Shirdi Online Booking — sai.org.in Portal Walkthrough
A plain-English, screen-by-screen guide to the official Shri Sai Baba Sansthan Trust portal — darshan, aarti, Bhakt Niwas, prasad and donation bookings without confusion.
The official shirdi online booking portal at sai.org.in is the single window through which the Shri Sai Baba Sansthan Trust manages every paid service for devotees — VIP darshan, aarti seats, Bhakt Niwas rooms, laddoo prasad, online donations and even live aarti streaming. For a first-time visitor the dashboard can feel intimidating, so this independent walkthrough explains exactly what each section does, what you need before you click anything, and how to avoid the small mistakes that cause refusal at the temple gate. We are not affiliated with the Trust — this is a fellow-pilgrim guide.
What You Can Book on sai.org.in
What the portal does not sell: train or flight tickets, taxi or auto fares, private hotel rooms, third-party tour packages. Anyone offering these as part of an “official Sai Baba package” is not the Trust — be cautious of look-alike websites that copy the sai.org.in design and ask for advance payment to UPI handles.
Before You Open the Portal — What to Keep Ready
Government photo ID for each devotee
Aadhaar, PAN, voter ID, driving licence or passport. The name on this ID is what you will enter exactly into the booking form. Foreign devotees need a passport with valid visa.
Active mobile number and email
The Trust portal sends OTP and confirmations to both. Use a number you can access on the day of travel — your check-in agent may request OTP verification.
Payment instrument
Have UPI, debit card, credit card or net banking ready. Refunds, if applicable, return to the same instrument. Avoid paying from another person’s account — name mismatches cause problems.
Decide darshan + aarti + stay before paying
It is much easier to book everything in one session than to come back later. Open the aarti schedule and decide which slot suits your arrival time first.
Use a desktop or stable Wi-Fi
The portal occasionally times out on flaky mobile networks during peak slot release. A laptop with stable internet during the booking window avoids losing carts mid-payment.
Account Creation and Login
The very first time you visit sai.org.in, click the Register or Sign Up button on the top right. Enter your mobile number, name, email and a password. The portal sends an OTP to your phone — type it in and your account is ready. For repeat trips, log in with the registered mobile and password or use the OTP-based login option.
A common mistake is creating multiple accounts for the same family. Stick to one account per family — the lead devotee — and add other family members as guests within each booking. This avoids ID-name mismatches at the gate and makes refunds easier when allowed.
Booking a VIP Darshan Pass
Three-minute darshan booking flow
- Log into sai.org.in
- Click Paid Darshan or VIP Darshan from the main menu
- Pick the date and time slot from the calendar
- Add devotee details — name and ID number per person
- Review the booking summary and confirm
- Pay Rs 200 per devotee via UPI / card / net banking
- Download the PDF e-pass and save a screenshot
For complete eligibility and what happens at the gate, see our dedicated VIP darshan pass guide. Senior citizens above 65, differently-abled devotees and pregnant women qualify for a separate free queue and do not need to buy this pass.
Booking an Aarti Pass
Aarti booking is one of the most popular features of the portal — and the slots that release earliest sell out fastest. The Trust opens a fixed quota of seated passes for each of the four daily aartis: Kakad Aarti (~4:30 AM), Madhyan Aarti (~12:00 PM), Dhoop Aarti (~sunset) and Shej Aarti (~10:30 PM). Prices currently range from roughly Rs 400 to Rs 600 depending on the specific aarti.
The flow is identical to darshan booking — log in, click Aarti, pick the aarti and date, enter devotee details, pay and download the pass. Read the full aarti booking walkthrough for queue timings, dress code and what to do if your aarti slot is sold out. Cross-check arrival timings with the complete aarti schedule for your travel month.
Booking Bhakt Niwas Accommodation
The accommodation section of sai.org.in lists all five major Bhakt Niwas complexes — Sai Ashram, Sai Prasad, Dwaravati, Saidham and New Bhakta Niwasthan — with current availability, room types and rates. Booking opens roughly 30 to 60 days ahead, and the most popular complexes fill within hours.
1. Pick date and duration
Choose check-in date and number of nights. The calendar will grey out fully booked days.
Read Guide2. Compare complexes
Each complex shows available room types — AC family, non-AC family, AC dorm bed, non-AC dorm bed — with rates per night.
Read Guide3. Add guest details
Lead guest name + ID exactly as on the document. Add accompanying guests with names and ages.
