Major city · India
Shirdiशिर्डी
Go for one night if you want Sai Baba's samadhi; the town is small, the queue is the day. Skip if temples are not your trip.
Shirdi is a pilgrimage town in Ahmednagar district, Maharashtra, built around the samadhi of Sai Baba, who lived here until 1918. Almost everything visitors come for — the temple, Dwarakamayi, Chavadi — sits within walking distance of the temple gate. One night covers it; two if you add Shani Shingnapur or want a second darshan without rushing. It is a working pilgrimage centre, not a sightseeing city: expect queues, vegetarian food and early mornings.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- INR
- Best months
- Jan–Mar
- avoid Apr–Jun (summer heat), Jul–Sep (monsoon); Sep–Nov is festival peak with the largest crowds
- Airports
- SAG · BOM
- Nights
- 1
Rules in force · 6
- South Asia ↗Trekking regions, border districts and several Indian states need separate permits on top of the visa; check the permit before you book transport into them.
- South Asia ↗Remove shoes (and in many Jain and Hindu temples, leather) before entering; cover shoulders and legs; ask before photographing people or rituals.
- India ↗Apply for the e-visa only on the official government portal (indianvisaonline.gov.in); lookalike sites charge extra. Check the current rules, fees and how far ahead to apply.
- India ↗Do not follow anyone who says your hotel is closed, the station ticket office is closed or a road is shut; use the prepaid taxi counter, the metro or an app car.
- India ↗Carry Indian rupees in small notes (10, 20, 50, 100); change for 500 is often refused.
- India ↗Parts of the Northeast, Sikkim, Ladakh, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and all border belts need a Protected or Restricted Area Permit or an Inner Line Permit for foreigners; check before you book the route.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Shirdi112 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Shirdi, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Indian rupees (INR, ₹) in small notes for autos, street food, tips and entry tickets.India-wide
- SIM or eSIMJio, Airtel and Vi sell tourist SIMs at airport counters and their shops; passport, visa and a photo needed; activation can take a few hours.India-wide
- Tap waterNot drinkable from the tap.India-wide
- TippingRestaurant: 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.India-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/D/M. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.India-wide
- SafetyOne of Maharashtra's safer towns, with almost no violent crime.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsWestern toilets in hotels, malls and airports; squat toilets with a water jug or hose in stations and villages.India-wide
- Emergency numbers112 All services (police, fire, ambulance) · 100 police (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysThe Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays; many museums close on Mondays; banks close on the second and fourth Saturdays…India-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportSAG Shirdi Airport (Kakadi) (About 14 km (8.7 mi) southwest of town; flights to Mumbai, Hyderabad and Surat.).SAG Shirdi Airport (Kakadi) (About 8.7 mi (14 km) southwest of town; flights to Mumbai, Hyderabad and Surat.).
- Getting aroundThe town is walkable: temple, Dwarakamayi and Chavadi are minutes apart.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Museum or sight ticketTemple darshanQueue averages over an hour on weekdays, around two on weekends.Free
- Budget bedHostel or trust dorm bed, a night, per person₹400 (≈ US$5)
- Mid-range bedDouble room, mid-range hotel, a night, per room₹2,500 (≈ US$30)
- High-end bedDouble room, mid-range hotel, a night, per room₹5,000 (≈ US$60)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget ₹1,200 (≈ US$14) · Mid ₹3,000 (≈ US$35) · High ₹6,000 (≈ US$70)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- SAG Shirdi Airport (Kakadi) (About 14 km (8.7 mi) southwest of town; flights to Mumbai, Hyderabad and Surat.) · BOM Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International (The usual international arrival; road transfer to Shirdi is roughly 240 km (149 mi).)SAG Shirdi Airport (Kakadi) (About 8.7 mi (14 km) southwest of town; flights to Mumbai, Hyderabad and Surat.) · BOM Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International (The usual international arrival; road transfer to Shirdi is roughly 149 mi (240 km).)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Best
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Feb
Best
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Mar
Best
36°C (97°F)97°F (36°C)
Apr
Avoid
39°C (102°F)102°F (39°C)
May
Avoid
40°C (104°F)104°F (40°C)
Jun
Avoid
35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)
Jul
Avoid
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Aug
Avoid
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Sep
Avoid
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Oct
Avoid
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Nov
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Dec
not flagged
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Best: Jan–Mar. Avoid: Apr–Nov. Month by month →
Warmest May (40°C (104°F)104°F (40°C)), coolest Jan (12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C) low), wettest Jul (14 rain days), driest Jan (0). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Shirdi: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
0 rd
Feb
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
0 rd
Mar
36°C (97°F)97°F (36°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
1 rd
Apr
39°C (102°F)102°F (39°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
1 rd
May
40°C (104°F)104°F (40°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
2 rd
Jun
35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
8 rd
Jul
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
14 rd
Aug
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
12 rd
Sep
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
10 rd
Oct
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
5 rd
Nov
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
2 rd
Dec
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
1 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The town is walkable: temple, Dwarakamayi and Chavadi are minutes apart. Autos and shared vans cover the airport, the railway station and outlying hotels; agree the fare first. For Shani Shingnapur or Trimbakeshwar, hire a taxi for the half-day rather than trying to chain buses.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Shani Shingnapur
goDoor to door: About 1.5–2 h each way by road (75 km)
Taxi or shared van from Shirdi
Taxi around ₹1,200 return, shared van around ₹80–100 per person. Half-day trip.
