Shirdi Abode Of A Saint

For a travel experience that involves prayer and the opportunity to see the faith and devotion of thousands, Shirdi is a favoured place of pilgrimage.

- Priya Bala

The small town in Ahmednagar in Maharashtra is now a major religious destination in the country and attracts devotees from across India as well as abroad.

An easy drive from both Mumbai (240 km) and Pune (190 km), Shirdi is the revered former abode of Sai Baba who spent much of his life here. Though the life of Sai Baba is a mystery in itself, it is believed that he came to Shirdi at the tender age of 16 and took up residence in the Kandoba temple. He then spent the next 50 years teaching and advocating his philosophy of ‘one God for all’ and working to alleviate the suffering of all people. Even today, Shirdi is a place to see the equalising effect of his teachings, as people from different walks of life, economic statuses and religious beliefs gather to soak in the sacred atmosphere that appears to pervade the very air here. They all come with the purpose of paying obeisance at the shrine of Sai Baba and to seek his blessings. Scattered across Shirdi, which was once an unassuming hamlet, are various spots associated with the life of Sai Baba and these are all must-visit places for the devout.