Things To Do
in Shirdi
Shirdi is a small pilgrimage town in Maharashtra best known as the home of Sai Baba, drawing millions of devotees annually. The town centers around the Sai Baba Samadhi Mandir, surrounded by a network of guesthouses, canteens and shops catering to pilgrims. Despite the steady flow of visitors, Shirdi retains a relaxed small-town atmosphere with tree-lined avenues like Lendi Baug and nearby stretches of rural farmland.
Its location between Ahmednagar and Nashik makes it a convenient stop for cultural, spiritual and short nature excursions.
Day Trips
Spend a day exploring around
Arrive in Shirdi and settle into your accommodation. Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at a local eatery to savor some traditional Maharashtrian dishes. Take a short rest and prepare for an exciting exploration of the holy town.
Visit the renowned Sai Baba Sansthan Temple, where you can witness the morning Aarti. Spend time exploring the temple premises, reflecting in the serene atmosphere. Don't forget to indulge in some local snacks available from nearby stalls.
Experience the evening Aarti at the temple, which offers spiritual upliftment and communal harmony. Post Aarti, take a stroll around the town, absorbing the vibrant evening energy. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant, reflecting on your first day in Shirdi.
Begin your day with an enlightening visit to the Shirdi Sai Baba Samadhi Mandir. Engage with local devotees to learn more about Sai Baba's teachings and their significance in daily life. Partake in the morning Prasad distribution, feeling the divine connection.
Explore the various museums around the temple complex that showcase memorabilia related to Sai Baba. Visit the Gurusthan, the place where Sai Baba was first spotted meditating under a neem tree. Experience the peaceful ambiance that envelops this sacred site.
Attend a spiritual discourse at a local community center if available. Join fellow travelers for a discussion on the life of Sai Baba and his teachings. Enjoy the evening with street food and local treats as you mingle with other visitors.
Prices
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| 🍛Meal at inexpensive restaurant | $1-3 |
| 🍽️Mid-range restaurant meal (per person) | $4-10 |
| ☕Tea or coffee (café) | $0.3-1.5 |
| 🚕Short taxi/auto ride | $1-5 |
| 💧Bottle of water (1.5L) | $0.3-0.7 |
Strengths and Weaknesses
- Deep spiritual atmosphere and access to Sai Baba’s shrine with rich devotional culture
- Affordable and plentiful accommodation and vegetarian food options
- Compact town with easy short excursions to nearby cultural and natural sites
- Good transport links by road, rail and a nearby airport
- Can be extremely crowded during festivals and peak pilgrimage seasons
- Limited nightlife and entertainment beyond religious activities
- Hot summers and monsoon travel disruptions at times
- Smaller town infrastructure—medical and specialty services require travel to larger cities
- "Namaste" - Hello / Greeting
- "Dhanyavaad" - Thank you
- "Kripaya joote kadhi dya" - Please remove your shoes
- "Kitla wakt lagel?" - How long will it take?
- "Brahmastra / Prasad kithun milu shakto?" - Where can I get the prasadam?
Places to Visit in Shirdi
Visit one of these nice places.
Iconic temple complex with ornate architecture and devotional crowds — best photographed during early morning or after aarti for atmospheric shots; respect photography rules inside sanctum areas.
Historic mosque where Sai Baba lived; features simple interiors and artifacts that convey spiritual history — capture close-ups of lamps, inscriptions and pilgrims.
A leafy garden with pathways, ponds and old trees planted by Sai Baba; good for tranquil nature and candid portrait photography.
Street scenes full of colors, vendors, religious paraphernalia and pilgrims — ideal for documentary-style and street photography.
Nearby riverfront offering sunrise or sunset opportunities, reflective water shots and rural landscapes.
Low hills around Shirdi provide panoramic views of farmland and townscapes—best for golden-hour landscape photography.
Food in Shirdi
Shirdi Famous Food
Signature dishes, delicacies and famous food
A wholesome plate with dal, vegetables, chapati or rice, salad and quick sweets — widely available at local restaurants and temple canteens.
Must-Try!
Stir-fried tapioca pearls with peanuts and potatoes, popular as a breakfast or fasting dish and commonly found at small eateries.
Flattened rice cooked with onions, mustard seeds and turmeric — a light, local breakfast staple often sold at roadside stalls.
A spicy sprouted bean curry served with pav (bread), garnished with farsan and onions — available at local snack shops for a flavorful meal.
Traditional Indian milk-based sweets and pedas sold around the temple as offerings and souvenirs; pick up from hygienic, well-reviewed sweet shops.
Food Markets
Explore local food markets
The busy street leading to the temple with stalls selling prasadam, religious items, sweets, tea, chaat and quick snacks — ideal for people-watching and sampling small bites.
