January 17th, 2019 by OYO Team

Shirdi is considered as one of the holiest cities in India. Situated in the Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra, it is renowned as the birthplace of the 19th-century saint, Sri Sai Baba, and has a world-renowned temple dedicated to him. Apart from this supreme temple, the city is home to many other divine temples as well. Plan a visit to Shirdi and let its spiritual atmosphere calm your spirits. Visit its age-old temples and feel the divine vibes around. Here is a list of the top 10 temples you can visit in Shirdi.

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Top 10 temples you can visit in Shirdi

  1. Shirdi Sai Baba Temple
  2. Dwarka Mai Mosque
  3. Gurusthan
  4. Shani Shingnapur
  5. Khandoba Mandir
  6. Sai Heritage Village
  7. Baba Chavadi
  8. Maruti Mandir
  9. Abdul Baba Cottage
  10. Shri Ganesh Temple

1. Shirdi Sai Baba Temple

One of the major landmarks of Shirdi, the Sai Baba Temple is visited by an average 25,000 pilgrims a day. It houses an idol of Sai Baba, which seems to be his sheer personification. Revered by the both Hindus and Muslims, the Sai Baba Temple has its gates open to devotees at all times of the day. From the Italian marble to the old stone bricks, the interior of the temple is worth a sight.

Location: Tal. Rahata Dist. Ahmednagar, Shirdi, Maharashtra

Timings: 4:00 am to 11:00 pm. Daily Aarti is held at 4:30 am, 12:00 pm and 10:30 pm

2. Dwarka Mai Mosque

Dwarka Mai is considered to be one of the holiest places in Shirdi, as Sri Sai Baba is said to have spent a significant amount of time here. It is the only mosque in the world that has houses a temple (dedicated to Sai Baba). The aura of the temple attracts devotes from near and far in large numbers to visit the place and pay their respects to the saint.

Location: Pimpalwadi Road, Rahata, Dist. Ahmednagar, Shirdi, Maharashtra

Timings: 5:30 am to 9:45 pm

3. Gurusthan

A small shrine with a Shivalingam placed in front of Sai Baba’s portrait, Gurusthan is the place where the 16-year-old Sai Baba was first found sitting under a neem tree. Devoted followers of Sai Baba believe that burning incense sticks on the spot heals all types of their illnesses.

Location: Manmad State Highway No.10, Shirdi Town, Ahmednagar, Shirdi

Timings: 5:00 am to 10:00 pm

4. Shani Shingnapur

One of the many temples that make Shirdi a pilgrimage site, the Shani Shingnapur Mandir is an open-air temple that consists of a five and a half feet high idol of Lord Shani that has been carved out of black stone. The locals have such strong belief in the temple deity, that there is no door in the houses around. They believe that their Lord will protect them against all the odds.

Location: Sonai, Nevasa, Ahmednagar, Shingnapur

Timings: The temple remains open at all times.

5. Khandoba Mandir

Khandoba Mandir

Dedicated to Khandoba, an incarnation of Lord Shiva, the Khandoba Temple attracts many travellers with its serene ambience. The calm temple is well-maintained and quite famous amongst devotees of Sai Baba. The folklore states that Sai Baba wanted to make this temple his residing quarters but was not allowed into the premises as Mahalsapati.

Location: Main Road, Near Shri Sainath Hospital, Shirdi

Timings: 5:00 am to 10:00 pm

6. Sai Heritage Village

Sai Heritage Village

One of the best sightseeing places in Shirdi, the Sai Heritage Village doubles up as a theme park apart from being a pilgrimage site. The village, established in the year 2014, is home to a number of statues that depict the vital events of Sri Sai Baba’s life.

Location: Maharashtra State Highway 10, Taluk Rahata, Dist. Ahmednagar, Shirdi, Maharashtra

Timings: 8:00 am to 8:00 pm

7. Baba Chavadi

A huge procession of pilgrims along with palkis following the idol of Sai Baba starts from Baba Chavdi every alternate night to commemorate his memories. The place, situated close to Dwarka Mai, is where Sai Baba slept when he was staying at the mosque. It is filled with a peaceful aura that pulls devotees towards it.

Location: Mauli Nagar, Shirdi, Maharashtra

Timings: The temple remains open at all times.

8. Maruti Mandir

Considered as one of the oldest temples in Shirdi, the Maruti Mandir pays homage to Lord Hanuman. Sai Baba’s palki always stops at the Hanuman Mandir allowing pilgrims to worship both the deities together.

Lacation: Mauli Nagar, Shirdi, Maharashtra

Timings: 7:00 am to 10:00 pm

9. Abdul Baba Cottage

A fascinating temple, the Abdul Baba Cottage is the resting place of Abdul Baba, who was an ardent follower of Sri Sai Baba. His tombstone is situated inside the tranquil Samadhi Mandir in the compound.

Location: Opposite Chavadi, Shirdi

Timings: 4:00 am to 11:00 pm

10. Shri Ganesh Temple

Highly revered by the worshippers, the Ganesh temple is located in the temple complex of Shirdi. According to the legend, Sai Baba always stopped to pay homage to Lord Ganesh while on his way to Lendi Baug.

Location: Sonai | Nevasa, Ahmednagar, Shingnapur

Timings: The temple remains open at all times.

Where to Stay:

There are a number of affordable stay options in Shirdi mostly because it is a temple town and people come from far and wide to visit the temples in Shirdi. The pilgrims here come from all strata of society, which is why there are a number of budget options here to choose from which are fitted with all the basic amenities. The demand for the rooms is of course high when there are festivities held in the temples. You can book room conveniently through the Oyo app and you can choose to stay close to the temples, or to the bus terminus, or choose rooms according to the budget. Most of the hotels here serve vegetarian food though some sell non vegetarian food items as well.

How to Reach:

Pilgrims come from all over the country to visit the temples of Shirdi.

If you are going to visit Shirdi from out of Maharashtra, then the nearest airport is the Aurangabad Airport which is 130 km away. You can easily get cabs to your location from here or alternately, arrange for transport from the hotel.

If you are traveling by bus, then the Maharashtra state transport corporation buses will take you to this revered city. You can get frequent buses from Nasik, Bombay, Pune, Aurangabad and Kopargaon to Shirdi. There are also luxury buses to be availed.

If you are traveling by train, then you must book your tickets for the Kopargaon railway station, which is about 16 km away. From there you will easily get buses and cabs to take you to Shirdi.

What to Eat:

Shirdi is a holy town so the food available here is simple but is cooked with a lot of love. Almost all the items here are vegetarian. You can get rice and roti, with a number of vegetables. There are also some cafes and restaurants here recently opened for tourists and they sell pizzas and ice creams of all sort. The Prasad from the temples are most eagerly awaited and some of it can be bought from the temple stalls as well. Fresh fruits are also available here and the fruit juices are served in quite a few eateries.

What to Shop:

As Shirdi is a temple town, the shops here also mostly sell effigies of Sai Baba and that of other gods and goddesses which the pilgrims take back with them with a lot of reverence. The idols are made from polished wood, brass, clay or porcelain. There are also religious books and scriptures to be bought, both written in vernacular and also translated in other languages. There are alter cloths, incense sticks, dry fruits and sweets to be got here as well. There are a number of items that one can get here for one’s puja room. The entire region has a very holy air about it and everyone likes to take back some of it with them with the things they buy here.

Planning a pilgrimage tour to Shirdi? Get great deals on hotel bookings with OYO. Enjoy the best of comfort while you set out on a journey to embrace serenity and calmness.

 

About OYO Team

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