Sai Baba renamed this old mosque Dwarkamai and used it as his primary residence and place of meditation for decades, maintaining a dhuni (sacred fire) whose ash, believed to have healing properties, is still distributed to visitors as udi. Dwarkamai sits at an elevation of 516 m and is typically explored in about 1 hour. The most favourable months to visit are November, December, January, and February, when conditions are best suited for sightseeing. Other notable highlights include the eternal dhuni flame still burning, sai Baba’s worn-out wooden plank seat, and the stone grindstone used for wheat. It falls within Shirdi, Ahmednagar district, and Maharashtra, India.
State: Maharashtra
Ideal Duration: 1 Hour
November, December, January, February
Devotees commonly offer flowers, coconuts, and incense, but the most special offering is udhi (sacred ash) which you can take back as a blessing. The dhuni, a continuously burning fire, is believed to have been lit by Sai Baba himself, and offering a small amount of coconut or camphor into it is considered highly auspicious. You can also light a lamp or pay for a small aarti (offering) at the designated counter, but avoid making any personal offerings directly into the fire without guidance.
Yes, Dwarkamai is easily accessible as it is located on the ground floor with no steep stairs, and the pathway is flat. The Shirdi Sai Baba Sansthan provides wheelchair assistance and priority darshan for senior citizens and differently-abled visitors at the main temple complex. You can request help from the volunteers or the information desk, and they will guide you through a separate, quicker queue.
The temple is busiest during Thursdays, weekends, and major festivals like Ramnavami and Guru Purnima, so expect long waits on those days. For a quieter experience, visit early morning around 5:00 AM to 7:00 AM or late evening after 8:00 PM, when the crowd thins out. Weekdays, especially Tuesday and Wednesday, are also less crowded than other days.
Dwarkamai is the humble mosque where Sai Baba lived for over 60 years, and it is considered the heart of Shirdi. It is here that he gave darshan, distributed udhi (sacred ash), and performed many miracles, making it a deeply spiritual spot. For devotees, visiting Dwarkamai is like stepping into the living presence of Sai Baba, as his original belongings and the eternal dhuni (sacred fire) are still preserved there.
There is no strict dress code, but modest, respectful clothing is recommended, covering shoulders and knees, as it is a place of worship. Inside the mosque, you must maintain silence, remove your footwear before entering, and avoid touching the sacred objects or the dhuni. Photography is generally not allowed inside the main sanctum, so it is best to keep your camera put away.