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Sightseeing Highlights:
The most significant site in Shirdi is the Samadhi Mandir, home of the spiritual leader's interred remains. This beautiful, white marble structure features ornate carvings, an impressive Italian marble statue of Sai Baba, memorabilia from the saint's life and a vast assembly hall. The temple is extremely crowded, with long lines of devotees waiting to pay respects and participate in the daily prayers. Adjoining it is Dwarkamai Masjid, a mosque where the sage resided and resolved people's worries and problems. A sacred fire lit by him still burns here; its ashes are still distributed among devotees.
The Gurusthan, another holy site, is a Neem tree under which the Baba sat when he first came to Shirdi as a boy. A shrine built here hosts the portrait and statue of the guru. Close by is the Chavadi Mandir, where Baba used to sleep on alternate days; a white chair and wooden bed belonging to him can be seen here. The Khandoba Mandir is where the Baba was declared as a saint by the temple's priest, when he stepped into town. At a short distance is Lendi Baug, a serene garden the Baba used to tend to, and meditate in. The saint also constructed a deepgriha (lighthouse) here, now known as Nandapeep, whose fire burns bright even today. Three other temples, honouring the gods Ganesh, Shani and Mahadev, can also be found in Shirdi.
Other Activities:
The best time to visit Shirdi is during festival season, when the town comes alive, radiating with a great sense of energy and excitement. The three prominent festivals that take place here are Ramnavami, Guru Purnima and Shirdi Vijayadashmi, and each is celebrated with much fanfare, accompanied by processions, special foods and other related religious activities.
Other holy sites located around Shirdi, are also worth visiting. The small town of Sakori, situated just five km away, is home to the Shri Upasani Kanyakumari Sthan. Set up by the respected Upasani Baba in 1917, the site is believed to radiate with immeasurable positive energy. The village of Shanisinghnapur, around 70 km from Shirdi, is considered to be the abode of Lord Shani, and numerous worshippers come here to pray, especially on Shani Amavasya, a holy moonless night.
Tourism info:
Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation,
Paryatan Bhavan, Golf Club,
Old Agra Road,
Nasik-422 002.
Tel: 0253-2570059
Tourist Information Center,
Executive Officer,
Shri Sai Baba Sansthan,
Shirdi, P.O. Shirdi-423 109,
Kopargaon, Ahmednagar,
Maharashtra.
Known primarily as the abode of the great saint Sai Baba, the sacred town of Shirdi exudes an immense sense of spirituality and mysticism, much in contrast to its surprisingly tiny size. Covering an area of little more than two sq km, this small town is situated near Nasik and draws hundreds of worshippers and followers of the noble sage throughout the year.
Sai Baba is believed to have visited Shirdi when he was just sixteen years old, and stayed on here for around eighty years. During this period, his teachings on love, patience, compassion and religious tolerance attracted people from various faiths, who thronged to the town to hear Baba's discourses and experience the numerous miracles credited to him. Today, Shirdi is a hallowed place and devotees from all over the world come here to pay homage at the temples honouring Sai Baba. |
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