Shirdi Trip

Hi

Shirdi is one the famous devotional destinations in India.

Its situated in Maharashtra.

1.How to reach Shirdi

Nearest railways stations are

1. SaiNagar Shirdi

SNSI is railways station code for the above. This is newly constructed station which is approx 5 kms from Shirdi. There are Garib raths available from various places (from Bangalore etc) to this place

2.Kopergaon

Many trains stop at Kopergaon railways station mainly for the Shirdi pilgrims.

Autos (shared/non shared ) will be available from railways station to Shirdi main temple.Shared auto will cost Rs30/- per person .It will be approx 20 kms distance.

3. Manmad

Manmad which is approx 60 kms from Shirdi. Manmad is one of the biggest railways  stations in India. There will govt Maharashtra State buses from Manmad to Shirdi

which will take 2-3 hours of journey .Also there will be lot private vehicles available for the same.


2.Main Temple

The main temple has 4 gates and a very big temple.
There are harathi conducted in the temple 4 times a day and sung by native Marathi people.

2.1 Daily Schedule

4:00 am	Temple open
4.15 am	Bhupali
4:30 am	Kakad Aarti (morning)
5:00 am	Bhajan in Saibaba Mandir
5.05 am	Holy Bath of Shri Sai Baba (Mangal Snaan) in Samadhi Mandir
5:40 am	Darshan begins in Samadhi Mandir
9:00 am	Abhishek Pooja
8:00,10:30	Satyanarayana Pooja
11:30 am	Dhuni Pooja with rice and ghee in Dwarkamai
12:00	Mid day Aarti
At Sunset	Dhoop Aarti
9:00 PM	Chavadi and Gurusthan closes
10:30 PM	Shej (night) Aarti, after this , a shawl is wrapped around the statue in the Samadhi Mandir, a Rudraksha mala is put around baba's neck, Mosquito net is hung, and a glass of water kept there
11:15 PM	Samadhi Mandir closes after night Arati

3.Other Places within Mandir Premises

3.1. Lots of Samadhis of various Sai Devotees

3.2. Gurusthan (place of the Guru)

Its a Neem tree where you can do pradakshinas for Sai.
It was said Baba spent most of his time when he first came to Shirdi.
Also According to Baba his own Guru was located here.
People generally collect leaves of neem tree as they are considered as sacred(Albeit management does not allow this and has fencing all around the tree)

3.3.Lendi Gardens

3.4.Library(for Sai books)
3.5.Small Museum (where articles used by Sai are preserved)

4.Within Shirdi

4.1.Chavadi (a big hall, where sadhus took rest )
4.2.Dwarakamai(A mosque where Saibaba used to stay)
4.3.Other temples like Anjaneya ,Vinayak temple nearby

5.Nearby Shirdi

5.1.Sani Singanapur

Many pilgrims who visit Shirdi visit Singanapur.Shani dev`s temple is here.
Male pilgrims can take bath here and do abhishek for Lord Shanishwara
The specialty about this place is that there will be no doors for houses(i.e. there are not thieves)
Its about ~2 hours journey from Shirdi. Lots of private vehicles will be available to/from Shirdi to this place

5.2.Nasik

Nasik is district in Maharastra.Its on the bank of river Godavari. Nasik is one of the 4 places where KUMBAMELA is conducted in India. Panchvati caves are located here there are 11 places where Rama,Sita and Lakshmana took their shelter during their exile
The second attraction being Muktidham Temple. 18 chapters of the Gita are inscribed on the walls, which is a very unique style of this temple. An abode of all most all the gods and goddesses of the Hindu pantheon, this splendid shrine displays the facsimile of all the 12 Jyotirlingas of India.

5.3.Trayambak

This is one of the Jyotirlingas. Jyotirlinga  located here is its three faces embodying Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Rudra.Temple is open between 5:30 AM to 9:00 PM. Its 120 kms from Shirdi, about 3-4 hours journey from Shirdi.

5.4.Grishneswar

This is one of the Jyotirlingas.

Its about 120kms from Shirdi

5.5.Ajanta Caves

There are 32 caves in total ,they will be in groups of caves.

These are considered as master pieces of Buddhist religion.

Caves have fine sculptures and paintings of Buddhist times

These caves have been declared as world heritage point.

This is about 200 kms from Shirdi.

5.6.Ellora Caves

There are 34 caves in total. This is also world heritage point.

12 Buddhist (caves 1–12), 17 Hindu (caves 13–29) and 5 Jain (caves 30–34) caves.

These are about 100kms from Shirdi

Also nearby places include Bheema Shankar(another Jyotirlingas),pune etc..

Those visit Shirdi its better to watch all the 4 harathis in the Mandir.

Also there will be subsidized lunch Rs20 per head.

Hotels for accommodation will be available all over Shirdi

DISCLAIMER: The costs and above info is to my knowledge and last updated on Feb-2011