| FACTS &
FIGURES
Population :
15,129
Languages :
Marathi, Hindi, and English
Best time to visit :
September to April
STD Code : 02423
LOCATION
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. Shirdi
extends latitude 19°45¢ N and longitude 74°25¢
E.
HISTORY &
MYTHOLOGY
A sleepy little village in the interiors
of Maharashtra, Shirdi came into prominence when an
old sage died in 1918. The saga of Sai Baba of Shirdi
started in the middle of the last century when, as a
boy of about 16 years of age, he first appeared here
under a neem tree (Azadirachta indica) absorbed in a
hard penance. For the next 60 years, he devoted his
life for the upliftment of the poor and suffering. His
origin, religion, and early life are shrouded in mystery,
and though he is believed to be an incarnation of lord
Shiva, his teachings transcended all religions and beliefs.
Today, all places, persons, and possessions connected
with him have become objects of veneration by millions
of devotees who throng to Shirdi every year from all
parts of the world. Sai Baba's shrine has been incorporated
as one of the holy places in the world's map of pilgrimage.
SITES TO VISIT
 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.
SHOPPING
Souvenirs and other items related to
the life of Shirdi Sai Baba can be purchased from the
many shops located nearby temple. Many bookshops near
the temple sell books on the life of the sage.
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.
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