Shirdi is an important pilgrimage site associated with Sai Baba of Shirdi. He was an Indian spiritual leader considered by his devotees to be a manifestation of Sri Datt guru. He is also identified as a saint or a fakir.

Districts/Region

Shirdi, Ahmednagar District, Maharashtra, India.

History

History says that the land where the temple is built was constructed as a Wada (large private house). During the final years of baba's life on earth, Saibaba lived here. The land was originally a dumping ground made as a garden where he used to grow plants of Jasmine and marigold to supply to the nearby temples.
This temple was built by a millionaire devotee of Baba named Gopalrao Booty from Nagpur. He came into the Baba's contact just ten years before Baba's Mahasamadhi. Originally the Wada was constructed for a rest house and the temple of Muralidhar. Once when Booty was sleeping, he had a dream about Sai Baba telling him "Let there be a Wada with a temple so that I can satisfy the desires of all". Then both of them sketched a plan and got it approved by Sai Baba. While passing through the temple site, Sai Baba gave some suggestions. 
The construction of the temple started in 1915. Since the temple was constructed of stone, it was called Dagdi (stone) Wada. When the temple construction was going on, Baba's health was deteriorating. On Tuesday, 15 October 1918, the day of Mahasamadhi, his last words were, "I am not feeling well in the Masjid. Take me to the DagdiVada".Baba's celestial mortal body was buried 36 hours after his Mahasamadhi with some personal belongings. After the cap burial, a picture of Baba was placed on a throne at the tomb, which remained there until the current statue was installed in 1954.
The temple is looked after by the trust today, which is involved in numerous projects of Social welfare. The Temple premises and the village of Shirdi have numerous places associated with Sai Baba which are visited by the pilgrims with devotion.

Geography

Shirdi is in the Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra in western India. Shirdi is equally approachable from across the country through rail and air networks.

Weather/Climate

• The average annual temperature is 24.1 degrees Celsius.
  Winters are extreme in this region, and the temperature goes as low as 12 degrees Celsius. 
  The sun is very harsh during summers. It gets more rain during summer than winters. The temperature during summer goes above 30 degrees Celsius.
  The average annual rainfall is around 1134 mm. 

Things to do

Amruteshwar temple, Tiger Valley, KhandobaMandir, Abdul baba cottage, LaxmibaiShinde's residence, Wet n Joy water park, and many more can be found here.

Nearest tourist places

• Samadhi Mandir (0.65 KM)
• GurusthanShirdi (0.65 KM)
• LendiBaug (2 KM)
• Dixit wada museum. (0.65 KM)

Special food speciality and hotel

Maharashtrian food is widely served in restaurants. Being a tourist place, the restaurants serve a variety of cuisines.

Accommodation facilities nearby & Hotel/ Hospital/Post Office/Police station

Shirdi is well a developed tourist destination. It has many lodges and hotels. Also, hospitals and police stations are within proximity.

Visiting Rule and Time, Best month to visit

Weather-wise, the ideal time to visit Shirdi is during the winter (October to March), when it's cooler and pleasant. but the temple is open all year round so that one can make a trip to the city anytime. Trips should be planned to include a Thursday because it is considered as a holy day to visit the temple. The temple and city are crowded on festival days and other days of significance.

Language spoken in area 

English, Hindi, Marathi