Shirdi to Singapore Flights

  About Shirdi

Shirdi is one of the famous holy cities in Maharashtra and the most-visited too. The pilgrimage site is known to be the abode to spiritual leader Sai Baba and is located in the Ahmednagar district of the state. The saint is revered and honoured tremendously by many of his devotees. The stories of miracles brought forth by Shirdi Sai Baba has brought about a legacy that many devotees believe in. The temple sees an abundance of devotees paying a visit to seek blessings all through the year. Due to the site's popularity, the town's heads constructed an airport to make flight connectivity to Shirdi from other cities in India.

Best time to visit Shirdi

Shirdi is snuggled up in a pleasant location in the Ahmednagar district, giving it a favourable climate. The best time for tourists to pay Shirdi a visit is during monsoon and winter. The months from June through February are practically perfect for visiting Baba and seeking his blessings. Monsoons bring about a certain charm to the wilderness that surrounds the city while winter only adds to pleasant temperatures. Summers in Shirdi is hot and humid, which could be unfavourable for many.

Places to visit in Shirdi

Shirdi Sai Baba Temple

Shirdi's fame comes from its guru Shirdi Sai Baba's temple. He is considered to be one of the greatest saints and has many devotees who believe in his powers. The temple sees a strong footfall with over 30000 devotees visiting to seek blessings of Baba. This number is not restricted to weekends but weekdays too. The temple is always crowded with devotees who worship the saint and believe in his miracles. It is also believed that the holy town of Shirdi is able to continue extensive development thanks to the money donated by devotees.

Sai Teerth Theme Park

Sai Teerth theme park is a spiritual theme park that the city has built to expand its tourist attractions further. It is commemorated as the first religious theme park to have been constructed in India. The park basically takes the devotees through a virtual tour of Sai Baba's life and times. There are 5D shows too that take place in the vicinity where his stories are projected. In fact, an artificial Dwarkamai has also been set up within the premise along with a train ride. It is a visual treat to the devotees and an entertaining, educational tour for the kids. The complex also has restaurants within the park premise.

Gurusthan

The Gurusthan holds a lot of spiritual significance for being the seat of the guru. The place found prominence as it is believed to be the seat where Sai Baba first made his appearance in the world. Baba sat under a neem tree which has now been converted into a shrine. The surrounding of the neem tree has been constructed with marble tiles, and an elevated structure has been created. It also has a small temple with Baba's photo on it.

Sai Heritage Village

With a view to celebrating the life of Shirdi Sai Baba, the city has constructed a heritage village which plays as a theme park for Baba's devotees. The heritage basically brings forth some of the tales of Shirdi Sai Baba with mannequins and sculptures. The place is a good tourist attraction not just for devotees but also for visitors who are not well-versed with the works of the spiritual leader.

Shani Shingnapur

Shani Shingnapur is another important temple to visit in Shirdi. Dedicated to Lord Shani, the temple is nothing like the traditional ones with walls and chambers within which the shrine is placed. In fact, the locals believe that Lord Shani resides in black stone and protects his devotees. An interesting titbit about Shani Shingnapur is how the villagers trust the lord's power so much that they don't have locks for doors at their houses.

Things to do in Shirdi

Wet N Joy Water Park

After all the pilgrimage, it would be quite nice to enjoy some time with family. And what better place than going to unwind at the Wet N Joy park? The water amusement park is one of the major tourist attractions in Shirdi as it caters to the families who don't just come for pilgrimage but also a mini vacation.

Jangli Maharaj Ashram

Aside from being an educational and residential school, the Jangli Maharaj Ashram also organises yoga and meditations. The institute is founded by guru Om Gurudev, a spiritual leader. Barely 7 km from the city centre, you can easily cover this area and return with a tranquil state of mind.

Food and restaurant

As a pilgrimage, Shirdi caters to the idea of selflessness and wholesomeness. This comes with the food that is prepared in the temple premise. After seeking blessings and visiting Baba's shrine, individuals have the option to dine at the temple premise in the Prasadalaya hall. The structure is acquired to accommodate devotees who would like to eat temple food. There is a line that needs to be maintained while the temple feeds all the devotees who have come to visit Baba. Much of the meals prepared in the temple are sourced from local harvesters and farmers. Not only does this help them eliminate the concerns of selling their crops but also gives the temple fresh stock. The meals are served free-of-cost and are abundantly flavourful. Since the food at the temple is exquisite, often people don't eat outside but, in the temple's, own eating space, Prasadalaya. The place is packed from morning to evening as the temple does witness a good footfall.

