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I started to shirdi on Friday 11th dec-2009 from chennai.I've booked the 1042-Mumbai express which starts at 11.45am from chennai central. My plan was to get down at Daund Jn. and catch bus to Shirdi from there on. It costed me 380 + 100(tatkal) = Rs. 500/-(approx.) to reach daund jn. The train dropped me in daund jn. at 7:45am on saturday. There is a govt. bus to shirdi which starts at 8:40am from the daund station,the bus was waiting just outside the station. I saw some private vehicles(qualis,sumo) too going to shirdi,I think they charge around Rs.200 to 300/-. The bus ticket price to shirdi was Rs.113/- and it took around 4 and half hours to reach shirdi. I reached at around 1:45pm and as usual there will be guys coming to you to help in getting the accomodation, but since I was alone I preferred a room for 30mins just for a bath. The guy took me to a decent room which charged Rs. 20/- for taking bath. After having bath, the guy took me to his shop where I was allowed to keep my luggage,chappals and cell phone,and obviously I had to buy all the pooja items from his shop for which he charged twice the cost :) It costed around Rs.60/- . Cell phones are not allowed inside the temple, we can deposit the mobiles with temple authorities too. It took around 2hrs for SAI BABA darshan. By the time I came outside the temple it was around 4:30pm. We can find many Andhra restaurants surrounding the temple. I had lunch in one of the Andhra mess and started for Shanishwar temple. There will be many private cabs going to shanishwar temple, they charge Rs. 80/- for up and down journey. I started at 5pm and reached there by 6:30pm. The cab driver will point us to a shop to buy all the pooja items, they provide the lungi and we need to take bath. Then taking the pooja items(includes coconut,1/2ltr oil,leaves,black cloth,flowers) I proceeded towards the temple. At the entrance of the temple we need to offer leaves(garland like),coconut and black cloth,then proceed towards the GOD with the oil and flowers. We need to give HIM a oil bath and offer the flowers. Then having darshan(around 7:15pm) I returned to the cab for a return journey to shirdi. Now the actual thing happened, the shop owner asked me Rs.550/- for pooja items. I was in a bit of shock hearing this, then after a series of arguements I had to settle for Rs.350/- :( . Lessons learnt: Never go to a shop pointed by the cab driver, go by your own and buy the pooja items. Also make sure of the price of the pooja items before buying. They usually charge twice the cost, bargain a lot. I reached shirdi at 9:30pm. My return journey plan was again from daund jn which is not feasible, I had to catch the train by 5:00am sunday from daund jn. but the transport to daund jn. was not available from shirdi. I had to go to Ahmednagar and from there to daund jn. I would prefer others to have a different return journey plan but since I was alone "SAB CHALTA HAI" :) I was back to chennai on Monday morning at 5:30am.
Hope this helps to the people who plan to travel to shirdi from chennai.
