Visit the colorful Sai Baba Temple to get a glimpse into the life of one of India’s most venerated spiritual leaders, Sai Baba of Shirdi. See the mosque in which the guru lived, pause for thought at the temple that houses his tomb and wander amid a flower-filled garden. Watch religious ceremonies and have lunch with thousands of pilgrims at the huge dining hall.
Sai Baba arrived in Shirdi in 1858 and took refuge where the Sai Baba Temple would be built. He became famous for his supposed ability to cure life-threatening diseases. His appreciation of both Hinduism and Islam made him popular among all who came to seek spiritual enlightenment. Today join thousands of devotees visiting the temple on a daily basis, and up to 100,000 for festivals.
Step inside the Khandoba Temple, where a local priest first spotted Sai Baba of Shirdi. See idols of the Hindu deities Lord Khandoba, Banai Devi and Maasai Devi. Look for a banyan tree, which is said to be where Baba arrived in the town. Go to the Gurusthan, the place where Baba spent many of his early years. Find a statue of Baba and a sacred neem tree.
Observe as followers line up in the Samadhi Mandir temple to see the mausoleum of Baba. Note how they lay flowers, fruit and garlands, among other offerings, in return for blessings. Savor the mystical ambiance of the Dwarkamai, a humble mosque that was the guru’s home until his passing in 1918. Visit the Chavadi Mandir, a former tax-collecting office and pilgrim lodge.
Walk around the landscaped Lendi Gardens, which originally served as both a tranquil retreat and a place of penance for Baba. Sit among thousands of devotees and tourists for an inexpensive lunch of daal, vegetables, rice and chapatis at the prasadalaya communal dining room. Browse the personal items of Sai Baba at the Dixit Wada Museum.
Sai Baba Temple is in the heart of Shirdi. Walk between each of the shrines and temples comfortably. The complex is open daily, from dawn until late at night. Admission is free.