Shirdi

Shirdi is a small town located in the state of Maharashtra in western India. The place is around 296 km (around 6 hours drive) from Mumbai. Shirdi extends latitude 19°45' N and longitude 74°25' E. Shirdi is basically a religious tourist center. Thousands of pilgrims flock to Shirdi. The Shirdi Saibaba Temple, located at Shirdi, Maharashtra, India attracts millions of devotees of all religions, castes and creed who come to pay homage to Shri Sai Baba. The temple is a beautiful shrine that was built over the Samadhi of Shri Sai Baba

The saga of Sai Baba of Shirdi started in the middle of the last century when, as a boy of about 16 years of age, he first appeared here under a neem tree (Azadirachta indica) absorbed in a hard penance. For the next 60 years, he devoted his life for the upliftment of the poor and suffering. His origin, religion, and early life are shrouded in mystery, and though he is believed to be an incarnation of lord Shiva, his teachings transcended all religions and beliefs. Today, all places, persons, and possessions connected with him have become objects of veneration by millions of devotees who throng to Shirdi every year from all parts of the world. Sai Baba's shrine has been incorporated as one of the holy places in the world's map of pilgrimage.

Winters are the best season to visit the town, the months from September to April being the ideal period. The daytime temperature is pleasant during this period making the days excellent for visiting the tourist attractions of the town. The summers can get very hot causing unpleasantness. Cotton clothing is apt for summers and light woolens suffice for the winter season.

The most important festivals and events that are celebrated in Shirdi are Guru Poornima, Dusshera, and Ram Navami. These are the only days when the Samadhi Mandir of Shirdi opens for the whole night. Every Thursday, a palakhi bearing a photograph of the sage is taken out from the temple.
 

  Sai Baba Darshan