About Ayodhya

Country: India | State: Uttar Pradesh

Ideal Trip Duration: 1-2 Days

Nearest City to Ayodhya: Lucknow (140 Kms)

Best Time to Visit Ayodhya: October to March

Peak Season: November to March

At a distance of 135 km from Gorakhpur, 140 km from Lucknow, 148 km from Raebareli, 168 km from Pragyaraj (Allahabad), 216 km from Varanasi, 224 km from Kanpur, 397 km from Patna, 470 km from Agra, and 670 km from Delhi, Ayodhya is a holy city situated on the banks of holy river Saryu in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is the administrative headquarters of Faizabad district and among the must-include places in Uttar Pradesh tour packages.

Ayodhya or Awadh is the birthplace of the Hindu deity, Lord Ram Shri Ram, the seventh avatar of Lord Vishnu. This holy city has been regarded as the first one of the seven most important pilgrimage sites for Hindus, and among the top places to visit near Lucknow. It is believed that a temple stood at the supposed birth spot of Rama, which was demolished by the orders of the Mughal emperor Babur and a mosque erected in its place. In 1992, the dispute over the spot led to the demolition of the mosque by Hindu mobs, who aimed to rebuild a grand temple of Rama at the site. In October 2019, a bench of five judges of the Supreme Court ordered the land to be handed over to a trust to build the Ram Temple. An alternate 5 acres of land was also given to the Sunni Waqf Board to build a mosque. The construction of the Ram Mandir commenced in 2020 and is the must-include in Ayodhya tour packages.

According to the ancient Hindu epics, Ayodhya was the capital of the legendary Ikshvaku kings of Kosala, including Rama. Scholars generally agree that Ayodhya is identical to the town of Saketa, where the religious leaders Gautama Buddha and Mahavira visited and lived in the city. The Jain texts also describe it as the birthplace of five Tirthankaras namely, Rishabhanatha, Ajitanatha, Abhinandananatha, Sumatinath, and Anantnath, and associate it with the legendary Bharata Chakravarti. Post the ancient Buddhist establishment in 600 BC, the present Ram Janmabhoomi was a Chinese Buddhist hometown with over 100 sacred sites in the 5th century. The Kanauj kingdom arose in Ayodhya, then called Oudh, during the 11th and 12th centuries CE. The region was later included in the Delhi sultanate, and in the 16th century, the Mughal Empire. The land was an active British colony from the 19th century to the mid 20th century.

Being closely tied with Hindu mythology, Ayodhya is regardes as one of the popular places of pilgrimage in India. In Ayodhya, one can experience spirituality and serenity amidst several religious sites that are like time capsules of the magnificent times of Lord Ram and the Ramayana. Ram Janam Bhoomi, Ram ki Paidi, Hanuman Garhi, Nageshwarnath Temple, Treta Ke Thakur, Mani Parbat, Dasrath Bhavan, Tulsi Smarak Bhawan, Jain Temple, Birla Temple, Gulab Bari, Moti Mahal, Kanak Bhawan, Guptar Ghat, and Bahu Begum ka Maqbara are some of the top Ayodhya places to visit.

About 151 km from Ayodhya, Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport, Lucknow is the nearest airport that has direct flights from all major cities in India such as Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Patna, Bangalore, Raipur, Patna, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Hyderabad & Pune. Ayodhya Junction Railway Station is connected by daily trains to the cities in Uttar Pradesh like Lucknow, Kanpur, Gorakhpur, Allahabad, Varanasi, and Delhi along with Bangalore, Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad, Bairelly, Jamshedpur, Chhapra, Farrukhabad, Chennai, Rameshwaram, Darbhanga, Ahmedabad, Muzaffarpur, Surat, Kolkata, Jammu Tawi, Kota, Patna, Bhopal, Dhanbad, Kota, Surat, Udaipur, and Jaipur. Ayodhya is well connected by bus from the neighboring cities in the state.

Although visited by pilgrims throughout the year, the holy city of Ayodhya attracts devotees from all over the world on 'Ram Navami', the day of the birth of Rama. Ram Navami is celebrated for 9 days with great pomp in the Hindu month of Chaitra, which falls between March and April. The festival is observed with poojas, fasting, and feasting on Ram Navami. Maha Shivratri, Diwali, & Shravan Jhula Fair are other popular Hindu religious festivals celebrated in Ayodhya.

The best time to visit Ayodhya is from October to March. Although it gets fairly cold during the winters, this is the best time when you can explore the holy city without getting tired. The summers are dry, sunny, and humid, so better to avoid traveling to Ayodhya around this time. Monsoons are moderate with a decent amount of rainfall.

