Shirdi is roughly 240 km from Navi Mumbai by road, which makes it possible as a long day trip and more comfortable as an overnight. This guide covers how to get there by road, train, bus and cab from your part of Navi Mumbai, what the same-day plan really allows, and the Shri Saibaba Sansthan’s published temple programme, queue hours and official booking sites. It uses the Sansthan’s own pages for temple information and treats third party sites as secondary.
Details read on 18 October 2026 from the Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust website and its FAQ, rail listings and road reports. Timings, trains and fees change, so confirm them on the official site and with the operator before you travel.
Options at a glance
| Option | From Navi Mumbai | Published time | Main thing to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Car | Depends on your starting node. Yatra lists about 240 km for Navi Mumbai to Shirdi | Roughly 4.5 to 5 hours without heavy traffic and stops, for a trip of about 240 km | Your own route, the expressway entry and the toll |
| Train | Board at Thane, Dadar or CSMT. The Vande Bharat timetable checked for this guide does not include Panvel | The CSMT to Sainagar Shirdi Vande Bharat is listed at about 5 hours 10 minutes | Running days and your boarding station, then the 4 km transfer from Sainagar |
| Bus | The Sansthan’s FAQ says Maharashtra State Transport buses run from Mumbai, and private AC buses also serve Shirdi | Check the scheduled arrival of the service you pick | Your exact boarding point and the Shirdi drop point |
| Cab | Pick-up from your address | Similar to the car time, plus any stops | What the quotation includes |
By road
Yatra lists the Navi Mumbai to Shirdi road distance at approximately 240 km. Your actual distance and driving time depend on your starting point, expressway access and destination in Shirdi, so recalculate from your own address on a live map. Treat 4.5 to 5 hours as a driving estimate that excludes stops, not as a door-to-door commitment.
The final 76 km Igatpuri to Amane stretch of the 701 km Mumbai to Nagpur Samruddhi Mahamarg was inaugurated on 5 June 2025, according to a wire report, which completed the corridor. A completed corridor does not by itself tell you the best way in from your node, so check the entry and exit on a live map before you go.
| Route detail | What to confirm for your trip |
|---|---|
| Starting point | Your exact Navi Mumbai node or landmark, such as Vashi, Kharghar or Panvel |
| Expressway entry | The interchange your map suggests and the approach road to it. Some guides describe Thane, Igatpuri and the Bharvir interchange, but older guides may not reflect the current options |
| Shirdi exit | The named exit and the onward road to your destination in Shirdi |
| Distance and time | The figures for that complete route, and whether the time includes stops |
| Toll | The toll for your vehicle class and your entry and exit pair, from the road authority’s rate card |
| Alternative | The older highway through Thane and Nashik may suit a different start or a day when the expressway is busy or closed |
- Leave early and avoid the Thane and Kalyan junctions at peak hours.
- Plan fuel, food and rest stops before you leave.
- Ask your driver or hotel where to park, and how far the walk to the temple is.
By train
Trains to Sainagar Shirdi start at CSMT and Dadar. The CSMT to Sainagar Shirdi Vande Bharat timetable checked for this guide does not include Panvel. Compare boarding at Thane, Dadar or CSMT, and check other services separately for your travel date. For reaching those stations, see our Mumbai local train guide, which explains the Trans-Harbour and Harbour lines.
| Train | Direction | Boarding or alighting station | Published time | Running days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22223 CSMT to Sainagar Shirdi Vande Bharat | Towards Shirdi | CSMT, with Dadar, Thane, Kalyan and Nashik Road listed as halts. Read the Thane time on IRCTC | Listed at 06:20 from CSMT and 11:30 at Sainagar Shirdi | Six days a week. Timetable sites list no Tuesday service. Confirm for your travel period |
| 22224 Sainagar Shirdi to CSMT Vande Bharat | Return | Sainagar Shirdi, then the halts back towards CSMT | Listed at 17:45 from Shirdi and 22:50 at CSMT | Same days. Confirm for your travel period |
The Vande Bharat timings are published timetable information, so check them for your date on IRCTC or the National Train Enquiry System before you book. The Dadar to Sainagar Shirdi services, including 11041 and 11042 and 12131 and 12132, run on different days and take longer. Check the direction, the days of running and the journey time for each before you choose.
Same day or overnight
The published Vande Bharat timings allow a same-day visit, subject to train availability and darshan arrangements. The gap between the 11:30 arrival and the 17:45 departure is 6 hours 15 minutes. That is station to station, not time in the temple. Deduct the transfer, since Sainagar station is about 4 km from Shirdi according to the Sansthan’s FAQ, along with queues, meals, luggage arrangements and a buffer before the return train. You also still need transport home from Thane or Mumbai at the end of the day.
- An 11:30 arrival does not guarantee that you reach the mid-day aarti at 12:00.
- A 17:45 return does not leave time for the sunset aarti.
- An overnight stay gives more flexibility for early programme and queue timings. A room booking does not by itself avoid temple queues.
- On a festival or weekend, expect larger crowds and book rooms and passes early.
By bus
The Sansthan’s FAQ says Maharashtra State Transport buses run to Shirdi from Mumbai and other cities, and that private air conditioned buses also serve Shirdi. It also lists a Reception Centre at the S.T. bus stand. Boarding points, scheduled arrival times and fares vary by service and date, so none are quoted here. For a bus you are considering, check:
- The travel date and the operator.
