Shirdi, Shani Shingnapur road trip- Christmas -2022 December 27, 2022

Total : ~600 KMs. Toll charges; Rs 300 (Private car). Can be covered comfortably in 2 days. Typically tourists add Trimbak Jyotirling (Nashik) as well.

Miya, Biwi, Bachi aur Gaadi started on 24th Dec-2022 Morning- 7:00 AM from Palava and reached back starting point on 25-Dec-2022, 4:00 PM. Trip meter reading: 608 KMs.

Night Stay in Saphero Resorts, Shirdi.

Roads Quality: 90% road was good in quality (mostly because of after Monsoon repair that takes place) and speed of 80 KMPH can be maintained in an empty road. I am sure the quality won’t be same by the time next Monsoon hit the area. Most of road in above map routing, is two lane highway, with exceptions of Igatpuri to Palava and part of Shirdi to Sinnar.

Enroute from Palava to Shani Shangnipur. Malshej Ghat, very scenic drive

Malshej Ghat

Shani Shingnapur temple

Shani Shingnapur (not Singapore) is a popular Hindu temple, dedicated to Lord Shani Bhagwaan. Construction activities are going on, around the temple & so some make over is expected in few months. Important points for tourists:

a) Limited options of stay. Typically, all cover with base at Shirdi.

b) Free Parking available near temple.

c) Mobile is allowed inside temple

d) Took 30 mins for darshan. On some auspicious days, it can goes to hrs.

e) Ladies are now allowed to give offerings in inner sanctum of the temple.

f) Standard eating options available near parking.

Innovative way to attract customers. Sugarcane juice vendors en-route Shani Singnapur to Shirdi. BTW what is Mama, Shivraj Singh Chauhan (CM of MP) doing in Maharastra.

Live Shirdi market

Shirdi has become a happening place with Quality restaurants & bars as well. Gives a feeling of “Rich people pilgrimage“.

En-route from Shirdi to Sinnar

Shirdi, supposedly 2nd Richest temple in India, after Tirupati temple. We had pre-booked Rs. 200 tickets online and took around 1.5 hrs for darshan. Crowd management is much better compared to other temple complexes of India.

All types of lodging/hotel options are available around the Shirdi temple.

Shirdi has it’s own railway station and airport. Station as of now, doesn’t have anything around it, including eating options.

Typically, tourists do Triambakeswar – Shirdi-Shani Singnapur in 2-3 days, with base in Shirdi/Nashik. If more days are there, Ajanta, Ellora, Aurangabad, Grishneswar can also be covered. For more, follow my earlier blog:

Maharastra religious Circle: 13th-14th April-2013

Wish you HAPPY, SAFE & Litter free trip.