Read Guide4. Pay and save PDF
Pay online, download the booking PDF, save a screenshot. Carry ID + booking + Rs 200-500 cash for deposit.
Read GuideFor complete details on each complex, room layouts and a comparison with private hotels, read the dedicated Bhakt Niwas accommodation guide.
Donations and Laddoo Prasad
The Donation section lets you contribute to specific Trust funds — annadan (community kitchen), Sai Baba Hospital, education trust, cattle care, building fund or the general fund. You enter the amount, choose the fund, complete payment and receive an 80G-eligible receipt by email. For pilgrims who like to combine darshan with a charitable contribution, this is the cleanest way to do so.
The Laddoo Prasad section sells the famous Shirdi laddoo prasad packets in small, medium and large sizes. You book online and collect from the designated counter on your visit day. This is especially useful during festivals when the laddoo counter physical queue stretches across the courtyard.
Give before you take. Help before you ask.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Refunds, Reschedules and Support
Refund and cancellation rules are set by the Trust and tend to be strict for darshan and aarti passes — typically non-refundable once issued. Accommodation cancellations may carry a percentage charge depending on how far in advance you cancel. Always read the booking terms shown on the payment page before clicking Confirm.
If something does go wrong — payment debited but no confirmation, double charge, missing PDF — use the official Trust helpline at +91 2423 258500. The same helpline number is listed on the sai.org.in contact page. Avoid third-party “customer care” numbers that appear in search results, as these are frequently scam helplines.
Live Aarti Streaming and the Sai App
For devotees who cannot travel, the Trust streams all four daily aartis live and free of cost on its website and YouTube channel. The live aarti is broadcast in real time from the Samadhi Mandir and is a beautiful way to participate from home. No booking, no login required — just open the live page at the aarti time.
The Trust also operates an official Sai Baba app on the Play Store and App Store with darshan booking, accommodation booking, donations and live aarti built in. The app is convenient on the move but for longer family bookings the desktop portal is still easier to use.
Plan Your Trip End-to-End
Reach Shirdi
Train, flight, bus and road options from every major city, plus last-mile transfers.
Read GuideVIP pass details
Full breakdown of the Rs 200 priority queue ticket and what it includes.
Read GuideWhere to stay
All five Bhakt Niwas complexes and the best private hotels near the temple.
Read Guide
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the official Shirdi online booking website?
The official online booking portal of the Shri Sai Baba Sansthan Trust is sai.org.in. It is the only authentic website for VIP darshan, aarti, Bhakt Niwas accommodation, laddoo prasad and donations. Many look-alike sites exist — always type sai.org.in directly into your browser.
Can I book darshan, aarti and accommodation in one session?
Yes, once logged into sai.org.in you can add a VIP darshan pass, an aarti pass and a Bhakt Niwas room to separate carts within the same session. Complete each booking individually as the portal handles each service through its own confirmation flow.
How early do Bhakt Niwas rooms get sold out?
Bhakt Niwas booking typically opens 30 to 60 days in advance. Rooms for Thursdays, full-moon days, weekends and festival weeks like Guru Purnima or Vijayadashami Punyatithi often sell out within hours of release, so be ready on the portal at slot release time.
Is there a customer care number for Shirdi online booking issues?
The Shri Sai Baba Sansthan Trust helpline is +91 2423 258500, listed on the official sai.org.in contact page. Avoid third-party “Sai Baba customer care” numbers that appear in search results, as many are scam helplines unrelated to the Trust.
Can foreign devotees book through sai.org.in?
Yes, foreign devotees can register on sai.org.in using an international mobile number and email, and pay via international credit card. Carry your passport with valid visa as the photo ID for darshan, aarti and Bhakt Niwas check-in.
What if my payment is debited but the booking is not confirmed?
If your bank account is debited but you don’t get a booking confirmation, do not retry the payment immediately. Wait 30 minutes, then check the My Bookings section on sai.org.in. If the booking is still missing after a few hours, contact the helpline +91 2423 258500 with the transaction reference.
Are refunds allowed for cancelled bookings?
Refund rules are set by the Trust. VIP darshan and aarti passes are typically non-refundable once issued. Bhakt Niwas cancellations may carry a percentage charge depending on how far in advance you cancel. Always read the booking terms shown on the payment page before confirming.
Can I share my booking PDF with family members?
Yes, you can share the booking PDF with everyone listed on the booking, but each named devotee must carry their own matching photo ID at the gate. Unlisted family members cannot enter on someone else’s pass even within the same booking.