These are my Personal Experiences for my trip to Shridi.
Mumbai to Shridi
Starting Point : Mumbai
Time: Morning 6:30
You can start from Mumbai to Shirdi via many sources.
Of which one I have took is "Neeta Travels" VOLVO BUS from Mumbai to shirdi. Ticket price is 450/-. Price may vary from dealer to dealer and depending on the demand.
It will go through NASHIK and will reach Shirdi at around 2.00 PM in the afternoon. Distance is approximately 250 Kms. Total journey time is 7 Hours.
This is not a best mode of travel as far as I am concerned.
Other Options: You can go till Nashik in train, as there 3-5 trains available in the morning. And from Nashik catch a shirdi bus which are available in plenty.
Best Option of Travel from Mumbai: There is a train (not daily : please check railways - weekly thrice I guess) from MUMBAI CST to SAI NAGAR Shridi. Starts at around 9.00 PM and reaches shirdi in the morning 4.00. It is just 2-3 Kms away from Shiridi.
Train No. 2131 ------------ |------------- Train No. 2132
Days of Service: -----------|------------- Days of Service:
Mon, Wed, Sat ------------|------------- Tue, Thu, Sun.
w.e.f. 28.08.2010 ---------|------------- w.e.f. 29.08.2010
Timing-------------Station-----------Timing
21.45 hrs D -------- Dadar ------------ A -- 16.05 hrs
03.55 hrs A -------- Shirdi ----------- D -- 10.00 hrs
Accomodation : You can get rooms at SAI BABA Sansthan operated by temple sources which give best options for staying at best prices. But please note that will be heavy rush for this during Thursdays, week ends and holidays.
You have plenty of Hotels ranging from Mid to High end depending on your budget.
If you dont want to take a room, then there are options too.
Darshan:
Full darshan Details are given below.
Mobiles are not allowed inside the temple.
There are places for keeping your luggage/mobiles/sandals (Chappals) all around the temple, which are authorized by temple sources again. Please make sure you are not in the hands of touts. You can safely deposit your luggage/mobiles. Have small locks with you every time, so that you can lock your luggage for better safety.
For keeping luggage they will take : 5 rs /-
For each Mobile Phone: 1 rs/-
For Chappals : 1 rs/-
There are a total of 4 gates/entrance to the temple. These entrance will be operated depending on the number of people/rush at that time.
Darshan time will always depend on the day and time you enter in it. For me it took 30 minutes, when I entered on Tuesday, at around 3.00 PM.
They will give free Dhuni ( a small packet of vibhudi) in side the temple premises.
There is a small musuem of Saibaba's things in side the temple premises.
You get drinks/water/snacks in side the temple for Best price. So no need to take for Higher prices around and out side the temple.
Water bottle : 1 litre - 8rs or 10 rs.
Tea: 1 rs
Milk/Coffee: 1.50 rs
My Return Journey:
I returned back to Hyderabad from Shirdi. So I took a train to Nagarsol to catch Ajantha Express at 9.20 P.M.
To reach nagarsol by bus, you have to be in bus stand before 6.00 as it is the the last bus. Infact there are only 4 buses to Nagarsol for a day from Shirdi.
You can reach nagarsol by Taxi either by sharing basis or individual taxis. On sharing basis they take an average price of 50 - 60rs. They will infact start from more price. Better you bargain, you get the better price.
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Darshan
Daily Schedule Of Samadhi Mandir
- Kakad Aarti: 4:30 am
Shri Mangal Snan: 6 am
Darshan Prarambh: 7 am
- Abhishek: 9 am
- Madhyanaha Aarti: 12 noon
- Dhoop Aarti: At sunset
- Sheja Aarti: 10:30 pm
Having a Darshan or a look at Shri Saibaba, when in Shirdi is heavenly in itself. The sheer calmness and serenity that peeps through the white marble statue of this saint hypnotizes you and initiates you into a mystical and spiritual journey that imparts a new meaning to your existence.
With thousands of devotees that queue up to have a look at this heavenly visage, the timings for Darshan are fixed by the Sai temple authorities. You must get acquainted with this before you go for a darshan of Shri Sai Baba.
Samadhi Temple that houses the statue of Shri Saibaba opens for public Darshan at 5am, when the temple opens. You need to be there well before 4am since a long queue is already there for a moment's glance of Sai Baba. It is the time when "Utha utha Sakala Jana" a melodious prayer is played on audio cassette. Exactly at 5.15am Kakad arati begins as a request to Lord Sai to wake up and give His merciful glances to His devotees.
After the Kakad Aarati, the Samadhi and the Idol of Shri Sai is offered Mangal Snan (Holy bath) with milk, curd, honey, sugar, ghe and warm perfumed water. After this Baba is offered Shodashopachar pooja leading to aarti. From 7.10am you can have full darshan of Shri Saibaba and also make offerings such as flowers, garlands, coconut, sweets, etc. Saibaba darshan continues till 11.45am.
Between 12 and 12.30pm Mahadhyan aarti or Noon arati is performed. After this aarti, once again Sai darshan begins and devotees line to have a glance of Sai Baba. Darshan continues through Dhup aarti or Sunset aarti. The timings of Dhup aarti changes as per the orientation of Sun and thus it changes through different seasons.