Clusters of vendors near accommodation areas selling kanda-poha, sabudana, samosas and fresh sugarcane juice — a good place to try affordable street food.
Weather
How to Behave
Tips on cultural norms and respectful behavior
Remove shoes before entering temple areas, dress modestly (cover shoulders and knees), maintain silence in designated quiet zones and follow signage for photography restrictions. Always respect queue systems for darshan.
Avoid interrupting prayers or bhajans, ask permission before photographing people in prayer, and accept prasadam with both hands.
Public displays of affection are frowned upon; show deference to elders and be patient in crowds—polite greetings (Namaste) and simple Marathi or Hindi phrases are appreciated.
If donating, do so at official counters or trusted institutions rather than to unsolicited collectors; obtain a receipt when appropriate.
Safety
Tipping in Shirdi
Ensure a smooth experience
Tipping is modest: rounding up, 10% at restaurants that provide table service, small tips (20–50 INR) for helpful guides, drivers or hotel porters. Temple staff and canteen workers generally do not expect tips for prasadam, but drivers and personal guides appreciate a token.
Cash (INR) is widely used for small purchases and street food; UPI apps (Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm) are widely accepted across shops and canteens. Cards are accepted at larger hotels, the airport and some restaurants; carry cash for smaller vendors and rural excursions. ATMs are available but may have queues during peak pilgrimage seasons.
Best Time to Visit
And what to expect in different seasons...
March to May are hot and dry with temperatures often 35–45°C (95–113°F); travel early in the morning, stay hydrated, wear light cotton clothing and schedule temple visits for cooler hours.
June to September brings the southwest monsoon with heavy rains at times; the countryside becomes green and pleasant but local roads can be muddy and occasional travel delays occur—carry a rain jacket and waterproof footwear.
November to February is the most comfortable season with cool mornings and evenings (10–25°C / 50–77°F); ideal for sightseeing, outdoor walks and attending longer temple rituals.
October–November sees clear skies and festival activity; expect more pilgrims around major festivals and good weather for photography.
Shirdi at Night
Hiking in Shirdi
Immerse in an unforgettable hike.
Gentle trails along the Godavari near Kopargaon offering easy walking, birdwatching and riverside scenery within 10–20 minutes by car from Shirdi.
Several small hillocks around Shirdi provide short hikes (30–90 minutes) with good views over farmland and the town—suitable for sunrise or sunset treks.
Short walking circuits around the famous Shani temple village include cultural stops and low-effort trails; the site is roughly an hour’s drive and offers light walking opportunities.
Longer drives (1.5–3+ hours) to Sahyadri trekking spots such as Rajur, Harishchandragad or Bhandardara offer full-day hikes and scenic monsoon/post-monsoon landscapes for more experienced hikers.
Airports
How to reach Shirdi by plane.
Located a short drive from the town, the regional airport connects Shirdi with Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad and other Indian cities—convenient for pilgrims flying in.
About 120–140 km away; offers domestic flights and is a gateway for tourists combining visits to Ajanta/Ellora and regional travel—ground transport available by taxi or bus.
Approximately 180–200 km from Shirdi, Pune offers more domestic and international connections and is a practical option for travelers combining city visits.
Major international airport about 240–260 km away; suitable for international travelers and those planning onward travel by road or rail to Shirdi.
Walkability
Demographics
Explore demographics in this area.
Long-term residents often engaged in agriculture, small businesses, hospitality and temple services; Marathi is the primary local language.
A large and diverse pilgrim population including families, elderly devotees and organized groups from many Indian states—Hindi and regional languages are commonly heard.
People employed in hotels, restaurants, transport and temple services who cater to the steady flow of visitors.
Popular Sports
Explore popular sports in region.
Cricket is the dominant sport—local grounds and informal matches are common, and televised matches attract large, enthusiastic audiences.
Traditional rural sport played in nearby villages and sometimes featured at local gatherings and competitions.
Traditional wrestling is practiced in akharas (wrestling pits) in some rural parts of the region and is part of local sporting culture.
Traffic
Accomodations
Find the best place to stay when visiting Shirdi.
Dietary Restrictions
Tips for restricted diets.
Vegetarian food is widely available and many temple-run canteens serve strict vegetarian prasadam, making Shirdi easy to navigate for vegetarians.
Vegan options are more limited but possible—ask for no ghee or dairy in gravies and prefer plain rice, lentils, sabzi and poha; carry snacks if you require strict vegan meals.
Rice-based dishes, dosas and many thali components are gluten-free, but check for wheat-based breads and cross-contamination at busy dhabas.
Inform kitchens about nut or spice allergies; packaged foods list ingredients, but smaller stalls may not—carrying essential medicines or an EpiPen (if prescribed) is advisable.