While a majority of crowd prefer food served in the temple as it is considered to be holy, there are diverse restaurants in the city that could be refreshing to your taste buds. The temple vicinity itself has several food joints and restaurants that you can explore. Places such as Sai Naivedyam, Blue Coriander restaurant, Mukta Food Court and Rajdhani restaurant are some of the places you can eat at, if not the temple. These places specialise in lip-smacking Maharashtrian, Gujarati, North Indian, Continental and Chinese cuisine. In fact, some of them also have a buffet setting exclusively for breakfast. In fact, you should also check out some of the street food that is available in the city. From street pizza to sandwiches, noodles and oodles of junk food would be a good way to unwind after a pilgrimage. For those who have never tried vada pavs or pav bhaji and chaat, this could be your opportunity. These street food options define Maharashtra in a way and should be tried out.

How to reach Shirdi (Transportation)

By Air

Shirdi airport recently started functioning and has already become the fourth busiest airports after Mumbai, Nagpur and Pune, in the state of Maharashtra. The flight connectivity from Shirdi to other big cities in India is remarkable. The airport connects Shirdi to cities such as Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi, Chennai, Indore and Hyderabad. Although the airport has only one runway, it seems to be managed really well with regular flights flying in and out of Shirdi. Alliance Air, SpiceJet and IndiGo operate from Shirdi and have regular flights to major cities from here. The closest international airport would be the Pune International Airport. However, with Mumbai's connectivity to international routes, the second option is favoured. Shirdi Airport is about 14 km away from the temple town's main city area. Due to excessive demands, the city's airport witnesses great footfall of passengers travelling from around the world. The holy city's airport has great transport in the city centre with taxi cabs available right outside the airport. You can easily book your hotels in Shirdi city as the accommodations are also decent.

By Rail

Sainagar Shirdi railway station is considered to be the best way to reach the holy city as the location is prime and perfect. It is only 3 km away from the Shirdi Temple, which makes travelling convenient for pilgrims. Several domestic routes to Shirdi via railways are available. Cities such as Mumbai, Nagpur, Hyderabad, Pune, Bangalore, Aurangabad, Chandigarh, etc. have regular trains connected with Shirdi. Over the years, the holy temple has seen tremendous development as it has even been revered as a smart city. From the station, there are multitudes of transport options to choose from to reach the temple.

By Road

The road connectivity of Shirdi with other cities is excellent. Various cities in Maharashtra such as Mumbai, Pune, Thane, Nashik, Nagpur, Aurangabad, etc., have bus services to Shirdi. In fact, the city also sees roadways connecting with Bangalore. However, the travel time would be tedious by road. If you plan to reach Shirdi, then you should pick either of the cities mentioned that have direct buses to the holy town. Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation services these buses. A four-lane state highway is also being constructed to enhance Shirdi's connectivity further. The highway would certainly make road trips to Shirdi less time-consuming via road. The buses have their last stops in the main city area, so reaching the hotel rooms you have booked in Shirdi wouldn't be cumbersome.

  About Singapore

One of the most expensive cities to go on a vacation, Singapore has a rich culture, amazing food and also a great place to go cruising. Not to mention, the marvellous architecture. The city is also known for hosting grand festivals and for its lavish nightlife. You can plan a trip with your family or with your friends. You can also plan a solo backpacking trip to Singapore. The city also has quite a few hostels for young travellers. One of the most popular highlights of the city is Universal Studios. Not only will you get to be a part of your favourite comic universes but you can also try all of the theme-based rides here. Singapore has quite a lot of amusement parks and places for you to explore your adventurous side. It is also the perfect place for you to flaunt your most stylish self or shop till you drop.

Best Time to Visit Singapore

Singapore is ideal for visiting any time of the year because of its climate. It is warm and tropical all year round, which is one of the reasons why the prices barely go down. December is one of the most happening months, and prices are skyrocketing this month, thanks to the lavish New Year's Eve parties. The expensive hotel prices, however, do not drop and only increase during Christmas and New Year's Eve. You might also want to steer clear of Chinese New Year to avoid the high prices of flight tickets to Singapore and accommodations. While the temperature ranges between 29 to 31 degree Celsius throughout the year, you might also experience mild showers every now and then. You can book a hotel in Singapore either closer to all the tourist attractions or go for a hostel, in case you are on a solo trip or with your friends.

