Shirdi, one of the popular pilgrimage centers in India

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 19^th 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.