My following Apr 2018, blog/
write-up on the 03 point visit of Shirdi , Shani Signapur and Nasik may be of
great help to someone who want to plan on a tight budget.
1- Shirdi
1.1 Try make
this a first point of visit starting from Mumbai with approx 06 hrs journey by
road/ train. I travelled by Volvo AC Sleeper booking through RedBus Online
against many options / Travel Services throughout the day. Too many Hotels and
Trust's arranged budget stay arrangements are all nearby.
1.2 Various Puja
/ Aarti services are being conducted as listed
below
apart from full 24 hrs Darshan
/ visits except possibly from 1100 hrs to 0330 hrs. Other than Thursdays &
Fridays and during the festivities round the year , Darshans are easily
available within 01/02 hrs.
1.3 First
approach (all members compulsorily in queue with Mobiles and Shoes on) for the
free Ticket issue counter on the big ground 100 mts, adjacent to Main Mandir/
Gate No-01. Walk through the barricaded columns now till Gate No-1. Only here
remove your Shoes into a free counter and a separate Mobiles deposited counter,
with some I-Cards at Rs05 payment for each. In case you purchase Puja
materials, adjacent shops give you services for deposit of personal items.
1.4 Now with
bare foot wake 50 mts into adjacent lane to enter/ join the free Darshan queue.
1.5 During the
final approach for the Darshan the line splits into 02 columns a) Left side b)
Right side with each side again progressing in 02 columns passing though either
head side or leg side of the Samadhi along with the Baba’s life size standing
Idol visible from 03 mts in its glaring display.
1.6 As you file
past you are escorted out in a sprawling space where few places of interest are
worth noting a) Neem Tree where Babas guru used to be seated b) Museum with
some relics Baba used c) Mazar / Samadhi of some dear Companions d) Garden
Space leading out to Gate No 01 or 02 to collect you belongings. Exit through
Gate No-03 will lead you to Bazar side with a place called “Chawri” where Baba
used to sit with companions and Hanuman Mandir.
1.7 Just outside
the Main Gate-01/02 is the 02 Lane Main road giving auto services Walk
little up to get all types of Bus and personal cab services.
1.8 01 Km down
is the Trust Prasad-a-laya / Bhoj-na-laya giving free meal tickets from 0900
hrs till 2100 hrs with table seating arrangements .
Same food is served with small
token money charged at upstairs in a separated sitting.
1.9 We made
concessional stay in Army/ Fauj Sainik AramGarh located at the back
side of above Trust Prasad-a-laya / near Electricity Sub-Station. By Jul 2018 this place is expected to have total 25 rooms with 05 or more in them with AC Double beds. Contact at Nasik - 02423 - 257478 /77 and local JCO 8699395587
2- Shani Signapur :-
2.1 Cab services / Desire AC
costed me Rs1300/- both ways for approx 75Km one way distance, with Laxi Temple
visit on way too. For Rs 160 or less shared Jonga services are also available.
You can finish the total journey / visit in 04 hrs.
2.2 Do not purchase
anything or Puja items as nothing reaches up to the Shani Shila
point. Even the oil purchased is dumped well before. If if at all any of the
items needs to be purchased for personal satisfaction, do it just at the entry
point getting fair price, else you are fleeced.
2.3 No restriction on
Mobile and taking pictures exist here. For shoes , free kiosk services are
available. Avoid wearing socks as you have to pass through wet / ankle water
zone.
2.4 The Shani god is
actually a Black Stone placed on an elevated Platform / Dias and all pass
through its sides in the open sky. There is a covered Mandir bang opposite
where some deities are housed.
3-
Nasik / Trimbekeshwar Mandir :-
This visit must be accomplished in 02 parts
This visit must be accomplished in 02 parts
a) Outskirts of the city Mandirs and tourist points with
Car or bus services :-
·
Muktidham
temple in south near Rly Stn
·
The
Pandavleni caves
b) All nearby points commencing from the
Godavari Ghat in hired Auto Rickshaw with 02 options of Rs300/600 route visits :-
SwamiNarayan
Temple – All Kumbh Mela activities commence from here
Tapovan- Its a tri-point of tree withLaxman Temple as Seshnag , Opposite Confluence of Godavari rivulet where Surpanakha’s ( sister of Ravana), nose was cut and Kapileshwer Mandir.
Watch in a
nearby tree natural head formation of an Elephant.
Sita Mandir and Sita Gupha
SundarNarayan
temple
Kalaram Temple
at Panchvati, - built by Peshwa
Kapaleshwar Mahadev Temple- most striking aspect regarding this temple is there is no idol of Nandi in front of Lord Mahadeva
Ardh Shiv and Ardh Parvati
Kapaleshwar Mahadev Temple- most striking aspect regarding this temple is there is no idol of Nandi in front of Lord Mahadeva
Ardh Shiv and Ardh Parvati
Godavari Ghat and its Temple
We made again concessional stay in Army/ Fauj Sainik AramGarh located at the back side of Nasik Road Police Station / Bytco point/ Junction (recently shifted into this location). This place is mostly having Dormitory like beds with 10 rooms and only 01 AC Double Bedroom . Contact ZSWO office at 0253-2577255 and local JCO 0253-2453485 & 7558376335 .
