Shirdi Travel Information
Who is not familiar with this renowned abode of Saibaba ? Devotees belonging to every faith throng here to pay their respects to his memory.
Thursday is the special day, and Ramnavmi, Guru Pournima and Dassera. Fairs are organised on a large scale. Besides the Saibaba shrine, there's the Dwarkamayi Mosque and Sakori Ashram.
Getting there :
By Air : Nearest airport is Aurangabad.
By Rail : Nearest railhead is Kopargaon, 15 kms. on the Manmad-Daund section of Central Railway.
By Road : Mumbai-Shirdi, 296 kms. (Mumbai-Nashik-Niphad-Yeola-Shirdi) Nashik-Shirdi 112 kms. Aurangabad-shirdi 126 kms. (Aurangabad-Vaijapur Yeola-Kopargaon-shirdi) Pune-Shirdi, 183 kms. (Pune-Kalamba-Sangmner-Talegaon-Shirdi)
State Transport buses ply regularly from Mumbai, Nashik, Ahmednagar, Aurangabad, Pune and Kopargaon. MTDC runs a bi-weekly round trip bus service to Shirdi from Mumabai.
Shivaji, and later the Peshwas, carried on their activities from Pune, so did Lokmanya Tilak! Today, a busy, bustling town, Pune has its own charm-the National Defence Academy, Shaniwar Wada, Bund Gardens, the Snake Park, the Raja Kelkar Museum and the Kasturba Gandhi Samadhi Mandir-(Agakhan Palace) contributing generously to this charm. The city celebrates the Ganesh Festival on a grand scale. 
This ancient port on the Saurashtra peninsula, on the Arabian Sea is mentioned in Skanda Purana as Sudamapuri and Ashmavati. It is the city of a mythological story about the great friendship between Lord Krishna and Sudama. Porbandar was the last capital of the Jethwa Rajputs, who ruled this area for about 1200 years- shifting capitals from Ghumli, Ranpur and Chhaya. 
At 1, 372 metres above sea level, Mahabaleshwar is one of the most spectacular and the largest of Maharashtra's hill-stations. Mahabaleshwar is Sanskrit for God of Great Power. The first Briton to set foot here was Sir Charles Malet in 1791. Under General Peter Lodwick and Sir John Malcolm, the Governor of Bombay, a sanatorium was built in 1828. Mahabaleshwar was then considered a British territory and was named 'Malcolm Peth' for some years. The bazaar is still named so. John Malcolm was completely taken in by the hill-station. 
Unlike Matheran, Mahabaleshwar has long motorable roads to its sights and points. And several taxis stand by to help you on your way. If you're in a more adventurous mood, you could even hire a pony for the birdle paths, instead of a vehicle. 
Mix religion with relaxation. For Ganapatipule offers itself as an ancient pilgrim centre bearing a Swayambhoo (a naturally formed idol) of Ganapati and Glittering white-sand beach. Flanked by stretches of scenery, Ganapatipule is the seaside resort of today especially for families. Some interesting day-trips are the Jaigad beach and the fort, the Velneshwar Beach, Temple and Pawas, where Swami Swarupanand's Ashram is located. 
The cave temples and monasteries at Eitora, excavated out of the vertical face of an escarpment, are 26 kms. north of Aurangabad. Extending in a linear arrangement, the 34 caves contain Buddhist Chaityas, or hails of worship, and Viharas. or monasteries, Hindu and Jain temples. Spanning a period of about 600 years between the 5th and 11th century AD. The earliest excavation here is of the Dhumar Lena (Cave 29). 
Cave 5 : Excavated at a higher level, this large cave consists of a spacious hall divided into three aisles. Porches in the middle of the side walls have small cells on either side Columns are decorated with medallions and other motifs surrounded by intricate foliage. Severai benches are carved out of the floor. The entrance to the central shrine 's carved with Bodhisattvas bedecked with intricate headgear and jewellery. In the shrine is a figure of the seated Buddha. 
Cave 11 (Do Tal) : A three-storeyed excavation aating back to the 8th century. Do Tal, or two storeys- was the name erroneously given to this cave when its ground floor was buried under deDris. The lowest level has two cells and a central sanctuary with figures of the Buddha in the leaching position Tne intermediate ievei consists of five excavations, the first being incomplete and the last being a cell with a rock-cut bed The remaining three have images of the Buddha extended by Bodhisattvas The uppermost level has a long columned hall with a shrine in the centre. On the rear wall are images of the goddess Durga and Lord Ganesha, indicating that this cave was later converted for worship by the Hindus. 