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Other Info
Internet Availability: Average
STD Code: 05278
Languages Spoken: Hindi, Awadhi & English
Major Festivals: Ram Navami, Maha Shivaratri, Shravan Jhula Fair & Diwali
Notes/Tips:
None

How to Reach Ayodhya

By Air

Nearest Airport: Lucknow - Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport (151 Kms)

By Train

Nearest Train Station: Ayodhya Junction (0 Kms)

By Bus

Nearest Bus Station: Ayodhya Bus Station (6 Kms)

Top 10 Places to Visit in Ayodhya

Pilgrimage

#1 of 18 Places to Visit in Ayodhya

At a distance of 2 km from Ayodhya Junction, Ram Janmabhoomi or Ram Janam Bhoomi is a sacred place situated in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. It is one of the popular temples in Uttara Pradesh, and among the must-include places in Ayodhya tour packages.

Although Ayodhya is generally referred to as the birthplace of Shri Ram, there is actually a specific place in Ram Kot Ward of the city where Lord Rama was born. Ram Janam Bhoomi is believed to have been the exact birthplace of the Hindu deity, Lord Ram. This holy place has been regarded as the first one of the seven most important pilgrimage sites for Hindus in India, and among the must visit places in Ayodhya Darshan.

The Ram Janmabhoomi site is where the famous Babri Masjid once stood. It is believed that the Mughals demolished a Hindu shrine to build this mosque at the birthplace of Lord Ram. In .....

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Pilgrimage

#2 of 18 Places to Visit in Ayodhya

At a distance of 3 km from Ayodhya Junction, Ram ki Paidi is a series of ghats on the bank of River Saryu in the holy city of Ayodhya. It is one of the many ghats on the banks of the Sarayu River, and among the top places of sightseeing in Ayodhya.

Ram ki Paidi is actually a flight of steps on Nayaghat near the bank of the Saryu River where huge crowds of pilgrims and the devotees take a bath in the holy waters of the river. The original steps were washed away by the strong currents of the river. A new ghat with the steps was constructed by the joint effort of the then Chief Minister of UP, Shri Shripati Mishra, and his irrigation minister Shri Vir Bahadur Singh during the period 1984-1985.

The water for the ghat is lifted with motor pumps from the Saryu river. The maintenance of the ghats and the regular supply of water is managed by the Flood Works Division of the Irrigation Department. It .....

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Pilgrimage

#3 of 18 Places to Visit in Ayodhya

At a distance of 3 km from Ayodhya Junction, Nageshwarnath Temple is a Hindu temple situated at Ram ki Paidi in Ayodhya. It is one of the popular temples in Ayodhya, and among the must-include places in Ayodhya Darshan packages.

Located adjacent to the Theri Bazaar, Nageshwarnath Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva who is also known as Nageshwar Nath or Lord of Snakes. The sanctum sanctorum of the temple houses a beautiful Shiva lingam. The temple is believed to have been established by Kush, the younger son of Lord Rama. According to a legend, Kush lost his armlet while taking a bath in the Sarayu River. He tried to find it but did not succeed. It was finally retrieved by Naag-Kanya, who was a devotee of God Shiva. As a gesture of gratitude, Kush built Nageshwarnath Temple. It is believed that the temple survived in good shape until the reign of Chandragupta Vikramaditya even though the rest of the city was turned into ruins. It .....

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Heritage

#4 of 18 Places to Visit in Ayodhya

At a distance of 5 km from Ayodhya Junction, Gulab Bari is a mausoleum situated in the Vaidehi Nagar area of Faizabad. It is one of the heritage places in Uttar Pradesh, and among the top Ayodhya tourist places.

Gulab Bari, literally meaning 'Garden of Roses', is a lush green garden and is home to the magnificent tomb of Nawab Shuja-ud-Daula, the third Nawab of Awadh, who ruled between 1753 and 1775. The tomb was constructed by himself during his lifetime which is approached through an imposing gateway. Listed under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, Gulab Bari is currently preserved as a part of national heritage.

Built-in the Islamic style of architecture, the imposing tomb is one of the best-designed monuments in Uttar Pradesh. This mausoleum is surrounded by an enclosure wall, built of Lakhauri bricks lime .....

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Heritage

#5 of 18 Places to Visit in Ayodhya

At a distance of 8 km from Ayodhya Junction, Bahu Begum ka Maqbara is a mausoleum located on the Maqbara Road in Faizabad. It is one of the most popular heritage places in Uttar Pradesh, and among the best tourist places in Ayodhya.

Bahu Begum ka Maqbara is the tomb of Begum Unmatuzzohra Bano, the wife of Nawab Suja-ud-Daula. The mausoleum was commissioned by Nawab Suja-ud-Daula in the memory of his loving wife. It was built in 1816 at a whopping amount of three lakh rupees in an attempt to recreate the grandeur of the Taj Mahal. Hence it is popularly known as the 'Taj Mahal of the East'. It is the tallest monument in Faizabad and is best known for its magnificent architectural design.

A wonderful example of Awadhi architecture, the Bahu Begum ka Makbara has three domes, intricately designed interiors, and marvelously done walls and ceilings. The white marble retains its sheen and when seen .....

