Ayodhya is an ancient city in India which is known as the setting of the Hindu epic Ramayana. Ayodhya is especially known as the birthplace of Lord Shri Ram. Ayodhya is a sacred and famous place situated on the banks of the Sarayu River in Uttar Pradesh. Ayodhya is included in the seven most sacred cities of Hinduism which is believed to be 9000 years old. Ayodhya is known for its famous temples such as the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple which is very popular nowadays. Apart from this, there are many other famous temples and a sacred river here.
we will also tell you what will be the best time to visit Ayodhya and how much it will cost you to complete this entire trip. In this article, we will try to give you all this information one by one in detail.
How to Reach Ayodhya
If you are planning a trip to the city of Ayodhya, then first you need to know how you can reach Ayodhya. You can easily reach Ayodhya by bus, train, or flight.
- If you want to reach Ayodhya by bus, then from cities like Delhi, Varanasi, Prayagraj, and Lucknow, you get the facility of direct buses. You can book these buses both online and offline and reach Ayodhya.
- If you want to come by train, then from your city you can reach Ayodhya Dham Junction railway station or Ayodhya Cantt railway station by train. You will see good connectivity of trains to these stations. If you arrive at Ayodhya Junction railway station, then it is nearby, about 1 to 1.5 kilometers from the temple. If you arrive at Ayodhya Cantt railway station, then by e-rickshaw for ₹40–₹50 you will have to come to the main city of Ayodhya or to Naya Ghat Chauraha.
- If you want to reach Ayodhya by flight, then you will have to come to Ayodhya Airport which is known as Maharishi Valmiki Airport. You will get direct flight connectivity from many big cities of India to this airport. This airport was built recently and direct flight connectivity to many big cities has just started. You can easily come to Ayodhya Airport by flight too.
Where to Stay in Ayodhya
Now that you have reached Ayodhya, let’s talk about where you can arrange to stay here.
- You will find hotels within 400–500 meters from Ayodhya Dham Junction railway station. These hotels are available easily in the range of ₹500 to ₹2000. But keep in mind that during the inauguration time of the temple, hotel prices are slightly high. For the next one to two months, you will see slightly higher prices. After that, you will get hotels comfortably in the same ₹500 to ₹2000 range.
- If you want to stay in Dharamshalas, you will find many of them near Hanuman Garhi Temple, Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, and Kanak Bhavan. These Dharamshalas are available in the range of ₹200 to ₹800.
Places to Visit in Ayodhya
Once the stay is arranged, let’s talk about where you can go sightseeing here.
Ram Ki Paidi: This is the place where a grand festival of lamps is celebrated during Diwali. Every year lakhs of lamps are lit, breaking its own record. Ram Ki Paidi is considered a very sacred place. It is said that bathing in the Sarayu River here washes away all sins. So first, you can start your day with a bath here. On the ghats, you will find many temples, one of which is Nageshwar Temple.
Nageshwar Temple: This ancient temple was established by Kush, the elder son of Lord Shri Ram. Here you can have the darshan of Lord Nageshwar Nath.
Naya Ghat Chauraha (Lata Mangeshkar Chauraha): After that, you can go to Naya Ghat Chauraha, which is also called Lata Mangeshkar Chauraha. This is the main square of Ayodhya city where you will see a Veena which is 40 feet long and weighs about 14 tons.
Hanuman Garhi Temple: About 1 kilometer from here, you can go to Hanuman Garhi Temple for darshan of Lord Hanuman. You will need to take an e-rickshaw which costs ₹10 per person. Hanuman Ji here is considered the guardian of Ayodhya. The temple is located on a mound and to reach it you have to climb 76 steps. From here, the entire city of Ayodhya is visible. Inside the temple, you will see Hanuman Ji’s chaupais written on the walls.
Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple: After darshan at Hanuman Garhi, you can go to Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple to see Lord Ram Lalla. The distance from Hanuman Garhi to this temple is only 500–600 meters. This temple was inaugurated on January 22, 2024, and has been open to devotees since January 23. You will find many shops on the way. Near the temple, you will find help counters, free aarti passes, and free locker service. Bags or electronic items are not allowed inside, so you must keep them in the lockers. You can then see Lord Ram Lalla in his child form. Three aartis are held here every day.
Amava Ram Temple: Nearby, you can also visit Amava Ram Temple where free meals are served.
Kanak Bhavan: About 300–400 meters from Ram Janmabhoomi Temple is Kanak Bhavan. It is said that Queen Kaikeyi gifted this palace to Mata Sita as a wedding gift. Inside, you will find Shri Ram, Mata Sita, Bharat, Lakshman, and Shatrughan Ji. Ram and Sita here wear golden crowns and look divine. At night, with lights, the temple looks even more magnificent.
Dashrath Mahal: A short walk from Kanak Bhavan is Dashrath Mahal, established by King Dashrath in Treta Yuga. Here you will find idols of King Dashrath and his family. It is said Lord Ram played here in childhood. The courtyard is very spacious.
Ramkot (Ram Ji’s Fort): Close by, you can also visit Ramkot, described in Ramayana and Ramcharitmanas.
Evening Aarti at Sarayu Ghat: In the evening, you can return to Sarayu Ghat where aarti starts around 6:30 pm. It is a mesmerizing scene. You should definitely attend this aarti.
Laser and Fountain Show: After the aarti, you can enjoy the laser and fountain show at Ram Ki Paidi. The city looks very beautiful at night and this view makes your trip memorable.
Duration and Best Time to Visit
You can cover the entire city of Ayodhya in one day.
The best time to visit Ayodhya is between September and March because during this time the weather is pleasant. The rest of the time, it gets quite hot here.
Cost of the Trip
If you want to complete this trip without taking a hotel and return home the same day, then your expense will be only ₹500 to ₹1000 per person.
If you stay in a hotel, then your expense will be around ₹1500 to ₹3000 per person depending on the type of hotel you choose.
Overview Table of Ayodhya Yatra
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, on the banks of Sarayu River |
| Religious Importance | Birthplace of Lord Shri Ram, one of seven most sacred cities |
| How to Reach | By Bus (Delhi, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Lucknow), Train, or Flight (Valmiki Airport) |
| Stay Options | Hotels (₹500–₹2000), Dharamshalas (₹200–₹800) |
| Main Attractions | Ram Ki Paidi, Nageshwar Temple, Lata Mangeshkar Chauraha, Hanuman Garhi, Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, Kanak Bhavan, Dashrath Mahal, Ramkot, Sarayu Aarti, Laser Show |
| Best Time to Visit | September to March |
| Trip Duration | 1 Day |
| Estimated Cost | Without hotel: ₹500–₹1000 per person; With hotel: ₹1500–₹3000 per person |