November to June is when the city experiences winter, and there is also a boost in the number of tourists. This period also sees a lot of festivals being hosted in Singapore. November to January is when Singapore receives rainfall and witnesses the highest precipitation. You can be a part of the Chinese New Year celebrations in February or the Dragon Boat Festival in June and the Great Singapore Sale from June to August. The best part about planning your travel during these months is that you can get cheap flight tickets to Singapore from India.

A lesser popular time to visit is from July to October when the number of tourists is comparatively lesser. If you reach right before the Great Singapore Sale ends, you might even get your favourite designer items at a reasonable price. Though you might receive rainfall between June and September, it only affects the North-eastern part of Singapore more. If you are planning your vacation to Singapore in July and August, you can attend the Singapore Food Festival and the Hungry Ghost Festival. You can also catch the Grand Prix Singapore in September along with the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Places to Visit in Singapore

Singapore has a lot of tourist attractions that are perfect for every kind of vacation. The Underwater World is the best place to visit in Singapore with your family. Not only will you see over 2500 marine animals, but you can also dive with the sharks and swim with the dolphins. The Singapore Zoo houses a lot of zebras, mole rats, parakeets, white tigers, a komodo dragon and other creatures. You will have to pay a certain fee to enter, just like at the Underwater World. You can also head to the River Safari that is home to red pandas and 6000 other animals. The best part is that safari is river-themed. Singapore also has a lot of beaches like the Changi Beach, Tanjong Beach and Sentosa Island that you can visit. Universal Studios is one of the major attractions of Singapore. It is a theme park that has Transformers, Shrek, Madagascar-based rides and a lot of your other favourite characters, other than Harry Potter. You can go with your kids or friends.

The Smith Street Hawker Centre in Chinatown is where you go to try delicious Chinese, Malay and Indian street food. You will not even have to worry about hygiene. You can also go to Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum to be amazed at wax statues of celebrities like Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, Michael Jackson, Queen Elizabeth II, and others. Marina Bay Sands is one of the most popular and luxe hotels in Singapore. It also boasts of the world's biggest infinity pools and staying here even for a night will be the experience of a lifetime. You will definitely come across this when you are booking a hotel in Singapore online. The Coney Island is one of the most romantic places in Singapore and an ideal place to plan a date, too.

Things to do in Singapore

Singapore is one of those places where you can fulfil your lavish holiday dreams. You can party till wee hours and treat your hangover by just lying near the pool at your hotel to soak in the view. The city has a lot of places for you to go sightseeing or indulge in adventurous activities. Marina Bay district in Singapore has the best tourist attractions in the city. You can experience the nightlife here and visit some of the popular nightclubs. You can also book your accommodation at the Marina Bay Sands resort, and you won't even have to go anywhere. The complex has an amazing casino, a lot of nightclubs, shops, Sands SkyPark and performance halls. You can also head to Chinatown to enjoy a night out in the town. Try out the street food, go clubbing or shopping. You can go shopping at Pagoda Street, grab a bite at New Bridge Road or Smith Street and head over to Tanjong Pagar district to experience the nightlife. The Sentosa is an island resort that is basically for all age groups. You can go with your family, with your friends or on your solo trip, too. Little India is where you go to if you want to stray from the main city. It's 2 miles from Marina Bay.

Food and Restaurants in Singapore

Singapore is one tourist destination where you will find an eclectic blend of cuisines from all over the world. Be it continental, Chinese, Indian, Mexican, or Malay cuisine, and it's easy to find a restaurant that will satiate your hunger pangs and food cravings. Maxwell Food Centre is a popular place that has about 100 stalls of different kinds of food. It would be best if you also tried the fine dining scenes, the bars and lounges in the city. Le Noir Bar & Lounge in Marina Bay Sands is one of the best places to go to in the area. If you are craving European or French cuisine, you can head to Entre-Nous Creperie at Seah Street. Cure at Keong Saik Road is one of the best places to go to if you want to try some Irish or European food. You can also try Colony for some Singaporean food. Positano Risto is another fine restaurant that serves the best pizza and other Italian food. If you want to have Chinese food at a fancy restaurant instead of a local food joint, you can visit the Summer Pavilion at The Ritz-Carlton. Paulaner Brauhaus Singapore is popular for serving German food and drinks. It is also a Brew Pub that you can't miss. You can just chill with a couple of beers here. You will find a lot of good Indian restaurants in the Little India area in Singapore. If it is French, European or Caucasian food that you want to try, head over to Chef's Table by Chef Stephan Zoisl. You can also try the Japanese food at Akira Back.