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Pilgrimage

#6 of 18 Places to Visit in Ayodhya

At a distance of 1.5 km from Ayodhya Junction, Hanuman Garhi is a 10th-century Hindu temple located in the Sai Nagar area of Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, India. It is one of the popular temple complexes of Hanuman in North India, and among the must-include places in Ayodhya Tour.

Situated in the center of the town, the Hanuman Garhi temple is dedicated to the Hindu God, Hanuman. It is one of the most important temples in Ayodhya as it is customary to visit Hanuman Garhi before visiting the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. It is believed that Lord Hanuman lived here in a cave and guarded the Janambhoomi or Ramkot. This temple is under the administration of Bairagi Akhara named Nirvani Ani Akhara.

Built by the Nawab of Awadh, this 10th-century temple is approachable by a flight of 76 steps. A massive structure in the shape of a four-sided fort with circular bastions at each corner, the main temple houses a 6-inch-tall idol of Hanuman. The .....

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Pilgrimage

#7 of 18 Places to Visit in Ayodhya

At a distance of 2 km from Ayodhya Junction, Kanak Bhawan is another Hindu temple located in the Tulsi Nagar area of Ayodhya. Situated to the northeast of Ram Janam Bhoomi or Ramkot, it is one of the popular temples to visit in Ayodhya as part of your Uttar Pradesh tour.

Kanak Bhawan temple is dedicated to Lord Ram and his divine consort Sita. It is believed that this building was gifted to Devi Sita by Kaikei immediately after her marriage to Lord Rama. This is the private palace of Devi Sita and Lord Rama. Vikramaditya got it renovated and was completely revamped and rebuilt by Vrish Bhanu Kunwari in 1891. This Bundela-styled temple is currently managed by the Sri Vrishbhan Dharma Setu Trust Private Limited.

This shrine is a marvelous example of Bundelkhand architecture style and is the most beautiful structure in Ayodhya. The temple's central hall boasts arched doorways on three sides and its sanctum sanctorum houses .....

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Pilgrimage | Backwaters

#8 of 18 Places to Visit in Ayodhya

At a distance of 10 km from Ayodhya Junction, Guptar Ghat is a holy ghat situated on the banks of River Saryu in Faizabad near Ayodhya. It is one of the popular religious places to visit in Ayodhya.

Guptar Ghat holds immense religious significance. According to legend, Guptar Ghat is believed to be the place where Lord Rama meditated and undertook the Jal Samadhi to leave the earth and go back to his original abode 'Vaikunta'. It is a popular belief among devotees that taking a dip in the Saryu river on this ghat will wash away their sins and relieve them from worldly worries. The ghat resounds with the chants of Lord Rama's name as devotees and priests sing hymns in his praises.

With a flight of steps leading to the holy river, this ghat was once the neighbor of the colonial Company Gardens, which is now known as the Gupta Ghat Van. Among the several temples situated here, the Sita- Ram temple, Chakrahari shrine, and the Narsingh temple are popular. Revamped in the 1800s .....

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Museum

#9 of 18 Places to Visit in Ayodhya

At a distance of 1 km from Ayodhya Junction, Tulsi Smarak Bhavan is a museum situated in Saheed Marg, Ayodhya. It is one of the popular Ayodhya sightseeing places.

Tulsi Smarak Bhawan was constructed in 1969 by the initiative of Shri Vishwanath Das ji, the then Governor of UP in memory of 16th-century poet-philosopher Goswami Tulsidas Ji. Goswami Tulsidas Ji is best remembered for authoring the Ramcharitmanas in the Awadhi language and is also believed to have composed Hanuman Chalisa. It is believed that Sant Tulsi Dass wrote his Ramcharitmanas at this place.

The Smarak has a research institute called Ayodhya Shodh Sansthan. It contains a big library which is of immense value to historians and scholars. The Smarak also houses Ram Katha Sanghrahalaya, a museum that was added in 1988. The museum aims to collect, conserve and display the antiquities associated with the saga of Shri Ram. The Bhawan also boasts of a cultural center for performing arts where Ramleela has been played .....

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Pilgrimage

#10 of 18 Places to Visit in Ayodhya

At a distance of 2 km from Ayodhya Junction, Dasrath Bhavan is a religious place situated in Ramkot Ayodhya. It is one of the popular places to visit as part of Ayodhya Packages.

Located in the heart of the city, Dashrath Bhavan is believed to have been constructed at the same place where the original palace of King Dashrath- the ruler of Ayodhya and father to Lord Sri Rama. Lord Ram along with his siblings spent their childhood and youth in this area. Popularly known as Bada Asthan or Badi Jagah, this pretty palace hosts a decorated and ornamented entrance with beautiful paintings.

The Bhavan houses a shrine with the idols of Shri Ram, Lakshman, and Sita. Within the palace, there are saffron-clad monks chanting mantras, singing, and dancing. Although the Bhavan appears much smaller than its original counterpart where King Dasrath might have lived, the Dashrath Bhavan is a definite magnet during festivities such as Ram Vivah, Karthik Mela, Diwali, Ram Navami, and Shravan Mela.

Timings: .....

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