Shirdi is a town located in India, in the state of Maharashtra. It is a famous pilgrimage site. People from all over the nation come to seek the blessings of Sai Baba. This city is known to be the native place of Sai Baba.
It is located near the city of Mumbai with a travel distance of around 5 hours by road if you opt for a Mumbai to Shirdi taxi. You can easily hire a vehicle to get there. Here is the complete guide about the town.
Places to visit in Shirdi
- Shri Sai Baba Sansthan temple
This temple is devoted to the great saint Sai Baba who was born in this town. Around 25,000 devotees visit the temple every day. The temple has been built over 200 square meters and the architecture of the temple would leave you spell-bound. The temple would provide you an atmosphere full of peace and happiness. Accommodations are available inside the temple.
Some other places include Shani Shingnapur, Gurusthan, wet n joy park, museum, etc. You can hire a local taxi to roam inside Shirdi or you can hire a cab from Mumbai for a round trip.
Best time to visit Shirdi
The best time to visit Shirdi is between the month of October and March. The town offers a pleasant and cool climate during these months. Summer months (April, May) are to be avoided as the heat is unbearable. But during this period, the rush is comparatively less. You can enjoy the place without the crowd.
Time taken for darshan
If the temple is not crowded, you can complete the darshan within an hour. On an average day, the Darshan takes up around two to three hours. On special days and festive days, the darshan can take even up to six hours. You can also buy a pass or special tickets if you don’t want to spend your time standing in a queue.
The best route to take
The town of Shirdi is located near the city of Mumbai. You can take flight, cab, or train to reach Shirdi from Mumbai. An airport has been constructed near the town of Shirdi in the Kakadi village. It will only take 30 minutes to reach Shirdi from the airport. Flight frequency is one flight per day from Mumbai.
Three trains run from Mumbai to Shirdi every day. The trains start at night from the Mumbai city (CST or Dadar) and reach Shirdi, in the early hours. You can directly head towards the temple for morning Aarti and darshan. Dadar Shirdi Sainagar express is a fast train and Mumbai CST Shirdi fast passenger takes comparatively more time than the former.
But the best and economical way is to take a cab or hire a taxi. Mumbai to Shirdi cabs is available. The return trip fare for Mumbai to Shirdi taxi costs around 6000 rupees. The travel time is less than five hours and the roads are smooth and well maintained. You can hire a local taxi or book cab on the apps that are available online.
Mumbai to Shirdi cab is the most convenient option as the travel time is less compared to the other means of transport. If a family or group of friends are traveling together, hiring a taxi is one of the viable options. There are many agencies which would help you with transport and stay, you can get help from them or opt for a local taxi.
You can reach Shirdi via three routes. Take highway NH 160 and you can reach Shirdi in approximately 4.5 hours. If you take NH 60 route, it will take 6 hours. The highways are smooth and the view is great when you travel by road.
Stay and food
Many options are available in terms of cuisine since people from all over the nation visit this place. You can opt for Chinese, continental, south Indian, Rajasthani, and Gujarati cuisine. If you are in the mood for some authentic Maharashtrian cuisine, then there are many restaurants serving typical and tasty Maharashtrian food. The variety of food options available in Maharashtrian cuisine is huge. People usually do not face a problem in terms of food.
Depending on your budget, you can choose the accommodation. The Sai Baba temple offers accommodation near the temple. It is quite economical and comfortable for one day stay. If you looking for a more luxurious stay, you can opt for three-star hotels and resorts. Many hotels are located in and around the temple, and in the heart of the city.
