Visit the Triac of Shirdi-Shani Signapur and Nasik

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

Bookings can be made for service/ retired and Defense Civilians contacting above  and note nearby places approachable.

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

a)     Outskirts of the city Mandirs and tourist points with Car or bus services :-

· Trimbakeshwar temple where the river Godavari originates. This temple is one of the 12 Jyotirlings in India 3 Km away.  
 ·         The Coin Museum

·         Someshwar temple in north

·         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

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 .