Things to Do in Shirdi

The Shri Sai Baba Sansthan Temple is a religious place in Shirdi, Maharashtra in India, that is dedicated to Shri Sai Baba, who is considered to be one of the greatest saints to have been born in India. Sai Baba is believed to have been blessed with unprecedented powers and is worshipped as a God.

Dwarkamai is one of the treasures of Shirdi for the devotees. They say that Dwarkamai is the heart of Shirdi, the place where the great Sai Baba spent a significant part of his life including his last moments. It is a treasure to all of Baba's devotees because it was the home of, as they like to call him, God on Earth.

The Sai Heritage Village in Shirdi is a unique combination of the beauty of nature and the blessings of Sai Baba. It showcases the major events that took place during Sai Baba's lifetime in the form of statues, and visitors feel as if these moments have come to life right before their eyes.

During his last years, Sai baba used to spend alternate nights at Chavadi. The place is located near Dwarkamai mosque from where the procession of Sai baba along with his followers was carried out in a palki.

The Wada museum is located in the vicinity of the Shri Sai Baba Sansthan trust that showcases vintage pictures of Sai baba with his followers. It also displays his leather padukas, long robes and a smoking pipe along with gramophone records, bathing stone and cooking utensils, among others.

The temple is situated on the main road with the icons of Khandoba, Banai and Mhalsai. The temple is dedicated to Khandoba, the presiding deity of the town.

The beautiful garden is situated at Shirdi-Manmade State highway. Sai Baba used to spend a lot of his time here watering the plants daily in the mornings and evenings.

Sai Baba Prasadalya is a mega kitchen that caters to 3,500 disciplines in every sitting. The dining hall is scattered across a distance of 11,550 sq m, within the premises of Shirdi Sai Baba Mandir. Two other halls, with a seating capacity of 1000 each, are also located within the same complex. This mega kitchen is the world's largest solar-powered kitchen owing to the 73 solar panels set up in the area.

Samadhi Mandir is owned and constructed by a millionaire from Nagpur, who was an ardent devotee of Sai baba. The devotee wanted to install an idol of Lord Murlidhar and therefore Sai baba declared himself as one.

Shani Shignapur Temple is a Jeet Devasthan (alive temple) in Ahmednagar district, well-known for the magical and powerful Lord Shani, who is believed to reside in a black stone till date. The Hindu God symbolising the planet Saturn is referred to as Swayambhu, which means that he has emerged himself in the form of the black stone that scores lakhs of devotees every year.

Located on Shirdi-manmade state highway, the ashram is 7km away from Shirdi. Managed and maintained by Spiritual Guru Om Gurudev, it is also a co-educational residential school for children.

Although most famous for its shrine dedicated to Sai Baba, Shirdi also houses the Shirdi Water Park. This destination has a number of thrilling rides and activities which are equally enjoyable for children and adults alike. Located about 5 kilometres away from Shirdi in Nighoj Village, this destination is a much-needed respite from the heat.

Abdul Baba's cottage is the residence where one of the ardent devotees of Sai Baba, Abdul Baba, spent the last years of his life at Shirdi. The cottage is open for the general public and is one of the most famous attractions in Shirdi.

Gurusthan is the place where Sai Baba first appeared to the world as a 16 year old boy. The place is situated under a Neem tree. It also has a shrine on which Sai baba's portrait is placed with a Shivalingam and the Nandi bull right in front of it.

Dedicated to Sai Baba, Sai Teerth is the first devotional theme park located in Shirdi, Maharashtra. Making visitors walk through the life of the revered saint Sai Baba, this is a one of its kind location. Sai Teerth runs four shows, including the popular show 'Sabka Malik EK'. The devotional experience at Sai Teerth caters to all ages, amalgamating for the visitors devotion and entertainment, the 5D shows available at the theme park are surely a visitor’s delight.

Timings : 10:30 AM - 6:00 PM

Entry Fees : INR 399 onwards

During the days when Sainath lived alternate nights in Chavadi, he was taken there in a palki procession from Dwarkamai masjid. The same procession that took place then is also carried out even today on every Thursday with the same excitement and veneration.

The cottage is situated right opposite to Chavadi that once belonged to Sai baba's most fervent followers, Abdul Baba. This one is small and green in color with many rare memoirs of Baba and himself. A must visit for the collection of rare artifacts involving the two.

The ashram is of a saint of the 20th century, named Upasani Maharaj. He was an ardent disciple of Sai Baba. Situated off the Shirdi-Ahmednagar State highway, the ashram contains the samadhi of the Maharaj and one of his disciples.

A devout worshipper will also be the happiest shopper as Shirdi has markets with the largest collection of Sai Baba effigies and pictures. Starting from marble and fiber statues, one can find laminated portraits, key rings, rosaries, garlands made with fresh flowers and with plastic/cloth flowers, all kinds of dry fruits, etc.