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Maharashtra

Shirdi

Sai Baba's samadhi town with darshan running around the clock

SpiritualHeritage

Best time to visit Shirdi

peak shoulder off-season avoid

  • Go: November to February
  • Shoulder: March and October, quieter, and the weather is less of a sure thing
  • Skip: April to May

Planning a specific month? JanuaryFebruaryNovemberDecember

Shirdi season by season

Winter December to February Prime time

Dec-Feb is 12-30 C and even the free queue clears in two or three hours instead of most of a day.

Summer March to May Shoulder

Ram Navami is the year's biggest urs, but Apr-May bakes at 40 C in an open queue with no shade or breeze.

Monsoon June to September Quiet, but open

Jun-Sep sits in the Ahmednagar rain shadow with only 500 mm, so the town works fine, just grey and humid.

Autumn October to November Prime time

Oct-Nov brings the Vijayadashami punyatithi crowds, then settles into the easiest weather of the year.

What Shirdi is actually like

Thousands of pilgrims, sansthan queue halls and a 5,000-seat prasadalaya; simple and safe to do alone

Things to do in Shirdi

The local places worth your time in and around Shirdi, with how far each sits from the centre. Tap a name to open it in Google Maps.

  • Sai Baba Samadhi Mandir

    Temple · in town

    Baba's marble samadhi with the statue above it; darshan runs through the night, 2 am to 5 am is the short queue

  • Dwarkamai

    Mosque · in town

    The masjid Baba lived in, his dhuni fire still alight and the grinding stone in a corner; the steps fill before aarti

  • Chavadi

    Heritage · in town

    Where Baba slept every second night; the Thursday night palkhi still carries his padukas here after the last aarti

  • Gurusthan

    Shrine · in town

    The neem tree Baba was first seen sitting under, now a small shrine thick with incense; a minute from the samadhi

  • Lendi Baug

    Garden · in town

    The garden Baba watered daily, with the Nandadeep lamp burning in a pit; the one quiet corner of the complex

  • Khandoba Mandir

    Temple · 1 km out

    Small temple where Mhalsapati greeted the young fakir as Sai and the name stuck; on the Nashik road edge of town

  • Sakori Ashram

    Heritage · 6 km out

    Upasani Maharaj's ashram and the Kanya Kumari Sthan of women renunciants; shared auto from Shirdi, barely visited

  • Shri Sai Prasadalaya

    Food · 1 km out

    Sansthan dining hall seating thousands, unlimited thali for a token price; buy the coupon before joining the line

Getting to Shirdi

Shirdi has its own airport and the Sainagar railhead; Nashik 85 km, Aurangabad 120 km by frequent bus

Practical ways in: flighttrainroad

Trip facts

How long to stay
1 day
Budget
Shoestring
How busy
Busy at its peak
Solo travel
Easy solo
Altitude
515 m
State
Maharashtra
Coordinates
19.7645, 74.4762

Common questions

When is the best time to visit Shirdi?

November to February is peak season in Shirdi. March and October is shoulder season: thinner crowds, a bit more risk in the weather. Avoid April to May. Oct-Nov brings the Vijayadashami punyatithi crowds, then settles into the easiest weather of the year.

How many days do you need in Shirdi?

1 day is the usual stay. Thousands of pilgrims, sansthan queue halls and a 5,000-seat prasadalaya; simple and safe to do alone.

How do you get to Shirdi?

Shirdi has its own airport and the Sainagar railhead; Nashik 85 km, Aurangabad 120 km by frequent bus. Practical ways in: flight, train and road.

Is Shirdi expensive, and does it get crowded?

Shoestring by Indian travel standards, and it runs busy at the busiest time of year. Easy solo.

Is there a festival in Shirdi?

Mar/Apr: Ram Navami urs at the Sai Baba samadhi mandir. Time a trip around it and you see the place at its loudest, but book beds early.

What are the best things to do in Shirdi?

Sai Baba Samadhi Mandir, Dwarkamai, Chavadi, Gurusthan, Lendi Baug and Khandoba Mandir, and more. Baba's marble samadhi with the statue above it; darshan runs through the night, 2 am to 5 am is the short queue.

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