The Shirdi Sai Baba temple in Maharashtra is one of India’s most visited shrines, drawing lakhs of devotees every week. Whether it is your first visit or a return pilgrimage, this guide covers the darshan timings, aarti schedule, online booking, how to reach Shirdi and the best time to go — so your darshan is smooth and peaceful.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Temple open (approx.) | ~4:00 AM to ~11:00 PM daily |
| Busiest day | Thursday (Sai Baba’s day) & festivals |
| Free darshan | Yes, with registration |
| Online booking | online.sai.org.in (official Sansthan) |
| Nearest airport | Shirdi Airport (SAG) |
Timings and fees can change on festivals and special days. Always confirm the latest darshan and aarti schedule on the official Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust website (sai.org.in) before you travel.
The Samadhi Mandir generally opens around 4:00–5:00 AM after the Kakad (morning) Aarti and remains open for darshan through the day until the Shej (night) Aarti around 10:30 PM, closing by about 11:00 PM. On Thursdays, weekends and festivals the queues are much longer, so plan extra time. For a calm darshan, reach the temple early morning (by 5–6 AM).
Four main aartis are performed at the Samadhi Mandir each day:
Aarti participation passes are limited and in high demand — book them in advance online. The exact times shift slightly with the season (sunset) and on festival days.
The official Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust offers online booking on online.sai.org.in:
Beware of unofficial websites — book only through the official Sansthan site or an authorised tour operator.
Shirdi can be visited year-round; July to March has pleasant weather, and weekdays (except Thursday) have shorter queues. Shirdi pairs beautifully with nearby shrines — Shani Shingnapur (~35 km) and the Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga near Nashik. Our Nashik, Trimbakeshwar & Shani Shingnapur Yatra and Maharashtra pilgrimage tour cover these together.
The temple is generally open from around 4:00–5:00 AM to about 11:00 PM daily, with four aartis (Kakad ~5 AM, Madhyan 12 PM, Dhoop ~6:30 PM, Shej 10:30 PM). Confirm current timings on the official Sansthan site.
Shirdi mandir subah lagbhag 4–5 baje khulta hai aur raat ~11 baje tak darshan hote hain. Char aarti hoti hain — Kakad (~5 AM), Madhyan (12 PM), Dhoop (~6:30 PM), Shej (10:30 PM). Thursday aur festivals par bheed zyada hoti hai.
Book free registration or paid darshan/aarti passes on the official portal online.sai.org.in. Advance booking is recommended on Thursdays, weekends and festivals.
Thursday is considered Sai Baba’s day and is the busiest, along with weekends and festivals like Ram Navami, Guru Purnima and Vijayadashami. Visit on a weekday morning for shorter queues.
Shani Shingnapur is about 35 km from Shirdi (roughly an hour by road) and is commonly combined with a Shirdi visit, often along with Trimbakeshwar near Nashik.
Planning a Shirdi and Maharashtra pilgrimage? Contact The Temple Tours for darshan assistance, hotels and a complete guided package.