Shirdi Sai Baba Samadhi Mandir

The Shirdi Sai Baba Samadhi Mandir is built around the tomb of Shri Sai Baba (d. 15 October 1918), a 19th-century saint revered by both Hindus and Muslims who lived in this small Maharashtrian village from around 1858 until his death. The complex includes the original Dwarkamai mosque (where Sai Baba lived) and the Chavadi (where his palki procession passed every alternate night). The samadhi mandir over his tomb was built in 1916, and the marble idol was added in 1954. The Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust manages the temple and is one of the wealthiest religious trusts in India. Daily darshan crowds average 25,000; Thursday and Sunday queues regularly cross 50,000; festival days (Sai's Mahasamadhi anniversary on Vijayadashami, Ram Navami, Guru Purnima) push 100,000+. The temple offers free meals (prasadam) and very modest pilgrim lodging via the Trust. Online VIP darshan booking via sai.org.in is the standard route for short queues.