The saint by the shore
The Sai Baba temple at Tithal stands close to the beach near Valsad — a popular and welcoming shrine dedicated to Shirdi Sai Baba, the saint revered across India for his message of faith and the unity of all religions.
Like its neighbour the Swaminarayan temple, it enjoys a striking seaside setting, drawing both pilgrims and visitors to the beach. Thursdays — Sai Baba’s special day — and festival days see the temple at its busiest, with aarti, bhajan and the distribution of prasad.
The combination of devotion and the open coast makes it a much-loved stop at Tithal. Faith beside the sea. It is a working temple, so wear modest dress and remove footwear before entering.
Shirdi devotion, beside the sea
Sai Baba shrine.
Sai Baba of Shirdi, who died in 1918, is venerated across India by Hindus and Muslims alike for a teaching built on faith, charity and the essential unity of religions.
Temples in his name spread far beyond Maharashtra through the twentieth century, and the shrine at Tithal placed one on the Valsad coast, a short walk from the beach.
Thursday is Sai Baba's day, and it is when the temple is fullest — extra aarti, continuous bhajan and long queues for darshan.
Outside those days the routine is steady and unhurried: four aartis, prasad distribution, and a constant flow of local families and passing visitors.
Reasons to make the time
Seaside shrine
The temple stands within a few minutes' walk of Tithal's black-sand beach, so the sound of the sea carries into the grounds.
Sai Baba
Sai Baba draws devotion across communities and across India, and the congregation here reflects that breadth.
Thursday aarti
Thursdays are the temple's principal day, with the fullest aarti and the largest gathering of the week.
Bhajan & prasad
Aarti, bhajan and the distribution of prasad run to a fixed daily rhythm that anyone is welcome to join.
Beach setting
The combination of a working shrine and an open coastline is unusual, and it is why people come here rather than to a temple inland.
Welcoming
It pairs naturally with the Swaminarayan temple and the beach itself, which is what makes Tithal a half-day rather than a stop.
What to look for inside
THE SHRINESai Baba
A seaside shrine, with the Arabian Sea a few minutes away and sea air through the grounds.
THE SETTINGTithal
Devotion and coastline together — the aarti at dusk with the sea behind it is the reason most people remember the place.
How to spend an hour or two
Seek darshan
Take darshan at the main shrine, where Sai Baba is enthroned in the familiar seated form.
Attend the aarti
Come for the morning or the evening aarti, the two points in the day when the temple is at its most alive.
Come on a Thursday
Visit on a Thursday if the crowds do not put you off — it is Sai Baba's day and the temple is at full strength.
Hear the bhajan
Sit through the bhajan. The singing is continuous around aarti time and visitors are welcome to join or simply listen.
Take prasad
Take the prasad, which is distributed freely to everyone who comes, as it is at every Sai Baba shrine.
Pair with the beach
Walk down to Tithal beach afterwards, and take in the Swaminarayan temple on the same stretch of coast.
A seaside Sai shrine
The Sai Baba temple at Tithal is a popular beachside shrine to Shirdi Sai Baba near Valsad — busiest on Thursdays for aarti, bhajan and prasad, enjoying a striking seaside setting beside the Swaminarayan temple. Faith beside the sea.
This is one of many places worth seeing here — the full guide to Valsad has the rest.
If this is what you travel for, browse temples across Gujarat.
A Sai Baba seaside shrine
Beside Tithal beach
Busiest on Thursdays
Aarti, bhajan & prasad
When to go
Cool and pleasant.
Green and atmospheric.
Hot; mango season.
⏰ Visit at aarti time in the cool season; pair the temples with Tithal beach and the hills.
Timings & entry
- Open at worship hours
- Morning & evening aarti
- Best in the cool season
- Pair with the coast
- Free entry
- Modest dress; remove footwear
- Respect worshippers
- Photography may vary
Getting there
By Air
Surat airport (~90 km).
By Rail
Valsad / Vapi Junction.
By Road
Valsad / Vapi.
At Sai Baba Temple
FAITH & SEA
A shrine by the shore
What to shoot
The shrine and its entrance arch, best in the softer light of early morning before the crowds build.
Setting
Tithal's black sand and the wide flat shoreline, a few minutes' walk away and unlike most Gujarat beaches.
Moment
Aarti, with lamps and movement — shoot from the back of the hall and be discreet about it.
Best light
Sunset over the Arabian Sea, which lines up with the evening aarti and is the best hour of the day here.
Know before you go
More to see close by
HILLSWilson Hills
Misty Ghat plateau above Dharampur
INDUSTRYVapi
A bustling industrial gateway town
SACREDUdvada Atash Behram
India’s oldest Zoroastrian holy fire
Coastal Creeks
Tidal creeks, mudflats and mangrove-fringed fishing hamlets along the Valsad coast, where the rivers off the…
TEMPLESwaminarayan Temple
A vivid seaside temple by the waves
MUSEUMLady Wilson Museum
Tribal art & relics in Dharampur
Where to eat near Sai Baba Temple
THALIGujarati Thali
South-Gujarat meals.
FARSANDhokla & farsan
Steamed snacks.
STREETCoastal snacks
By the beach.
Mango city
Famous Alphonso (Hafus) mango, chikoo & Parsi fare.
Sai Baba Temple FAQ
What is Sai Baba Temple?
The Sai Baba temple at Tithal stands close to the beach near Valsad — a popular and welcoming shrine dedicated to Shirdi Sai Baba, the saint revered across India for his message of faith and the unity of all religions. Like its neighbour the Swaminarayan temple, it enjoys a striking seaside setting, drawing both pilgrims and visitors to the beach.
Where is it?
Tithal, Valsad.
Is there an entry fee?
Free.
When should I visit?
October to March; at aarti time.
What's nearby?
Tithal, Udvada, Wilson Hills and Parnera.
How long does it take?
About 30 minutes.
Related places across Gujarat
COASTUbharat & Dandi
Quiet, palm-lined beaches on the Arabian Sea
DAMUkai Dam
A vast dam on the holy Tapi river
HILL FORTIdar Hill & Fort
A granite stronghold over the town
Damodar Kund
Vaishnav temple beside Damodar Kund
Trimandir Adalaj
A serene ‘three-in-one’ temple where Jain, Shaiva and Vaishnav deities share one sanctum — a modern…
SACREDNavsari Atash Behram
One of India’s holiest Parsi fires
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Published 24 June 2026 · Updated 24 August 2026