I stayed at Hotel Shree Sai Keshav, Palkhi Road, near Sai Nagari Bank in Shirdi (Maharashtra).

The hotel (15 AC / 3 Non-AC rooms) is run by Sanatan Bhaskar Gahan, who is from Bhadrak – an administrative district of Odisha state in eastern India but for the last 40 years, he is staying in Shirdi.

Earlier he was working at Sai Dham in Shirdi for 28 years and later started running a hotel for the past 9 years.

Sanatan was introduced by Saumyaranjan Mishra (also from Odisha) – the owner of INFOCREATIVES SERVICES PVT LTD.

Sanatan and Saumyaranjan – both are thorough gentlemen.

Upon request, Sanatan requested Subhash Rakshej – the owner of a petrol auto-rickshaw to show popular tourist places around Shirdi.

Subhash is driving an auto-rickshaw for the past 35 years and is having sound knowledge about Shirdi and tourist places nearby.

I question Subhash – How much does auto-rickshaw hiring charge?

Rs. 500 – he said.

Without any bargaining, I said – ok, and at 10:00 am we were on tour in-around Shirdi.

First, we went to Sakori which is approx. 5 km from Shri Saibaba’s Samadhi Temple, to visit Shri Upasani Kanya Kumari Sthan but it was closed for visitors due to the pandemic (COVID – 19). So, I walk towards Shree Bapusaheb Jog samadhi mandir and Shri Ekmukhi Datta Mandir which is nearby. Stayed there for half an hour and re-started the journey towards Rahata to visit Shree Saibaba devotee – Kushal Chand house. Stayed there for 15 minutes and then continue the journey towards A Wishing Tree not far from Rahata situated on the right side of the Ahmednagar-Manmad Highway.

After visiting A Wishing Tree, we re-started the journey towards Gram Devta – Virbhadra, which is a Swayambhu (self-manifested) idol situated at Beregaonban – a village situated a little away from Ahmednagar-Manmad Highway.

What I like the most was the route because I saw guava plantation, brick kiln, and village life though the interior-road condition was not that good.

Around 12 noon we crossed Lord Khandoba Temple situated on the Ahmednagar-Manmad highway.

Because I visited Lord Khandoba temple, 10 years back, I requested Subhash to continue driving and we reached Panchamukha Vishnu Ganapathi Dhyan Mandir, Kankuri Village. This time (visited 10 years back) I saw a few changes around the temple area.

There were 12 Ganpathi idols such as Bala Ganpathi, Taruna Ganpathi, Bhaktha Ganpathi, Siddhi Ganpathi, Lakshmi Ganpathi, and many more donated by devotees installed all around the temple area.

After visiting the temple, I had lemon juice for Rs. 15 per glass outside the temple area.

By 12:50 noon we reached Shirdi. Almost 3 hours journeys and I were happy. Subhash Rakshej – The knowledgeable man. Rs. 500 – paid.

I suggest, that if you the readers visiting Shirdi, you may hire Subhash’s auto-rickshaw to tour in-around Shirdi.