and started asking him but he never talks to anyone and never asks for
anything to anyone. And very soon Sai Baba started advising to few elderly villagers.
His simple way of expressing his thoughts and his special power of solving the
problems of poor and needy peoples made this less known fakir, to be known as
Shri Sai Baba. Sai baba performed many miracles to alleviate poor people such
as he lighted the lamp with water and on one occasion he restored the eyesight
of an elderly man. And as it is said that all good things have to end one day
Baba also left his body on his own and he had asked his disciples to built his Samadhi
in the mosque where he used to live and on this Samadhi the famous Shirdi
temple is built.
How to Reach?
Shirdi is a popular town and today this town is well
developed and connected by all the transport mediums.
·
By Road- Shirdi is located approximately 296
from Mumbai and the closest and highly connected city from Shirdi is Ahmadnagar
from where number of public buses operated by MSRTC are available and private
buses are also available from many major cities of Maharashtra.
·
By Rail – Today, SHirdi has a new railway
station called Sainagar Shirdi where trains from Chennai, Mumbai, Mysore,
Vishakhapatannam and Pune. Manmad railway station which is 87 km from shirdi is
also the way to reach Shirdi and Ahmadnagar station about 83 km from this
pilgrimage is well connected via trains.
·
By Air- Shirdi airport which is 14 km southwest
of the city at Kakdi is constructed and used for travelling via flight.
Where to Stay?
Shirdi, the famous pilgrimage is visited by thousands and
millions of devotees every year and therefore for accommodation this place is
always in demand for hotels and lodges. The lodge of the temple trust which
offers rooms in cheap rates is always in demand and you will always find them
booked and therefore you have to search for hotels outside the temple but the
charges are bit high than the Bhaktniwas. There are number of hotels and lodges
available in the temple region and the hotels near bus stand are also very famous
because of its convenience. The hotels in Shirdi range from budget to five star
and many luxury hotels in this region provide excellent facility and services.
Shirdi, the popular temple in India is a place one must
visit to feel the power and effect of the God’s power and in this temple you
can feel that power in every wall of the temple and in the village. I must
suggest to visit Shirdi once in lifetime.
