Shani Shingnapur temple timings are 4:00 AM to 10:30 PM, with aartis at 4:30 AM, noon and sunset. Bring sealed, branded edible oil — loose oil is not accepted. Women have been welcome on the platform since 2016. Saturdays draw the most devotees, and Shani Amavasya on 10 October 2026 and 6 February 2027 the largest gatherings of all — for a quieter darshan, choose a weekday.
Timings and notices checked on the temple's official website on 15 Sep 2026.
What Are the Shani Shingnapur Temple Timings?
| What | When |
|---|---|
| Temple open | 4:00 AM – 10:30 PM, every day |
| 1st aarti | 4:30 AM |
| 2nd aarti | 12:00 noon |
| 3rd aarti | At sunset |
| Prasad counter | 10 AM – 3 PM and 6 PM – 9 PM |
You will see "open 24 hours" repeated across travel sites. The Shri Shaneshwar Devasthan's own website, shanidev.com, gives 4:00 AM to 10:30 PM — plan to that. The 4:30 AM aarti is the quietest time to be there; by mid-morning on a weekend the queue builds quickly.
The Oil Rule: Branded Edible Oil Only
The oil abhishek — offering oil over the swayambhu idol of Shani Dev — is the heart of a visit here. Since 1 March 2025, only packaged, branded edible oil is allowed: sealed, labelled as edible, with an ISI mark. The temple brought the rule in to protect the idol, after tests found that adulterated, non-edible oil sold loose outside was harming it.
Women's Entry onto the Platform
For centuries, tradition did not permit women on the chauthara, the raised open-air platform where the swayambhu idol of Shani Dev stands. That changed in April 2016. During a public interest case, the Bombay High Court made clear that no law allows a temple to keep women out where men are allowed in, pointing to the Maharashtra Hindu Place of Worship (Entry Authorisation) Act, 1956. Within days the temple opened the platform to men and women alike.
Rules on attire and on who may approach the idol itself have been revised more than once over the years. Follow what the temple staff tell you on the day — and dress conservatively to be safe.
What Has Changed Recently
| When | What changed | Why |
|---|---|---|
| April 2016 | Chauthara (platform) opened to women | Followed the Bombay High Court's position that women cannot be barred where men are allowed |
| 1 March 2025 | Only packaged, branded edible oil for abhishek | To protect the idol from adulterated loose oil |
| 22 September 2025 | Management placed under the state; district collector appointed administrator | Implementation of the Shree Shaneshwar Devasthan Trust Management Act, 2018 |
The most recent change is administrative. From 22 September 2025 the state government implemented the Shree Shaneshwar Devasthan Trust Management Act, 2018, and appointed the district collector of Ahilyanagar as the temple's administrator. For visitors, the practical upshot is that official notices come from the temple and district administration — not from apps or agents.
Puja Is Offered Only at the Temple
The temple is explicit about this on its website: it has not authorised any online worship-service app or website, and asks devotees to do puja and oil abhishek in person, on the temple premises. Darshan itself needs no pass. If someone offers to "book" your Shani Shingnapur puja online, it is not coming from the temple.
When to Go: Saturdays and Shani Amavasya
Saturday is Shani Dev's day, and the darshan queue is consistently longer than on weekdays. The largest gatherings of the year come on Shani Amavasya, when the new moon falls on a Saturday. In the coming months that happens on:
Saturday, 10 October 2026 and Saturday, 6 February 2027.
If your dates are flexible, a weekday morning is the easiest visit. For the full picture across Shirdi, Bhimashankar, Trimbakeshwar and the Ashtavinayak temples, see our temple crowd calendar for October 2026 to March 2027.
Getting There — and Pairing It with Shirdi
Shani Shingnapur sits in Nevasa taluka of Ahilyanagar (formerly Ahmednagar) district, a village famous for its tradition of houses without doors. From Pune it is about 160 km via Ahilyanagar — roughly 3.5 to 4 hours. Shirdi is 72–80 km away, about 1.5 to 2 hours, which is why most pilgrims do both in a day.
We suggest Shani Shingnapur first: the morning queue here is short, which leaves the whole middle of the day for Shirdi, where the queue is far less predictable. For the full hour-by-hour plan, see our Shirdi and Shani Shingnapur one-day trip guide, or compare the options in Pune to Shirdi by cab, train or bus.
Tolls, parking and charging are included. We are a cab service — oil, puja and offerings are yours to arrange.
Sources
- Shri Shaneshwar Devasthan, Shani Shingnapur (timings, aarti, online-app warning)
- Pune Pulse — branded edible oil only from 1 March
- India TV — Bombay HC paves way for women's entry (2016)
- Free Press Journal — state takes over the temple
- Prokerala — Shani Amavasya dates
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Shani Shingnapur temple timings?
The Shri Shaneshwar Devasthan's official website lists the temple as open from 4:00 AM to 10:30 PM, with three aartis daily — 4:30 AM, 12:00 noon and at sunset. Many websites say the temple is open 24 hours; the official site does not.
What kind of oil can I offer at Shani Shingnapur?
Since 1 March 2025 only packaged, branded edible oil — sealed, labelled as edible and carrying an ISI mark — is allowed for the oil abhishek. Loose oil sold in bottles or mugs by roadside vendors is not accepted, and temple staff check at the entrance.
Are women allowed on the Shani Shingnapur platform?
Yes. Until April 2016 tradition did not permit women on the chauthara, the raised platform where the swayambhu idol of Shani Dev stands. After the Bombay High Court made clear that the law does not allow a temple to bar women where men are permitted, the temple opened the platform to men and women alike in April 2016.
Who manages Shani Shingnapur temple now?
From 22 September 2025 the Maharashtra government brought the temple under the Shree Shaneshwar Devasthan Trust Management Act, 2018, with the district collector of Ahilyanagar appointed as administrator.
Can I book Shani Shingnapur puja or darshan online?
No. The Shri Shaneshwar Devasthan says it has not authorised any online worship-service app or website, and asks devotees to do puja and oil abhishek in person at the temple. Darshan does not need a pass.
When is Shani Shingnapur most crowded?
Every Saturday, and above all on Shani Amavasya — a new moon falling on a Saturday. The next two are Saturday 10 October 2026 and Saturday 6 February 2027.
How far is Shani Shingnapur from Pune and Shirdi?
About 160 km from Pune via Ahilyanagar (Ahmednagar), roughly 3.5 to 4 hours, and 72–80 km from Shirdi, about 1.5 to 2 hours. That is why the two are usually combined into one day.