Kala Chana Chat – Dry Black Chickpeas Chaat – This photo was taken nearby Shri Saibaba Temple, Shirdi (Maharashtra).

And the cost of Kala Chana Chat (Dry Black Chickpeas Chaat) was Rs. 10/- only per plate.

Click to learn Chana Chaat (Dry Black Chickpeas Chaat) recipe in Hindi and the Ingredients/Method in English too.

As I told you earlier, I stayed at Hotel Shree Sai Keshav in Shirdi (Maharashtra) – recommended by Saumyaranjan Mishra the owner of INFOCREATIVES SERVICES PVT LTD.

Though there are so many hotels/restaurants in Shirdi but, to be honest whenever I travel, I always search for homemade food and Hotel Shree Sai Keshav serves almost like homemade fresh and hot vegetarian food prepared by Odisha chef.

All the staff of the hotel is from Odisha including the owner – Sanatan Bhaskar Gahan.

All you need is to inform the hotel staff in advance to prepare lunch/dinner. Breakfast is not prepared by them.

The cost of lunch or dinner thali is only Rs. 100 and the taste? – I wish I was a food writer to narrate. In-short – mouth-watering.

Look at the pictures below, you will have an idea – how good the meal was. Almost homemade.

Other than the hotel, I had Prasad at Shree Sai Prasadalay in Shirdi, Maharashtra – approx. 1 km from Shri Saibaba’s Samadhi Temple.

You have to hire sharing auto for Rs. 10 from Ahmednagar-Manmad highway (opp. temple) or you can walk also to reach.

Shree Sai Prasadalay Sale of Prasad Meals Coupon Time: 9:30 am till 9:30 pm and Prasad Meals Time: 10:00 am till 10:00 pm.

There are two Prasad Meal options available at Shree Sai Prasadalay. One is Free Prasad Meal and the other is a Special Seating Prasad Meal available on the first floor for Rs. 50 (for Adults) and Rs. 30 (Children below 10 years.)

I had Free Prasad Meal as well as Special Seating Prasad Meal but, to be honest – Free Prasad Meal was so delicious that I visited Shree Sai Prasadalay 3/4 times during my 4 days stay in Shirdi, Maharashtra.

Look at the picture below, you will have an idea – how good Prasad Meal was.

Click to know more about Shirdi’s Maha-Kitchen: Shree Sai Prasadalay.

And do not forget to visit Shivsrushti – Historical Weapon Exhibition situated on the first floor.

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.

Shree Bapusaheb Jog (Shree Sai Baba‘s First Poojari) Samadhi Mandir is in Sakori, Shirdi (Maharashtra).

Click to know more about – Shree Bapusaheb Jog.

Mhalsapati Cottage/Samadhi is situated in a narrow lane nearby Shri Tajudinbaba Devsthan in Shirdi (Maharashtra). Currently, Mhalsapati descendants – grandson lives there with family. Mhalsapati survived Saibaba by four years.

Opening/Closing Timings: 7:00 am till 9:00/10:00 pm

About: Mhalsapati – The Great Devotee of Saibaba

I stayed in Shirdi (Maharashtra) for four days. My morning starts with tea at Yewale Amruttulya – open from 5:30 am till 11 pm and then as there was no option of breakfast (though lunch/dinner was available) at the hotel, I walk a little bit via Kote Galli to reach Shri Mahalaxmi temple.

Nearby Shri Mahalaxmi temple, opposite Chaha House is Junaid’s tender coconut stall – for 5 years.

Junaid rides a Royal Enfield motorcycle and opens his tender coconut stall from 8 am till 9 pm daily.

The cost of tender coconut water is between Rs. 40 – Rs. 80.

I tried all. Rs. 80 tender coconut was too big in size but not that refreshing. Rs. 50 was the best.

In Mumbai, in the morning hours, I drink almost every day tender coconut water and the price is the same – Rs. 40 and Rs. 50.

Tender Coconut from Mysore is the best as per Mumbai tender coconut stall owners and also as per Junaid.

After having tender coconut water, I walk towards Mahalaxmi Tiffin Center i.e., next to Junaid tender coconut stall to have Dosa or Vada or Idli.

Mahalaxmi Tiffin Center opens from 6 am to 1 pm, run by family members for 12 years.

Lady prepares dosa and her husband – Vada. Two members of the family serve customers.

The cost of Dosa is – Rs. 30, Vada and Idli – Rs. 20.

Dosa was good but my personal favorite was Vada at Mahalaxmi Tiffin Center.

Other than tender coconut water, hot/cheap/crispy street food options especially in the early morning hours, if you like fruits, you can have Ber (Indian jujube) – Rs. 50/Kg and Peru (Guava/अमरुद) – 5/6 for Rs. 40/50/80 (you have to bargain) available nearby temple area.

Shirdi is famous for Ber (Indian jujube) and Peru i.e., Guava (अमरुद). During the village visit, I saw Guava farming in-around Shirdi.

I remember during a visit to Deeg (Bharatpur, Rajasthan), I purchased Ber for Rs. 20 per kg but that was in the year 2014. If I compare the size and color of the Ber in Deeg and in Shirdi – There is a big difference.

Shirdi’s Ber is bigger and green in color though Deeg Ber is yellow in color and smaller in size.

Tastewise which one is better – I can’t say. Yet to taste Shirdi’s Ber.

Shri Saibaba used to visit five houses in the village for Bhiksha (alms). Late Bayaji Appa Kote Patil house was the first one.

Wamandada Gondkar was one of his contemporary disciples who received the affection of Saibaba. Wamandada’s house was one of the five homes where Sai used to ask for Bhiksha (food) every day. Baba and Wamandada created ‘Lendibagh’ in the place of Muralidharrao Gondkar; for this, Wamandada would provide two clay pots to Baba every day. After watering the trees, Baba used to break both the clay pots.

श्री साईबाबा और वामनदादा गोंडकर