Famous Temples in and around Shirdi

Shirdi is a beautiful town located in the Ahmednagar district of the state of Maharashtra. It takes approximately 4 to 5 hours to reach Shirdi from Mumbai by road. It is well-connected to all the major cities by road, air and train. The best time to visit Shirdi is from October to March when the weather is pleasant. However, you can visit this place any time of the year, as per your convenience.

The city of Shirdi gets most of the limelight due to the famous Sai Baba Temple here. It attracts thousands of devotees from all over India and the world. Though most temples here are dedicated to Sai Baba and provide a glimpse of his life spent in Shirdi, there are many other famous and popular temples and things to do in Shirdi. Let’s find out.

1. Shri Sai Baba Sansthan temple:

As the name suggests, this temple is dedicated to Sai Baba who is considered to be one of the most renowned saints. It is located in the heart of Shirdi and thousands of devotees visit it every day especially on special occasions and festivals. It has all the facilities to manage a large number of crowds. The temple also has nice accommodation with modern facilities for devotees who come from far off places and need a place to stay. Check for affordable Guest houses in shirdi and start your pilgrimage today.

2. Shani Shingnapur Temple:

After the Sai Baba Temple, this is the most popular temple in the Mumbai-Ahmednagar district. This temple is known for a black stone in which people believe Lord Shani to be present. The spiritual aura here entices thousands of devotees every year. On Saturdays, this temple is especially crowded. A unique fact about Shingnapur is that people here don’t lock their houses, believing that the Lord will protect their valuables.

3. Trimbhakeshwar:

Trimbakeshwar Temple is situated in the village of Trimbak, which is 28km from Nashik and just 2 hours 30 minutes away from Shirdi. Trimbak is also famous for being the source of the Godavari River. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is one of the 12 jyotirlingas. The temple has beautiful architecture and is made of black stone.

4. Gurusthan:

This is believed to be the place where Sai Baba first appeared to the world as a young boy. It is located Kopargaon which is at a distance of 14km from the main town of Shirdi. It has a shrine with Sai Baba’s portrait and a Shivalinga with a Nandi Bull. Devotees often visit his temple and light incense sticks, believing that they will be cured of all their ailments.

5. Dwarkamai:

This is truly a one-of-a-kind structure. This is perhaps the only mosque in the world with a temple in it. It is where Sai Baba is believed to have spent most of his life as well as his last moments. When Sai Baba reached here it was a dilapidated old mosque. He gave it the name of Dwarkamai and reiterated that God is one. This is one of the reasons why people of all faiths look up to Sai Baba and worship him as God. As you enter Dwarkamai, you will be overtaken by the positive aura around you. The energy and the vibes of this temple/ mosque make you feel at peace and cleansed of all negativity and insecurities. All festivals are celebrated here, be it Ramnaumi or Eid.

6. Khandoba Mandir:

As the name suggests, this temple is dedicated to Khandoba, the presiding deity of the town. Khandoba is worshipped as a manifestation of Shiva. It is believed that a priest from this temple welcomed Sai Baba to this town, when he first came here. This temple is one of the 13 most important temples dedicated to Khandoba.

7. Maruti Mandir:

‘Maruti’ is the other name for Lord Hanuman, and this temple is one of the oldest temples in Shirdi dedicated to him. It is located quite close to Dwarkamai and Sai Baba always used to pay his respect at this temple. The temple has two idols of Lord Hanuman along with a Shivalinga and a statue of Nandi. You will also find some dumbbells and weights placed in a corner.

Shirdi is a beautiful place for spiritual rejuvenation. It is a popular pilgrimage site because of the many temples located in and around this town. Apart from the temples mentioned here you can even visit the Muktidham Temple, Kalaram Temple, Bhimshankar Temple and many others located close to Shirdi and Nasik. Apart from temples, Shirdi has a lot of other things to offer visitors such as theme parks, shopping areas, museums etc. Plan a weekend to Shirdi to take a break from your routine.

When visiting Shirdi, book your accommodation through Cleartrip; and you can avail many exciting deals and offers on hotels. Some of the popular hotels in Shirdi are the Sun n Sand Hotel, Goradia Lords Inn, Pushpak Resort, Hotel Jivanta, Hotel City Heart and many others. So, what are you waiting for? Hurry up and book your holiday through Cleartrip.