Shirdi Sai Baba Tour

The small village of Shirdi located in the Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra is an important pilgrimage site for the devotees of Shri Sathya Sai Baba.One of the great saints of the 20th century, devotees from all over the world flock to Shirdi to pay their respects to his memory. Considered as an incarnation of Lord Shiva, the saint is said to have devoted sixty years of his life to the upliftment of the poor and suffering. Sai Baba’s teachings transcended all religions and beliefs. He believed in God and asked people of all faiths, creed and caste to believe in the almighty. At Shridi, nearly very nook and corner of the village has some affiliation with the great saint and have become objects of veneration for the millions of devotees who journey to Shirdi every year from all over of the world.

The Sai Baba attained samadhi on Dassera day in 1918. Khandoba Mandir, the Samadhi of Shree Sai Baba,Dwarkamai mosque, Mhasoba temple all these places are within a periphery of 1km & can be covered on foot.

Day 01

Reach Mumbai. On arrival, you will be met by our representative & transferred to hotel. After a traditional welcome, check into the hotel. Overnight at hotel.

Day 02

Enjoy a full day sightseeing of the city of the dreams. Start your day from the Gateway of India -one of Mumbai's most famous monuments designed by George Wittett in the Indo-Saracenic style with Gujarati and Islamic elements; watch the devotees pay their respects at the Mahalaxmi temple, Sidhi Vinayak Temple , Jain temple and at the tomb of the Muslim saint Haji Ali; see the magic of Indian history and heritage explode at the Prince of Wales Museum; take a undersea walk at the Taraporewala Aquarium and see the magic of the marine life unfold before your eyes. Learn about the Zoroastrian burial rites at the Tower of Silence and see the Christians celebrate their faith at the innumerable churches and cathedrals across the city; important ones being Mount St Mary’s, Aloysius Church, Mahim Church and St Thomas’ Cathedral. Then visit the National Gallery of Modern Art and the Jahangir Art Gallery to see the works and exhibits of Indian masters and artists. And finally watch the sun go the horizon from one of Mumbai's most popular promenades -the Marine Drive and enjoy yourself in the carnival like atmosphere of the Juhu and Chowpatty Beaches before a deep slumber at your hotel.

Day 03: Mumbai/Aurangabad

In the morning, after breakfast we drive to Aurangabad. After checking in the hotel, we visit the Daulatabad Fort - an old Hindu Fort that later became the capital of the Delhi Sultanate and also of many successive dynasties in the Deccan. Important monuments within the fort include the Jami Masjid - now the Bharat Mata Mandir, the Chand Minar, Elephant Tank and Chini Mahal or Chinese Palace; the 18th century Ghrishneshwar Temple- made of spotted red sandstone, decorative friezes and sculpture depict a pantheon of Indian gods including Bhrama, Vishnu, Ganesh, the marriage of Shiva and Parvati, celestial beings, and even Maratha heroes. The temple is an important pilgrimage site for the savities as enshrines a jyotirlinga. We then go on to visit the tomb of Aurangzeb- the last great Mogul, in the village of Khuldabad. His simple tomb remains an eloquent testament to his staunch faith and Spartan lifestyle. As per his instructions, the tomb was built only with the few rupees he had earned by stitching cloth caps! On his tombstone is inscribed in elegant Persian calligraphy: "No marble sheets should shield me from the sky as I lie there one with the earth.” However the most noteworthy is the Bibi-Ka-Maqbara, built by Aurangzeb as a mausoleum to his wife Rabia-ud-Durrani. Similar in style to the Taj Mahal, it is also known as the "Mini Taj" and "The Taj of the Deccan”. Though not as opulent and majestic as the Taj, the Maqbara is nonetheless a living testimony of another king’s love for his wife. The Maqbara stands in the middle of a spacious and formally planned Mughal garden with axial ponds, fountains, water channels, broad pathways and pavilions.

Book This Tour

Day 04 - Ajanta Caves

In the morning we leave for an excursion to Ajanta caves. The Buddhist caves of Ajanta predating those of Ellora are a world heritage site.Dating from the 2nd and 1st centuries B.C, the paintings and sculptures of Ajanta considered masterpiece of Buddhist religious art, have had a considerable artistic influence. The themes are intensely religious in tone and centre round the Buddha, Bodhisattvas and incidents from the life of Buddha and the Jatakas. The paintings are executed on a ground of mud-plaster in the tempera technique. Return back to hotel for overnight stay.

Day 05 - Ellora

In the morning we leave for Ellora. Whereas Ajanta Caves are noted for their paintings, here it's the sculpture at Ellora that is remarkable. It's thought that the builders of Ajanta moved to here when they suddenly ceased construction at their earlier site. At Ellora, there are a total of 34 caves, of which 12 are Buddhist, 17 Hindu and 5 Jain. Dating from A.D. 600 to 1000, the Ellora representations as opposed to that of Ajanta, are more earthly, drawing their elements from the Vajrayana school of Buddhism. However, Ellora is more renowned for its exquisite architecture, especially the Kailasa Temple, which is a remarkable example of rock-cut temples in India on account of its striking proportion; elaborate workmanship architectural content and sculptural ornamentation. In the evening we leave for Shirdi (125 Kms/3 hrs).Overnight at Hotel.

Day 06: Shirdi

Early morning, we visit the Mahasamadhi temple of Sri Sai Baba. Built of white marble stones, the temple houses a life size statue of the Baba which was sculpted by the Late Balaji Vasant in 1954 out of Italian marble. The railings around it are full of ornamental decorations.The temple has an assembly hall for about 600 devotees. The assembly hall also houses a showcase having various items used by the sage. The first floor of the temple has the pictures depicting the life of the saint. Situated on the right side of the entrance of the Samadhi Mandir is the Dwarkamai Mosque, where the Baba meditated and stayed until the end of his life. Main attraction of the site is the oil paintings of the sage. Near the mosque, in a corridor is the dhuni or eternal flame that burns day and night. Other places of importance are the Gurusthan, the Chavadi,the Lendi Baug, the cottage of Abdul Baba, an ardent devotee of Shri Sai Baba, the Kandoba Temple, Shani Mandir, Narsimha Mandir, Changdev Maharaj Samadhi and the Sakori. Overnight Hotel.

Book This Tour

Day 07: Shirdi- Mumbai

After breakfast we drive back to Mumbai