Shirdi, also known as Sainagar, is a city in the Maharashtra state of India. It’s situated in the Rahata taluka of Ahmednagar District and can be reached via the Ahmednagar–Malegaon State Highway No.10. The city is about 83 km (52 miles) from Ahmednagar and 15 km (9.3 miles) from Kopargaon. It’s positioned 185 km (115 miles) east of the Western Seashore line, which is a busy route known as the Ahmednagar–Manmad road.

Shirdi is famous as the home of a saint named Shri Sai Baba who lived in the late 19th century. The Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust in Shirdi is one of the wealthiest temple organizations. Shirdi is a well-known pilgrimage center where Sai Baba, a saint with extraordinary powers, lived and taught for more than fifty years. The Samadhi Temple, where he resided, contains items and belongings used by Sai Baba during his life. This temple is very important for his followers who continue to respect and follow his teachings. Sai Baba’s mortal remains are also kept in this temple.

Every day, more than 60,000 tourists and devotees from different faiths visit the temple. During festive seasons, this number increases even more. The temple opens at 4:45 am, and people need to wait in line to see the idol and pay their respects. Other places in Shirdi related to Sai Baba’s life include Dwarkamayi Masjid, Chavadi, and Gurusthan.

Dwarkamayi Masjid is a unique place because it’s a mosque with a temple inside. It might be the only one of its kind in India. The special thing about this mosque is that the holy fire called dhuni, which Sai Baba lit, has been kept burning continuously. The ash from the dhuni, known as Udi, is believed to have healing powers.