After Dhup aarti, at around 10am Shej aarti is done, which is the preparation for Saibaba to retire for the day. The temple is closed by 10.20pm. You can have regal darshan of Saibaba's padukas or sacred footwear on Thursdays and on special days. During these times a majestic procession is held in all pomp and show with Saibaba's padukas kept along with his portrait is carried in a royal palanquin from Samadhi Mandir to DwarkaMai and Chawri.
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Information Centre
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MUMBAI
Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust, (Shirdi)
'Sai Niketan', 804-B
Dr. Ambedkar Road
Dadar, Mumbai - 400 014 (M.S.)
Ph -022-24166556
FAX-022-24150978
Email-Id :saidadar@sai.org.in
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CHENNAI
Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust,(Shirdi)
Information Centre
Krishnan Karanai Village, Post- Pattipulam
East Coast Road,Chennai Tamil Nadu - 603 104, India.
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SECUNDERABAD
Information Centre
S.Radhaswamy Fundation
Unit No.110 Deepti House
Y.M.C.A. Complex,Secunderabad-500003
(Adra Pradesh) India
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Other Places to Visit at Shirdi
Sai Baba's place Shirdi (Maharashtra State) is a very sacred, powerful and important place of pilgrimage in India.
Khandoba Mandir: This place is near Shirsainath Hospital. Baba stepped here in Shirdi at the foot of banyan tree near Khandoba Temple along with Chand Patil's wife's nephew's marriage party. The then Pujari Mhalsapati welcome Him by calling "Ya Sai".
Gurusthan Mandir: This is the place where Baba first appeared to the world as a boy of 16 years & this place is supposed to be Baba's Gurusthan. the famous Margosa (Neem) tree is here. it has a reference in Shri Sai Sat-charita. Devotees claim that their ailments are cured by burning incense here on Thursday & Friday.
Sai Baba's Samadhi Mandir: This is the place where Sacred Body of Baba is resting in Samadhi. The articles handled by Baba are preserved & displayed here in a special showroom. All rituals consisting of Pooja. Abhishek & daily four Aratis are performed here. The Samadhi Mandir of Shri Sai Baba was actually owned by a millionaire from Nagpur and a famous Sai devotee Shreemant Gopalrao, also known as 'Butti Wada'. He wanted to keep an idol of Murlidhar there. However, according to the legends, Sai Baba manifested himself as Murlidhar and the temple became the Samadhi Mandir of Baba. The Samadhi of Baba is built with white marble stones. The railings around it are full of ornamental decorations. The idol of Baba is a marvelous statue made up of Italian marble built by Late Balaji Vasant in 1954. The temple has an assembly hall for about 600 devotees. The first floor of the temple has the pictures depicting the life of the saint. The temple opens on 5 AM with morning prayers and close down at 10 PM with night prayers.
Dwarkamai (Masjid): Baba stayed at this place continuously for 60 years. Innumerable devotees got blessing of Baba here. The Shila (Stone) on which Baba used to sit is located nearby. Also Sacred Fire (Dhuni) lit by Baba is ever burning here. Baba used to give Sacred Udi (Ash) to the devotees to solve their problems in life. Udi distributed to the devotees now is only from this Dhuni. Baba used to cook food here for distribution to devotees. Main attraction of the site is the oil paintings of the sage.
Chawdi Mandir: On every alternate day Baba used to proceed in procession from Dwarkamai to this place at night & halt & sleep here. Now also on every Thursday Palanquin procession of Baba's Photo. Holy Padukas & Satka is taken to this place between 9.15 p.m. & 10.00 p.m. The Chavadi is divided into two parts. One part of the Chavadi has a large portrait of Baba along with a wooden bed and a white chair belonging to him.
Lendi Baug: At some distance from Gurusthan, there is the Lendi Baug. This garden was made and watered daily by Baba himself. It got its name from a nullah (a drain), which used to flow there. Baba used to come here every morning and afternoon and take rest under a neem tree. Baba dug a pit, 2 feet deep, under the neem tree and kept a deep (a lighting object) lit in that pit. An octagonal deepgriha (lighthouse) called Nanda Deep has been built in marble stone in memory of this place. It constantly burns in a glass box. On one side of the deepgriha is a pipal tree and on the other side is a neem tree.
Other Places: The Samadhis of Shri Tatya Patil Kote, Shri Bhau Maharaj Kumbhar, Shri V.Padmanabha Iyer, Shri Nanawali & Shri Abdul Baba who were ardent Bhaktas closely associated with Shri Sai Baba during His life time are located in Sansthan premises near lendhi Baug.
Lendi Baug: This is the place where Shri Sai Baba used to go for stroll. Nandapeep is kept constantly burning near the Pimple tree planted by shri sai Baba Himself. There is also Datta Mandir in this garden & Shri Sai Baba's deloyed Horse 'Shamkarna'(Shamsunder) is taking Eternal Rest here. There is also a well here called as 'Baba's Shivdi'.
In addition 3 other Temples are in Temples premises complex : 1) Shri Ganesh Temple, 2) Shri Shani Temple & 3) Shri Mahadev Temple
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