Shirdi
A small village located in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra, 100 kilometers away from Nasik is a hustling and bustling pilgrimage center in India. Thousands throng everyday to pay their respect to Sathya Sai Baba of Shirdi. Shirdi was the home of Sai Baba, the great guru of the 20th century. The immortal saint lived in Shirdi for more than 50 years of his life, thus turning the small village into a big pilgrimage site for his disciples who come from all corners of this universe.
Sai Baba entered the village of Shirdi when he was a boy of sixteen. He performed yoga under a Neem tree but no one knew where he came from. As a saint, he devoted his entire life for the betterment of humanity and upliftment of the soul. While some believe that he was an embodiment of Lord Shiva, others considered him as just a fakir, but one with great powers.
The area into which Sai Baba came to rest in Shirdi as a Bal Yogi is popularly known as the Gurusthan. A temple and a shrine have been erected at this site. The village, which has now grown to become the township of Shirdi is always full of fragrance from thousands of fragrant sticks lighted by his innumerable disciples as a mark of respect towards him. The great saint left for his heavenly abode many years ago, but he is still remembered and respected today. Of course, the new Sai Baba is there to bless whoever comes under his heavenly care. A trip to Shirdi is certainly worth it. You can come here on a weekend to see the magic of Shrii Sai Baba.
How to reach: Shirdi is very well connected by road from major cities in Maharashtra. There are a number of trains from Mumbai, Delhi and other places that reach the Shirdi railway station. If you want to fly, then you have to reach the Aurangabad airport first. It is a two hour journey from there. You can drive from Nasik and Nagpur as well.
There are plenty of hotels in Shirdi, resorts in Shirdi and home stays in Shirdi. Most of them are extremely affordable. Some of them are free too. You will find premium properties as well.
