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Ahmednagar district, Maharashtra

Shirdi Sai Baba Temple: the samadhi where a wandering fakir became a nation's saint

The Samadhi Mandir at Shirdi holds the tomb of Sai Baba, the enigmatic saint who died here in 1918 preaching Sabka Malik Ek (one God governs all). A marble statue rises directly above his buried remains, and a river of pilgrims files past it from before dawn until nearly midnight. This is a working, crowd-heavy shrine run by the Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust, not a museum, so plan for queues and plan for the aartis.

The Sai Baba Samadhi Mandir at Shirdi, the temple enshrining the tomb of Sai BabaPhoto: Wikimedia Commons contributor (see file page)
Darshan timings
Approx 4:00 AM to 11:15 PM daily
Entry
Free general darshan; paid aarti passes and VIP darshan available
Nearest station
Sainagar Shirdi, approx 3 km
Signature
Marble statue above Sai Baba's samadhi, enshrined 1954
TimingsHow to reachAartiDress & rulesBest timeNearbyWhere to stayFAQ

Darshan timings at Shirdi Sai Baba

Darshan timings by season
SeasonOpensDarshanClosesStatus
All year (general darshan)4:00 AMKakad aarti approx 4:30 AM, general darshan from approx 5:40 AM11:15 PMOpen
Festival days (Ram Navami, Guru Purnima, Vijayadashami)Open through the nightContinuous darshan, Samadhi Mandir stays open overnightNo overnight closureOpen
Verify before you travel. Timings are approximate and set by the Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust; the mandir does not take a long midday closure but the queue slows sharply during the four aartis when the sanctum is reserved for aarti passholders. Verify same-day timings on the official portal online.sai.org.in before travelling.

Read the full Timings & Darshan Hours →

How to reach Shirdi Sai Baba Temple (Samadhi Mandir)

Shirdi is a purpose-built pilgrim town in Ahmednagar district, extremely well connected because it exists largely to receive Sai devotees. You can reach it by its own airport, its own railhead, or by a dense grid of state and private buses from across Maharashtra.

Reaching by rail, road and air
ModePointDistanceNotes
AirShirdi International Airport (SAG), KakadiApprox 13 to 14 kmDirect flights from several metros; prepaid taxis and Sansthan buses run to the mandir. Aurangabad airport (approx 140 km) is the larger fallback.
TrainSainagar Shirdi (SNSI)Approx 3 kmDedicated terminus with Sansthan shuttle buses to the mandir. Kopargaon (approx 15 km) and Nashik Road (approx 90 km) are alternate railheads with more services.
RoadNashik (nearest big city)Approx 90 km by roadRoughly 2 to 2.5 hours by car or bus. MSRTC and private operators run frequent buses from Nashik, Aurangabad, Pune and Mumbai.

Read the full How to Reach →

Puja & aarti schedule

  • Kakad (morning) aarti, followed by Mangal Snaan of the samadhiApprox 4:30 AM
  • General darshan begins in the Samadhi MandirApprox 5:40 AM
  • Dhuni pooja with ghee performed in DwarkamaiApprox 11:30 AM
  • Madhyan (afternoon) aartiApprox 12:00 noon
  • Dhoop aartiSunset
  • Shej (night) aarti, the last ritual before the mandir winds downApprox 10:30 PM
Four main aartis punctuate the day: Kakad, Madhyan, Dhoop and Shej. Attending inside the sanctum during an aarti needs a paid aarti pass (approximately Rs 600 for Kakad and Rs 400 each for the others), bookable in advance on online.sai.org.in. Free darshan continues in the queue outside aarti-pass slots. Times shift slightly with sunset, so treat them as approximate.

Read the full Aarti & Puja Schedule →

Dress code & temple rules

Dress modestly and traditionally; shoulders and knees covered. Avoid shorts, sleeveless tops and revealing clothing.

Footwear must be left at the free cloakrooms or shoe stands before entering the mandir complex.

