One of the many spiritual lands of India – Ayodhya has spiritual and religious visitors from not only India but all around the world. Located on the banks of the Sarayu River in Uttar Pradesh, this old city is famous for being a popular Hindu pilgrimage centre and a cultural hotspot. Ayodhya Tour Packages for 2-3 days are enough to explore the best places to visit in Ayodhya. According to the Ayodhya Travel Guide (internlink the travel guide at time of upload), the best time to visit Ayodhya is between October and March, i.e. during the winter season.
When in Ayodhya, you will be spoilt for choices about the best things to do in Ayodhya, famous places to eat in Ayodhya, special shopping spots in Ayodhya, etc. With an influx in demand for Ayodhya Tourism 2024, several tourist places in and around Ayodhya are getting popular too.
Planning a trip to Ayodhya?
Here are some of the best places to visit in Ayodhya
Ayodhya Ram Mandir :
At this point, one of the top tourist attractions in Ayodhya, the Ayodhya Ram Mandir or the Ram JanmaBhoomi is the hypothesised birthplace of Lord Ram in Ayodhya. Inaugurated on 22nd January, 2024 with great pomp and fervour, India’s largest Hindu temple is set to span across an expansive area of 28,000 sq. ft. and be approximately 16 feet tall. Other than being India’s biggest Hindu temple, the Ayodhya Ram Mandir holds significant religious importance for its traditional craftsmanship for the temple construction, bricks bearing ‘Sri Ram’ inscription used for construction, architectural grandeur and heritage of the temple and other camaraderie’s like bringing inholy water from all over India. There are even special Ayodhya Darshan Packages and special Ayodhya bound trains to encourage more devotees to visit the temple.
Ayodhya Ram Mandir Timings : 7 AM to 1 PM, 3 PM to 10 PM
Ram ki Paidi :
One of the religious tourist attractions of Ayodhya, Ram ki Paidi is made up of several ghats along the Sarayu River bank. It was built in 1984 so that Ram devotees can take a plunge in the holy river to wash away their sins and purify their souls. There are about 25 bathing ghats and extensive stairways that run parallel along with hotels, changing rooms and local restaurants nearby. The ghat lights up beautifully on a full moon night or Purnima and is a treat to watch.
Hanuman Garhi :
Out of the many Ayodhya Tourist places, Hanuman Garhi is one of the most visited pilgrim sites here. Devotees of Lord Ram visit this place without fail as it is a 10th-century temple of Lord Hanuman. Many also believe that it is customary to first visit Hanuman Garhi and then the Ram Temple. One has to climb 76 steps to reach the temple. It is believed that the temple site is the spot where Lord Hanuman used to sit to guard Ayodhya and also has a statue of him sitting in his mother Anjani’s lap.
Hanuman Garhi Timings : 4 AM to 10 PM
Ram Katha Park
Ram Katha Park is one of the best places to visit in Ayodhya as it is a decongestant from all the regular places in and around Ayodhya. This park spans a vast area along with open-air theatres and lawns. These spots serve as venues for cultural performances, devotional programmes, religious events, dance, poetry and katha recital sessions. For many, it is also a fun and relaxing spot to plan a picnic with friends or family. The park is also well-maintained and free of cost.
Ram Katha Park Timings : 6 AM to 7 PM.
Mani Parbat :
An unmissable place on your trip to Ayodhya, the Mani Parbat holds a lot of mythological importance. According to legend, Hanuman uprooted an entire mountain to bring Sanjeevani, i.e. a medicinal plant to cure the wounds of Lord Ram’s Brother Laxman. A small chunk of the mountain that fell in Ayodhya was named Mani Parbat. The hillock offers breathtaking views from the top.
Apart from these best places to visit in Ayodhya, some other spots to add to your Ayodhya Tour Guide are Nageshwarnath Temple, Dashrath Bhavan, Treta-Ke-Thakur, Tulsi Udhyan, etc. There are also several nearby places in Ayodhya that might interest you.
Barabanki :
Situated about 100 kms from Ayodhya, Barabanki, the gateway to Poorvanchal, was once known to be a penance site for saints. It is also home to Parijaat, a unique kind of unisex tree. Other attractions of Barabanki are the BarabankiGhantaghar, Badasorai and the town of Satrikh.
Faizabad :
The town of Faizabad, located along the Ghaghra riverbank, is no less than a mythological land. The resplendently glorious town with its ornate buildings is famous for tourist spots like Faizabad Museum, Fort Calcutta, Bahu Begum ka Maqbara, Moti Mahal, Rishabhdev Rajghat Udyan, Guptar Ghat, etc. Faizabad is just 7 kms away from Ayodhya.
Pratapgarh :
The town of Pratapgarh holds cultural significance in Hindu scriptures as old as Ramayana and Mahabharata. It is said to hold convergence of faiths with the Bela Bhawani Hindu Temple and Kot Monastery for Buddhist devotees.
Some other regular places near Ayodhya that can be explored include Varanasi, Basti, Gorakhpur, Kaushambi, Raebareli, etc.
With the recent boost in Ayodhya’s tourism, there has been an increasing demand for cheap flights to Ayodhya and hotels in Ayodhya.
Some Ayodhya Travel Tips :
- Make sure to book Ayodhya Darshan packages in advance as they are high in demand.
- One can buy local handicraft items, traditional jewellery, religious artefacts, craft articles and Ayurvedic medicinal items.
- When in Ayodhya, do not miss out on eating at traditional local eateries like Brijwasi Mithai Wala, Sri Govind Jalpan, Manoj Dhaba and Sri Sita Rasoi Ghar.
- Overall, Ayodhya has a pretty unique religious and spiritual vibe that draws you to it.
