subject: How To Reach - Bangalore To Shirdi [print this page] Bangalore (Bengaluru), which is also known as the Silicon Valley of India, is the capital city of the South Indian state of Karnataka. Located on the Deccan Plateau, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and the hub of India's Information Technology industry. Bangalore, the Garden City of India, is well-connected to all parts of India by road, rail and air.
Shirdi, on the other hand, is a small town under the jurisdiction of municipal council popularly known as Shirdi Nagar located in Ahmednagar District in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Completely unknown till the 20th Century, Shirdi shot to fame as the home of the popular religious guru Shirdi Sai Baba. Popular as the Land of Sai, Shirdi attracts tourists from all over. Since it is the place where Sai Baba lived till he breathed his last in 1918, millions of devotees come to Shirdi from across the world to pay their respects. It is one of the sacred pilgrim spots of the country.
With a distance of about 1000 kilometers separating both places, reaching from Bangalore to Shirdi by road is a time consuming and tiring affair. Hence, the best option to travel from Bangalore to Shirdi is by train. There is only one direct train, Yeswantpur Shirdi Express (06539), connecting Bangalore to Shirdi. Ahmadabad Express (16502) and Karnataka Express (12627) connect Bangalore to Shirdi via Kopargaon. Shirdi is only 45 minutes from Kopargaon by train. This is not only economical but also time saving. Bus Service from Kopargaon to Shirdi costs Rs 15 per head. Alternatively, taxis can also be hired from Kopargaon to Shirdi. Alternatively, Karnataka Sampark Kranti Express (12629) can be boarded to travel from Bangalore to Shirdi via Manmad. Share taxis, buses and auto rickshaws are available from Manmad to Shirdi.
Another mode of travelling from Bangalore to Shirdi is by hiring a cab. It takes around 16 hours to travel from Bangalore to Shirdi by car. Cabs charge to the upwards of INR 18000/- for a round trip, depending upon the type of car hired. This can be tiring and not very economical too.
Air travel is also an option to travel from Bangalore to Shirdi. But there are no direct flights from Bangalore to Shirdi. Hence, by taking a direct flight from Bangalore to Aurangabad or Mumbai and then taking a bus or hiring a taxi, one can reach Shirdi. This will take close to 10 hours in all. It is not recommended as it is time consuming and expensive.
Another option to travel from Bangalore to Shirdi is to take a direct bus, which takes around 18 hours of travel time. Travelling by bus is economical, it is time-consuming.