- The exact Navi Mumbai boarding point and the scheduled pickup time.
- The scheduled arrival, which can be longer than a car trip because of extra pickups and rest stops.
- The Shirdi drop point, and how far it is from the temple.
- Whether it is seater or sleeper, and AC or non-AC.
- The fare, the cancellation terms and the luggage rules.
By cab
Ask for a written quotation and confirm what it includes: tolls, parking, driver allowance, waiting time, night charges and the conditions for the return distance. Do not rely on a universal fare, since quotes depend on the date, the vehicle and the route.
Temple timings and what to book
The Sansthan’s website lists this daily programme. Treat it as the published schedule and check the site for changes on festival days.
| Time | Programme |
|---|---|
| 4:45 am | Temple opens |
| 5:00 am | Bhupali |
| 5:15 am | Kakad Aarti |
| 5:50 am | Mangal Snaan in the Samadhi Mandir |
| 6:20 am | Aarti, Shirdi Majhe Pandharpur |
| 6:25 am | Darshan begins in the Samadhi Mandir |
| 11:30 am | Dhuni Pooja with rice and ghee in Dwarkamai |
| 12:00 pm | Mid-day Aarti |
| 4:00 pm | Pothi in the Samadhi Mandir |
| At sunset | Dhoop Aarti |
| 8:30 to 10:00 pm | Devotional songs and cultural programmes |
| 10:00 pm | Shej Aarti |
The daily programme lists darshan beginning at 6:25 am, while the Sansthan’s FAQ gives general queue hours of 6:00 am to 9:30 pm. Confirm the applicable entry arrangements for your visit date, particularly during festivals.
Booking and official links
- Paid darshan pass availability for those who want a booked darshan slot.
- Aarti booking for the aartis that take bookings.
- Trust accommodation for rooms run by the Sansthan.
- The Sansthan’s FAQ says the official sites are sai.org.in and online.sai.org.in. The Sansthan warns that fake websites and duplicate map listings exist, so book its darshan, aarti and accommodation services only on those sites. This warning is about the Trust’s own services. Private hotels are booked directly with the hotel.
- Documents required depend on the booking you select, so read the booking page and carry the ID it asks for.
Practical information
| Item | What the Sansthan publishes |
|---|---|
| Prasadalaya | Open from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm, according to the FAQ |
| Luggage | Sansthan lockers are available at a nominal charge |
| Station and bus stand | Sainagar station is about 4 km away. A Reception Centre is available at the S.T. bus stand |
| Contact | Official: 02423-258500. Online services: 02423-258965 and 02423-258966. Grievances: 02423-259292 |
| Dress code and rules | The FAQ and daily programme pages do not state a dress code. Check the temple notices before you go |
| Current notices | The Sansthan’s home page, which carries dated notices |
Check before you go
- Read the Sansthan’s notices for the dates you plan to visit.
- Book darshan passes, aarti slots and Trust rooms only on the official sites.
- Confirm train numbers, running days and your boarding station.
- For road trips, check traffic and the toll for your vehicle.
- Keep ID and a printout or screenshot of any booking.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Shirdi from Navi Mumbai?
Yatra lists about 240 km by road. Your distance and driving time depend on your starting node, expressway access and destination in Shirdi, so check your own route on a live map.
Which train should I take from Navi Mumbai to Shirdi?
The CSMT to Sainagar Shirdi Vande Bharat, 22223 and 22224, is listed with halts at Dadar, Thane, Kalyan and Nashik Road. The timetable checked for this guide does not include Panvel, so compare boarding at Thane, Dadar or CSMT. Check the running days and times for your date on IRCTC.
What time does Shirdi temple open and when is darshan?
The Sansthan’s programme lists the temple opening at 4:45 am and darshan beginning at 6:25 am. Its FAQ gives general queue hours of 6:00 am to 9:30 pm. Confirm the arrangements for your date, especially during festivals.
Is there a dress code at Shirdi?
The Sansthan’s FAQ and daily programme pages do not state one. Check the temple notices before you go.
Which website should I use to book darshan, aarti or a Trust room?
Use sai.org.in and online.sai.org.in. The Sansthan warns that fake websites and duplicate map listings exist. This applies to the Trust’s own services, and private hotels are booked directly.
Is there a direct flight to Shirdi from Mumbai or Navi Mumbai?
A direct flight has not been verified for this guide. Check airline availability separately for Mumbai (BOM) or Navi Mumbai (NMI) to Shirdi (SAG) on your travel date, and compare the complete journey with road or rail.
Sources and method
The Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust website and its FAQ for the daily programme, queue hours, Prasadalaya hours, lockers, the station distance, the Reception Centre, online services and contact numbers. Yatra for the road distance, a wire report on the Samruddhi Mahamarg opening, and ixigo and Wikipedia for train details, which are third party listings. Train times, tolls and temple arrangements change, so confirm them with the operator. For another long trip from Navi Mumbai, see our Navi Mumbai to Goa guide.
Featured photo: the Samruddhi Mahamarg by Amitbalani, released under CC0 via Wikimedia Commons, cropped and resized. It shows the expressway and not a specific part of the Navi Mumbai to Shirdi route.
NaviMumbai.com is an independent information site and is not affiliated with the Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust, Indian Railways or any bus operator.
