Shirdi sits in the middle of a cluster of places that pilgrims and families combine with their darshan: Shani Shingnapur to the south-east, Nashik and Trimbakeshwar to the north-west and the Ellora Caves to the south. Each is a day trip from the town, and each starts more easily from a hotel next to the bus stand.
The distances below are by road from Hotel City Heart, read from Google Maps' recommended route. Our travel desk can arrange a car and driver for any of them.
Within a Kilometre of the Hotel
- Sai Baba Temple: 450 m, a six-minute walk.
- Shirdi Market: 700 m, ten minutes on foot, for prasad, flowers and souvenirs.
- Shirdi Govt. Bus Stand: 100 m, for state transport buses in every direction.
- Shirdi Water Park and Shirdi Theme Park: ~2 km, an easy half-day for children after the morning aarti.
Shani Shingnapur, ~72 km
The village of Shani Shingnapur is known for its open-air shrine to Shani Dev and for its houses, which traditionally have no doors. It is the most common day trip from Shirdi: leave after breakfast, spend the late morning at the shrine and return for the evening aarti. Allow a full morning and early afternoon for the round trip.
Nashik and Trimbakeshwar, ~85 km and ~122 km
Nashik Road railway station is ~85 km from the hotel, and the city is the base for two places worth the drive. Panchavati, on the banks of the Godavari, is tied to the Ramayana and is the centre of the Kumbh Mela held in Nashik. Trimbakeshwar, ~122 km from Shirdi, is one of the 12 Jyotirlinga temples and sits near the source of the Godavari. Combining both makes a long day; many guests stay a night in Shirdi before and after.
Ellora Caves, ~100 km
The Ellora Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are a group of rock-cut Buddhist, Hindu and Jain monuments, with the monolithic Kailasa temple among them. The drive from Shirdi takes a good part of the morning, so an early start after the Kakad aarti leaves the afternoon free for the caves themselves.
Planning the Trips around Your Darshan
A simple pattern works for most families: arrive on day one and attend the Dhoop aarti at sunset; take the Kakad aarti at 5:15 AM on day two and leave for Shani Shingnapur straight after breakfast; keep day three for Nashik, Trimbakeshwar or Ellora. Our restaurant, Suraj Kitchen, serves from 8 AM, so an early breakfast before the road is easy, and it stays open until 11 PM for a late return.
Hotel City Heart has 65 rooms in five categories, with a swimming pool, a kids' play area, indoor games and free parking for the car you take out each day. Book on this website for 20% off on direct bookings.