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Ayodhya
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
city · India

Ayodhya

Recommended stay: 1 day
Getting around: Ayodhya is a compact pilgrim town where most temples and ghats are within walking or cycle-rickshaw distance of each other along the Sarayu river. Autos and e-rickshaws cover the rest cheaply. It has its own airport and a major railway station now, both built up considerably alongside the Ram Mandir, so it's reachable directly rather than only via Lucknow or Faizabad as before.
Hours: The Ram Mandir has specific darshan hours, typically early morning to around noon and again in the afternoon to evening with a midday closure for rituals; timings can shift around festivals so check ahead, and expect long queues, especially on weekends. Hanuman Garhi and other temples generally follow similar split morning/evening hours.

Ayodhya is central to Hindu tradition as the birthplace of Ram, and has become the site of India's most consequential and contested temple construction in decades: the Ram Mandir, built on the site of the demolished Babri Masjid, opened to pilgrims in 2024 and now draws enormous crowds daily. Whatever one's view of its history, the temple itself and the scale of pilgrim infrastructure built around it are now central to any visit.

Beyond the Ram Mandir, Ayodhya has a much older layer of temples and ghats along the Sarayu river, including Hanuman Garhi (dedicated to Hanuman, considered mandatory by most pilgrims before visiting the Ram Mandir) and Kanak Bhawan. Evening aarti on the Sarayu ghats has become a large-scale spectacle, deliberately styled after Varanasi's Ganga aarti.

Ayodhya FAQs

Do I need to book a slot in advance to visit the Ram Mandir?

Free darshan passes can typically be arranged online in advance or at counters on arrival; booking ahead avoids longer waits, especially on weekends and holidays.

What should I see in Ayodhya besides the Ram Mandir?

Hanuman Garhi, considered a customary stop before the Ram Mandir, along with Kanak Bhawan and the evening aarti on the Sarayu ghats.

How crowded does Ayodhya get, and when should I avoid visiting?

Very crowded on weekends, festivals, and especially around Ram Navami; weekday mornings are comparatively calmer.

Are phones and bags allowed inside the Ram Mandir complex?

No, most electronics and bags must be deposited at cloakrooms outside; check current rules before arriving since restrictions have tightened.

Is Ayodhya connected by direct flights now?

Yes, Maharishi Valmiki International Airport in Ayodhya has direct flights from several major Indian cities, in addition to rail connections.

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