How to reach Singapore (Transportation)

Singapore has its own airport called Changi Airport. The flight connectivity to Singapore from India is excellent. Not only do you get direct flights to Singapore from here, you even get connecting ones, depending on the availability. Indigo, Singapore Airlines, Srilankan Airlines, Spicejet run flights to Singapore quite frequently. You'll get cheap flight tickets to Singapore quite easily, but in any case, book your tickets in advance. If you take a direct flight to Singapore, it will take about 5 to 6 hours to land in the city. Getting a taxi from Changi Airport is also not very difficult since the city sees a lot of tourists throughout the year. Changi Airport has quite a lot of facilities like art activities for kids, baby care rooms, lounges, entertainment decks and rest areas that are free to use. In fact, you can also get a temporary local SIM card to use within the city at the airport itself. The airport also has movie theatres, in case you have to wait for a long time for your flight. You'll also find showers, spa facilities, prayer rooms, shopping areas and prayer rooms in the airport.

  About Singapore Airport

Singapore Changi Airport or popularly known as Changi Airport services the city of Singapore and is a major civilian airport. It is easily one of the largest hubs for transportation in Asia. It has been rated by Skytrax as the World's Best Airport eight consecutive times since 2013. It is the world's first airport to reach such a milestone and earn a record. In terms of international passenger traffic and cargo, the Singapore Changi Airport stands as one of the busiest in the world. The airport is located in Changi, which is on the eastern side of Singapore. It is about 20 km away from Singapore's Downtown Core.

Singapore Changi Airport is the home base for a plethora of airlines such as Singapore Airlines, Scoot, BOC Aviation, Singapore Airlines Cargo, Jetstar Asia Airways and Silkair. The airport is recognised for its passenger traffic and stands at the 18th position on a global scale as the busiest airport. Just in 2019, Singapore Changi Airport accommodated over 68.3 million passengers. The airport serves close to 100 airlines with flights flying to 380 cities around the world. It has been recorded that the airport witnesses close to 7,400 flights that depart and arrive at Singapore Changi Airport every week. Over the years, Singapore Changi Airport has taken home over 620 awards ever since it has opened for business. Not to mention how it received 28 awards in one year alone, being 2019.

About Airport Terminals

As Singapore Changi Airport hosts more than 100 airlines with connections to over 380 cities in 100 countries worldwide, it witnesses an abundance of air traffic. It is the seventh busiest airport in terms of international passenger traffic. The Singapore Changi Airport has five passenger terminals and has been designed to hold a capacity of about 85 million passengers. Terminal 1's operations kicked off in 1981 and are located on the northern side of the airport. The terminal underwent renovation and opened for public use in 2019. Terminal 2 is situated on the eastern side. However, the operations as on May 1, 2020, have been suspended for 18 months. Terminal 3's location is by the western end and officially opened for business in 2008.

Meanwhile, Terminal 4 is the most recent terminal that came into existence in 2017 and is at the southern side. Besides the four functioning terminals for domestic and international flights, the airport also caters to a private run terminal named JetQuay CIP Terminal. The terminal sees a resemblance to the First Class Terminal built by Lufthansa at the Frankfurt Airport in Germany. With an access fee, the terminal is open to all travellers who are travelling in varied classes. Plans to construct Terminal 5 are also in works. If it goes according to schedule, the terminal should be ready by 2030 with an expected capacity of 50 million passengers in a year.

About Airport Authority

Owned by the Government of Singapore, the airport is operated by a consortium of Changi Airport Group, Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore and Republic of Singapore Air Force. Changi Airports International (CAI) is the consultant and investor in the airport venture. CAI is also recognised to be a leading company in the global aviation market. Over the years, the consortium has enabled extensive airport infrastructural development. The airport is currently being managed by CAI, who have worked to bring about a strong economic gain out of the developed project. They have further brought forth integrated solutions to enhance the airport's quality and for it to achieve world-class stature in the aviation industry. The airport is also associated with the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore which is a statutory board that falls under the Ministry of Transport of the Government of Singapore. As part of the venture, the CAAS has enabled an air hub to help promote the safe practices and protocols for civilian air-service arrangements.

Top airlines flying from Singapore Changi Airport

Singapore Changi Airport serves as a home base for airlines such as Singapore Airlines, Silkair, BOC Aviation, Singapore Airlines Cargo, Scoot and Jetstar Asia Airways. The airport also witnesses some Indian airlines chartered for international travel. Air India, Air India Express, GoAir, IndiGo and Vistara are some of the Indian airlines that fly to Singapore Changi Airport. These flights have dedicated services to the airport and even have space for parking.

