Best time to visit : June to March
One of the greatest pilgrimage sites on the earth, Shirdi served as the home to Sai Baba, the revered saint who preached love, charity, forgiveness and the purest form of devotion to God. The small town of Shirdi is located in the Ahmednagar District of Maharashtra and is visited by millions of pilgrims of different regional and religious backgrounds. Tourist places in Shirdi are connected with Sai Baba and are admired for offering extreme peace of mind. Festivals like Dussehra, Diwali, Ram Navmi, Guru Purnima and Baba’s Death Anniversary draw huge flocks of devotees to this town of West India.
Facts
Shirdi came into limelight when Sai Baba at the age of 16 settled here and spent more than 50 years of his life before ascending to the heavenly abode in 1918. During his stay at the town, Baba preached religious tolerance and beautifully amalgamated the religions of Hinduism and Islam. Many tales of miracle performed by Baba can be heard from the local residents or a travel guide. It is strongly believed that a visit to Baba’s Samadhi (burial site) can help one shed all the sorrows and problems. Shirdi is known to have the world’s largest solar cooker. The town experiences extremely hot weather during summers, but the winters here are quite pleasant.
The majority of restaurants in Shirdi offer vegetarian cuisines. Non-vegetarian food and alcohol are strictly prohibited considering the religious nature of the town. One can find variety of cuisines from different Indian states and regions like Maharashtra, Gujarat and South India. Goradia’s Restaurant and Woodlands are the two popular eating points. Prasadalaya run by the temple organization is also a popular destination.
Shopping in Shirdi is limited to the religious paraphernalia and photos, effigies, idols and books related to Sai Baba. These souvenirs are available at cheap and negotiable prices. One can also buy audio cassettes and CDs of religious songs and prayers dedicated to Baba.
Nearby Places:
- Shingnapur (about 70 km.): Popular for India’s most admired Temple of God Shani. An interesting aspect of the town is that no house has doors or locks, as Shani is believed to thwart attempts of theft.
- Nashik (about 80 km.): Located on the holy River Godavari, the city is famous for an array of popular temples and religious sites, huge production of grapes and also for being one among the four hosts of Kumbh Mela.
- Ahmednagar (about 85 km.): Popular for monuments like Ahmednagar Fort, Chand Bibi Palace and a number of temples.
- Triambak (about 115 km.): It is the home to Trimbakeshwar Temple, one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva, and is a popular pilgrimage destination.