Sep 10, 2007 02:16 PM
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I happen to visit Shirdi after some 6 years, last time I had gone was on 2001.
Must say I was shocked to see the improvements that has been made in and around the temple. Now you won'y find any beggars or any vendors close to the premises, although beware of some flower vendors who stand outside the premises and force you to take flowers saying they will give you VIP entry, get away from them, they are only fooling you. But one thing you will really enjoy is FREE from beggars, who used to be behind you tilll you reach the temple inside.
Now firstly I was surprised to see that the entrance itself started from the main road thus making it vendor FREE zone, the chappal stand also has become very safe, they give you this SACK. No mobiles alloved into the premises, so better keep your HI tech gadgets in your car or stand I the mobile LOCKER line.
The line management was also too good. There is an VIP entrance, you have to pay 100 rupees for direct entrance, but again it meets at one area. I would strongly suggest don't go in for the VIP, not because you will get direct entry but the general line itself has become too sofisticated, you have 2 buildings wherein they have provided adequate seating arrangements, offcource TV, there is clean and neat washrooms on every hall. The line starts from one building enters another building and from there on inside the temple. Good thing is that they send in phase by phase manner, by which the chaos is lessened....
I was lucky enough to see the aarti at 12 noon
There are some flaws which I thought would have been improved by the shirdi trust, while moving from one building to another there is a short passsage where people create a chaos, otherwise the whole temple premises is much clean than it used to be.. thankfully not much commercialization in and around the temple area. I did stand in the line for 1 hours but was understandable also being SATURDAY.
I had this drive from pune, and was very pleasant one. It took me 4 1/2 hours via pune - nasik road, routed via sangamner-loni-shirdi, there is also one more road - Pune- Ahmednagar road which is also good.
All in all enjoyable and refreshing weekend....