Siddhatek
cautionDoor to door: About 2 h each way
Taxi via the Ahmednagar road
Siddhivinayak temple on the Bhima river; combine with an Ahmednagar run rather than a separate day.
Pravaranagar
skipDoor to door: About 2–2.5 h each way
Taxi or bus toward Loni
No strong reason to add it to a short Shirdi trip.
Bhandardara
overnightDoor to door: About 3 h each way
Taxi via Sangamner
Lake and hill country; too far for a return day.
Trimbakeshwar
overnightDoor to door: About 3–3.5 h each way (150 km)
Taxi or bus via Nashik
One of the twelve Jyotirlingas; sleep in Nashik or Trimbakeshwar rather than doubling back.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Temple-area lanes
Walking distance to the gate; noisiest and busiest, best if you want a dawn darshan.
Pimplewadi Road and the highway strip
Mid-range and budget hotels, 2–10 min by auto from the temple.
Sansthan trust accommodation
Dwarawati Bhaktha Nivas and similar trust rooms near the temple; book ahead, check-in and check-out around 11:00.Dwarawati Bhaktha Nivas and similar trust rooms near the temple; book ahead, check-in and check-out around 11:00 AM.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- ₹1,200–2,500 (≈ US$14–30) excl. bed
- Mid
- ₹2,500–5,000 (≈ US$30–60) excl. bed
- High
- ₹5,000 (≈ US$60)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Double room, mid-range hotel1 × 1 night × ₹2,500 | ₹2,500 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × ₹3,000 | ₹6,000 |
| Taxi Shirdi → Shani Shingnapur, return1 × ₹1,200 | ₹1,200 |
| Shared van to Shani Shingnapur, return2 × ₹90 | ₹180 |
| Meal at the temple solar-cooker kitchen2 × ₹10 | ₹20 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × ₹800 | ₹1,600 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | ₹1,150 |
| Trip total≈ ₹6,330 per person per day, bed included | ₹12,650≈ US$150 |
2026 estimate in rupees; travel to Shirdi excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Temple darshanQueue averages over an hour on weekdays, around two on weekends. | Free |
| Paid darshan or aarti bookingBook through the Sansthan trust. | ₹100–300 (≈ US$2–4) per person |
| Meal at the temple solar-cooker kitchen | ₹10 (≈ under US$1) |
| Vegetarian thali at a town restaurant | ₹150–350 (≈ US$2–4) |
| Saiteerth theme park entryOpen about 09:00–18:00.Open about 9:00 AM–6:00 PM. | ₹350 (≈ US$4) |
| Taxi Kopargaon → ShirdiShared van ₹20–30 per person. | ₹200–300 (≈ US$3–4) full fare |
| Taxi Manmad → ShirdiShared van ₹50–80 per person. | ₹600–800 (≈ US$7–10) full fare |
| Taxi Nashik → ShirdiMSRTC bus ₹90–100. | ₹800–1,000 (≈ US$10–12) full fare |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Pickpockets work the darshan queue and the crush around the samadhi; keep bags in front of you and split cash between pockets.
- Touts offer free help finding hotels or temple tours, then steer you into shops at inflated prices.
- Mobile phones and cameras are not allowed inside the temple premises; leave them at your hotel or use the cloakroom.
- Dust and heat are real in the dry months — carry water and a mask if you have allergies.
- Drink bottled or filtered water, not tap water.
Emergency numbers
- All services (police, fire, ambulance)
- 112
- Police
- 100
Pocket card
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Shirdiशिर्डी
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
कृपया मला या पत्त्यावर घेऊन जाTo this address, please
Emergency
- All services112
- Police100
Embassy
No embassies in Shirdi; most countries are represented in Mumbai or New Delhi. The US, UK, Canada and Australia all have missions in Mumbai (check addresses).
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Taxi Shirdi → Shani Shingnapur, return: about ₹1,200 (≈ US$14)
- Shared van Shirdi → Shani Shingnapur, return: about ₹80–100 (≈ US$1–2) per person
- Taxi Kopargaon → Shirdi: ₹200–300 (≈ US$3–4) full fare
- Taxi Manmad → Shirdi: ₹600–800 (≈ US$7–10) full fare
Say or show
- दर्शनाची रांग कुठे आहे? — Where is the darshan queue? (darshanachi rang kuthe aahe)
- किती पैसे? — How much is it? (kiti paise)
- धन्यवाद — Thank you (dhanyavaad)
- शाकाहारी जेवण द्या — Vegetarian food, please (shakahari jevan dya)
- कृपया मला या पत्त्यावर घेऊन जा — Please take me to this address (krupaya mala ya pattyavar gheun ja)
- नको, धन्यवाद — No, thank you (nako, dhanyavaad)
Temple entry is free; phones and cameras stay outside. Book trust accommodation and paid darshan ahead in festival season.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Shirdi. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Jan–Mar · avoid Apr–Jun (summer heat), Jul–Sep (monsoon); Sep–Nov is festival peak with the largest crowds · month by month →
- 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 5 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for SAG: last flight arrivals, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
- Walking clusters with rescue anchors: temple gate, Dwarakamayi and Chavadi, Pimplewadi Road hotels, the highway strip.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (temple, Dwarakamayi, Chavadi, Khandoba Raya temple, Saiteerth) and eat pages with last orders.
- Festival and hostile-arrival fixtures so gates A–D can go green.