The sculptural scheme at Kailasa is elaborate. Guardians and river goddesses appear at the gateway of the complex, while Durga (right) and Ganesha (left) flank the interior passageway. The two staircases leading to the Mandapa of the main temple are carved with narrative friezes. These include episodes from the Hindu epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. The pannels which adorn the lower storey depict Shiva dancing with the skin of the elephant demon. The upper storey Mandapa walls show. the vulture, Jatayu. attacking Ravana (south), among others. In the subsidiary shrines are images of the goddesses Lakshmi and Durga among other deities. 
The fort wall surrounding the city is a poignant reminder of its ancient history. Though the splendour of the 16th and 17th centuries found its finest expressions in the royal monuments of Delhi and Agra, there is enough in Aurangabad to reward the curious visitor. 
The 30 caves of Ajanta, some unfinished, span a period of 800 years and contain numerous images of Buddha. The sculpture in cave 26 is elaborate and beautiful; highlights here are the panel of the temptation of Buddha and the Parinivrvana depicting the breaking of earthly ties and Buddha's passing into nirvana - a wonderful recumbent figure amid people in attitudes of mourning and sorrows. The arched chaitya window set into the elegantly simple façade of cave 9 (first century B.C.) is repeated in the elaborate frontage of cave 19 (fifth century), which has several figures of Buddha on the portico. This is a fully developed chaitya with a slender votive stupa enclosing a standing Buddha at the far end. Of particular note here is a sculpture of a seated Nagaraja with his consort and female attendant. Cave 16 is an elegant vihara with an inscription that mentions the king and his minister who built this cave. The shrine has a towering figure of Buddha preaching, flanked by attendants with fly whisks. Although tucked away deep withing the folds of the hills, the sancturies are illuminated by natural light for some part of the day. Using metal mirrors to reflect sunlight into the inner recesses, monks and artists painted the wonderful frescoes that glow on these walls. These were in a fairly good state when the caves were first discovered but have deteriorated over the years with dampness and exposure to ever increasing numbers of tourists every year. Still in caves 1, 2, 16 and 17 you can see some undamaged portions of frescoes that are vibrant and clear; the fading colours recall how beautiful these caves must have been in centuries gone by. Ajanta is a protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India and has been included in the World Heritage list of monuments. 
The flying apsara (cave 17, fifth century) in a fashionable embroidered turban tells you of the splendid jewellery worn by high born women; the pearl tassels of her necklace and turban swing delicately with her aerial movement. Row upon row of Buddha figures 'The thousand Buddhas', intrigue the observer in cave 2. Queen Maya's dream of the white elephant, interpreted by royal astrologers to mean the birth of an illustrious son, is a detailed panel in cave 2. Look for the dark princess and the lively panel of a dancing girl and musicians (cave 1). Eloquent and moving is the tall Buddha with a begging bowl asking alms from his wife and son in cave 19. 
The impressive double-storied Visvakarma (cave 10) has a trefoil window in the façade of the upper level, set off by beautifully grouped flying figures. This is both chaitya and vihara with a seated Buddha in the stupa. There are dwarfs dancing and playing musical instruments in bands of frieze above the pillars. Next to this is a three storied monastery (cave 11). Exquisitely carved bracket figures of river goddesses adorn the entrance to Ramesvara (cave 21) which has a low parapet wall with a long freize of elephants. 
About 107 kms. from the city of Aurangabad. the rock-cut caves of Ajanta nestie m a panoramic gorge, in the form of a gigantic horseshoe. Among the finest examples of some of the earliest Buddhist architecture, cave-paintings and sculptures, these caves comprise Chaitya Halts, or shrines, dedicated to Lord Buddha and Viharas, or monasteries, used by Buddhist monks for meditation and the study of Buddhist teachings. 
Ajanta has been designated as a World Heritage Site. to be preserved as an artistic legacy that will continue to suspire and enrich the lives of generations to come. 
Cave 2 : It is remarkable for the painted celling with large medallions, delicate bands of lotus flowers, scroll work and abstract geometric patterns. Episodes connected with the birth of the Buddha such as the dream of his mother Maya, its interpretation by the priests and the birth of Gautama occupy the left wall. Next to this is a representation of the Miracle of Shravasti when the Buddha manifested himself in a thousand forms. 
Cave 13 : It is a small monastery belonging to the earlier phase of excavation.The hall has seven narrow cells, each with two stone beds. One of the cells has a raised s.tone pillow in it.
Ahmedabad blends harmoniously an ancient heritage with a vibrant present. The city's prosperous and eventful past and present is embodied in its rich kaleidoscope of history, art and culture, rich architecture and imposing monuments. Tourists can visit Ahmedabad throughout the year.