The airport caters extensively to international cities and is recognised as one of the best. The largest market for the Singapore Changi Airport is from cities such as Malaysia, India, Thailand, China, Tokyo, Sydney, Jakarta, Vietnam, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Ho Chi Minh City, Bangkok, Denpasar, to name a few. The airlines seen by the Singapore Changi Airport include Air France, Air China, Air Mauritius, Air New Zealand, AirAsia, All Nippon Airways, Asiana Airlines, Bangkok Airways, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, China Airlines, Druk Air, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad Airways, Fiji Airways, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Malindo Air, Saudia, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, Srilankan Airlines, Swiss, Turkish Airlines, Thai Airways, United Airlines and Vietnam Airlines, to name a few. There are also extensive cargo flights and airlines that fly from Singapore Changi Airport. Cargo airlines from Singapore Changi Airport include Air Hong Kong, Asiana Cargo, Cathay Pacific Cargo, China Airlines Cargo, Etihad Cargo, Emirates SkyCargo, Korean Air Cargo, SF Airlines, UPS Airlines and more.

Facilities at the Singapore Changi Airport

The airport serves a slew of facilities that would be ideal and essential for passengers.

Airport lounges- Singapore Changi Airport has a handful of airline lounges at all the terminals. You can find from first-class and business-class lounges to VIP rooms and hotels, Singapore Changi Airport offers many beautiful and snazzy lounges. Even the regular boarding lounge area near the departure zones are very exquisite.

Baby care rooms - There are dedicated baby care rooms at several intervals of the airport. The rooms are kept perfectly well and hygienic. They also have baby products such as diapers and powders.

Baggage storage - The baggage services include porter services where professionals escort the passengers and take care of their luggage. You can also get plastic wrapping done for your baggage.

ATMs and foreign exchange - There are ATM kiosks and foreign exchange counters and booths at all terminals. You can find them at the departures and arrivals segments of all terminals.

Medical services - Some many clinics and pharmacies are available at all the terminals in the airport. Medical assistance can also be availed if you check at the information desk.

Entertainment deck - Since there are many layovers of flights that do take place, the Singapore Changi Airport has installed entertainment decks to keep the passengers engaged. From watching TV to recreational activities, the airport has facilities for the same.

WiFi and internet - You can avail the airport's WiFi services on the phone. The airport also has dedicated internet cafes in several spots of the Singapore Changi Airport. You will have to pay a fee to get access to the internet cafe.

Prayer rooms - The airport has dedicated multi-faith rooms to allow passengers to engage in their religious prayers. The rooms can also be used for meditation purposes in case required.

Smoking zones - To keep the atmosphere of the airport clean and fresh, the Singapore Changi Airport has installed several smoking lounges. You can find packs of cigarettes at the airport premise as well.

Spas and shower services - There are booths for shower and spa services that can be availed at the airport's lounge.

How to reach Singapore Changi Airport

Mass Rapid Transit

Since the Singapore Changi Airport is massive with a slew of terminals sprawled across the expanse, the airport has provided a dedicated Mass Rapid Transit network which works as a perfect connection for Singapore Expo site as well as the Changi Airport. There are underground lines called the Changi Airport MRT station which links Terminal 2 and 3. A Downtown Line opened recently owing to the tremendous demand for the route connecting Pasir Ris and Tuas link. The dedicated shuttle service connects the Expo from Bukit Timah and Bukit Panjang to and from the city. The MRT is considered to be one of the most convenient ways to reach the Singapore Changi Airport. A plan to build Land Transport Masterplan is in the works that would be extended to Terminal 5 of Singapore Changi Airport. The plan is said to be concluded by 2040.

Bus

There are dedicated bus services to reach the Singapore Changi Airport. They are operated by SBS Transit, Go-Ahead Singapore and SMRT Buses. These buses have excellent stops which connect Terminal 3 to Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 as well. Another route that connects the first three terminals is from the basement busy bays. One of the best ways to reach Singapore Changi Airport also has coaches that traverse from Johor Bahru. They start coaches and stand at Terminals 1,2 and 3.

Taxi and rentals

Taxis and rentals are also available at the Singapore Changi Airport. You can find efficient taxis and rentals from the city centre to reach the Singapore Changi Airport. You can avail limousine services as well to reach the Singapore Changi Airport.