Phones, cameras and photography are not permitted inside the Samadhi Mandir sanctum; deposit electronics and valuables at the locker facilities.

Maintain queue discipline and silence near the samadhi; the crowd control staff move devotees along quickly past the murti.

Prohibited items (large bags, food, tobacco) are screened at security; carry as little as possible to speed entry.

Read the full Dress Code & Temple Rules →

Best time to visit & festivals

The cool, dry months of November to February are the most comfortable for the long outdoor queues. The three great festivals draw enormous, moving crowds and are spiritually charged but physically demanding, so choose your window by what you want: a calm darshan or the full festive tide.

Major festivals
FestivalWhenSignificance
Ram NavamiMarch or April (Chaitra)One of Shirdi's three principal festivals, marked by processions, palanquin (palkhi) and rath, and continuous overnight darshan. Peak
Guru PurnimaJuly (Ashadha)Devotees honour Sai Baba as guru with parayana, bhajan and qawali; among the most heavily attended days of the year. Peak
Vijayadashami / PunyatithiSeptember or October (Ashwin, Dussehra)Marks the day Sai Baba attained samadhi in 1918; the most sacred date at Shirdi with all-night worship. Peak

Read the full Best Time to Visit & Festivals →

Nearby temples & tirths

Shani Shingnapur

Shani Shingnapur

The doorless village of Lord Shani, where homes are said to need no locks

Approx 70 km from Shirdi Sai Baba →
Trimbakeshwar (Nashik)

Trimbakeshwar (Nashik)

Jyotirlinga at the source of the Godavari, a classic add-on from Shirdi

Approx 110 km from Shirdi Sai Baba →
Grishneshwar (Ellora)

Grishneshwar (Ellora)

The twelfth Jyotirlinga beside the Ellora caves

Approx 110 km from Shirdi Sai Baba →

Read the full Nearby Temples & Tirths →

Where to stay

Shirdi is built for pilgrims, so lodging spans every budget. The Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust runs large, inexpensive devotee accommodation blocks (Bhaktaniwas, Sai Ashram and dharmshalas) close to the mandir, bookable through the official portal online.sai.org.in, and these fill fast on festival days. Around them sits a dense ring of private hotels and lodges within walking distance of the temple, plus mid-range and premium hotels a little further out. Book well ahead for Ram Navami, Guru Purnima and Vijayadashami; on ordinary weekdays rooms are easy to find on arrival.

Read the full Where to Stay →

Frequently asked questions

Shirdi Sai Baba temple timings today
General darshan runs roughly 4:00 AM to 11:15 PM every day, starting with Kakad aarti around 4:30 AM. There is no long midday break, but the queue slows during the four aartis. Confirm same-day timings on online.sai.org.in.
Nearest railway station to Shirdi Sai Baba temple
Sainagar Shirdi (SNSI) is the closest railhead, about 3 km away, with Sansthan shuttle buses to the mandir. Kopargaon (approx 15 km) and Nashik Road (approx 90 km) are busier alternate stations.
Is Shirdi Sai Baba temple open during festivals
Yes, and it stays open through the night on the three main festivals, Ram Navami, Guru Purnima and Vijayadashami, with continuous darshan and heavy crowds.
How to book aarti pass for Shirdi Sai Baba temple
Aarti passes and darshan are booked on the official portal online.sai.org.in, up to about 60 days in advance with a limit of four people per booking. Kakad aarti is around Rs 600 and the other aartis around Rs 400.
Distance from Shirdi airport to Sai Baba temple
Shirdi International Airport (SAG) is about 13 to 14 km from the Samadhi Mandir, roughly 25 to 30 minutes by taxi or Sansthan bus.

Compiled from public sources including Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust, Shirdi (official) - FAQ · Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust - Festivals · Holidify - Shirdi Sai Baba Darshan timings and booking · Wikipedia - Shirdi (pageimage source). Timings and seasonal closures change; confirm with the temple trust before travelling.