Tourist Places To Visit in Shirdi
In all their glory, the great pilgrimage centers of India never fail to leave us amazed. When it comes to paying a visit to sacred places, the list is only complete with the mention of Shirdi, a well-renowned town in Maharashtra in Western India. It is also known as the Land of Sai. The famous shrine of Shirdi Sai Baba is unequivocally the major attraction of this city. Besides the shrine, there are yet multitudinous places in Shirdi that attract millions of tourists worldwide.
Top 5 Tourist Places in Shirdi
Some well–renowned tourist places in Shirdi are listed below:-
#1 Shirdi Sai Baba Temple
- Shirdi Sai Baba Temple is one of Shirdi’s most popular and prestigious places.
- Many people of different religions from different parts of the country and beyond visit this temple.
- The temple has a spectacular Samadhi of Sai Baba, deeply revered by the masses.
- The temple was founded in 1922 and is widely recognized for promoting communal harmony principles and disseminating Sai Baba’s teachings.
- Some famous festivals, such as Ram Navami, Guru Purnima, and Vijayadashami, are celebrated with full zeal and zest in the temple.
- It is said to be managed by the Shri Sai Baba Sansthan.
- The crowds of devotees can get to be a part of the Arati ritual that happens at-least five times every day.
- Inside the temple’s premises, one can find a museum containing all the things Sai Baba used.
#2 Khandoba Temple, Shirdi
- Khandoba Temple in Shirdi is worth visiting in Shirdi and is considered one of the best places to explore divinity.
- The temple has a location 600 meters from the Shirdi Sai Baba Temple.
- It is devoted to the veneration of Khandoba, the manifestation of Lord Shiva.
- This temple also has an association with Sai Baba. He was so fascinated by the temple’s serenity and calmness that it made him stay there for quite some time.
- The prominent priest of Khandoba Temple, Mhalsapati, initially welcomed Sai Baba to the temple.
- It is also known for celebrating the Champa Shashti Festival, held in December for six days.
- At this festival, the people show their devotion by walking on hot coals and singing sacred religious songs.
#3 Dwarkamai
- Dwarkamai Mosque is said to be the heart and soul of Shirdi and is no less than a treasure for the millions of devotees who visit it from different parts of the world.
- Sai baba had spent a significant part of his life there, including his last moments.
- Initially a ruined mosque, Sai Baba transformed it into Dwarkamai.
- It is the sole mosque with a temple on its premises, affirming strongly the message that God is one.
- Visiting this auspicious place, one’s fears, obscurity, and gloom all get banished and leave behind a surreal feeling of positivity and calmness, which is never yet experienced.
- It also has an oil painting of Sai Baba sitting in a carved wooden shrine, which is the temple’s main attraction.
#4 Gurusthan
- Gurusthan is one of the holiest places, where Sai Baba spent most of his time when he first came to Shirdi.
- This sacred place has a location under the Neem tree.
- The most mesmerizing and incredible thing about Gurusthan is that the leaves of the holy Neem tree are not bitter but sweet.
- The crowds of devotees who visit this place believe that the lighting of incense sticks at this place will cure them of all their diseases.
#5 Sai Heritage Village
- Recently opened in the year 2014 in July, Sai Heritage Village serves as a picnic spot as well as a religious and one of the holy places which are visited by people worldwide.
- The place guides its visitors on the various incidents and stories from the life of Sai Baba.
- Paying a visit to this place, the belief systems of all the ideals upheld by Sai Baba get all the more inculcated in the people’s lives.
Conclusion
Shirdi, also known for its religious importance, has its own charm that uniquely gives an ethereal sense of purity and sacredness. The purpose of fulfilling one’s experiences by visiting this place is phenomenal.
