Places To Visit In Shirdi

Sometimes the grueling sessions of life can get you longing for a break and make you yearn for a quick getaway. If you too are bogged by life and work, then maybe a trip to Shirdi is all it would take you to get in touch with life and self. A small quaint town, situated close to Nasik, Shirdi falls under the jurisdiction of Ahmednagar district in Maharashtra. Home to the venerated sage Sai Baba, Shirdi undeniably ranks among the top-notch pilgrim destinations in the country. Worshipped for his compassionate nature, prudent preaching and miraculous healing powers, this humble saint with divine powers stamped his impression all over the land. The major attractions of the town are the sites where Sai Baba lived, preached and died. However, Shirdi isn't just all about temples and mosques. Besides visiting the holy shrine of Sai Baba and other tourist attractions in the city, you can also indulge in some retail therapy. You can expect to find a beautiful variety of paintings and effigies of the saint and many Hindu gods and goddess and lots more. The article below gives you a detailed account on the tourist attractions in Shirdi.

Tourist Attractions In Shirdi

Shirdi Sai Baba Temple
The main temple of Shirdi comprises of the tomb and the idol of Sai Baba. Sai Baba is believed to have spent most of his time in this place. The temple is referred to as Shree Shirdi Sai Mandir and was built by Shreemant Gopalrao, a rich businessman from Nagpur, who was an ardent devotee of Sai Baba. The main sanctorum of the temple is enclosed with white marble. Similarly, the idol of Sai Baba is also made of marble seated on a beautifully decorated throne with a golden colored umbrella hanging above providing shade to the deity. The sides on the walls inside the main sanctorum are covered with pictures of his closest disciples along with images of his significant incidents of his life's preaching.

Shri Khandoba Mandir
Located on the Ahmednagar-Kopergaon road and close to the Sainath hospital is the Shri Khandoba Mandir. The temple is an important landmark in Shirdi as it is believed to be the site where Sai Baba first visited when he entered the town. According to the records stated in his biography, the priest of this temple was the first to call him by the name 'Sai'. The Khandoba Mandir is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is one of the oldest temples in the area.

Dwarkamayee Masjid
On the right side of the main temple lies the old masjid where Baba spent most of his time. It was a place where his devotees congregated to share their grievances. The old mosque was named by Baba himself. It was in this place where Baba kindled the fire in the dhuni and shared the scared ashes with his devotees. Even today, when you enter the mosque, you can find the dhuni still burning.

Chavadi
The Chavadi is located within the premises of the temple and is a stone's throw away from Dwarkamayee masjid. The Chavadi consists of two rooms where Baba spent most of his nights. Inside the Chavadi, you can find a wooden plank, a cushion that was used as his seat and a wheel chair. It was inside the Chavadi where his body was washed before his burial.

Gurusthan
If you know anything about life of Sai Baba, you would be aware of the importance of the neem tree. It was the place where Baba was seen for the first time. The neem tree is also said to be the spot where Baba's Guru took his Samadhi, which gave rise to the name Gurusthan. Today, the place consists of a huge neem tree and an old portrait of Sai Baba along with the silver impressions of his feet.

Lendi Bagh
Once a wasteland, Lendi Bagh was transformed into a beautiful garden by Sai Baba. Lendi Bagh is a beautiful little green park with towering trees and blooming flower plants. As you walk around the garden, you will come across a peepal tree, which is the major landmark of the place. The garden also has other important memorial sights like Baba's horse Sham Sundar and the Datta Mandir. Lendi Bagh is an important place and a must-see while you are in the town.