No temple in India has seen more controversy than the Ayodhya Ram Mandir in Uttar Pradesh. Depending on your philosophical leanings, you might have a different view of the temple. But there’s no denying the fact that it’s one of the most sought after temples to visit in India right now. Since its inauguration in January, 2024, it has become one of the most visited religious sites in India. And if you are also planning to visit the temple, here’s how to explore Ram Mandir, the lord’s birthplace and other sites in Ayodhya.
Earlier this year (October, 2025), while coming back from a Nepal trip, we decided to visit Ayodhya Ram Mandir. From Lumbini, Lord Buddha’s birthplace to Ayodhya, Lord Ram’s birthplace, it was an amazing journey encompassing history, spiritualism and cultural experiences. We started in Kathmandu, proceeded to Pokhara, and then Lumbini in Nepal. From Lumbini, we took a taxi to reach Gorakhpur and a bus from there to finally reach Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh. However, more about that journey sometime later. This article is basically about Ayodhya Ram Mandir and other interesting places in the city.
{For more destinations from Uttar Pradesh, check out: Agra- Taj Mahal ||| Varanasi}
Ayodhya Ram Mandir: Significance for Hinduism
The principal significance of Ayodhya Ram Mandir emanates from the fact that Hindus in general believe that Lord Ram was born at the very site. Hence, people also call it ‘Shri Ram Janmabhoomi (birthplace) Temple’ as well. Lord Ram is one of the incarnations (avatar) of Lord Vishnu, one of the Hindu Trinity- Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwar. {If you are interested in the subject, here’s a further reading suggestion: Concept of Avatar}.
Among all the incarnations of Lord Vishnu, Hindus believe, Ram is the most complete since he led a life of human without any divine potencies of Lord Vishnu. Further, for possessing 16 best qualities a man should have, he is called ‘Purusottam‘ (ideal man). So, his birthplace holds immense significance for all Hindus.
Do you know another city inspired by Ayodhya? Read know more: Ayutthaya (Thailand).
A brief timeline of Ayodhya:
- As per the Hindu epic- Ramayana, Lord Ram was born to King Dasharath on the banks of Saryu River in the mythical city of Ayodhya. But there is no proof that mythical city is this Ayodhya city of today
- The Ayodhya city of today emerged sometime in the second century CE. Originally known as ‘Saketa’, a king of the Gupta dynasty renamed it as ‘Ayodhya’, inspired by the mythical city from Ramayana
- In 1528, a Mughal Commander- Mir Baqi (under King Babur) constructed a mosque- Babri Masjid in Ayodhya. Many Hindus believe that it was constructed over an ancient Ram Temple (Ramkot). This has always remained a point of contention between Hindus and Muslims.
- In 1992, right wing activists tore down the mosque, and large scale violence erupted across India.
- After remaining shrouded in controversy for a long time, when the Supreme Court at last allowed its construction in November 2019, it became an euphoric event in India.
- In four years time, a new Ram Temple was built.
How to explore Ayodhya Ram Mandir and other places
Moving away from the controversy, let me guide a traveller on how to explore the city of Ayodhya, especially the Ram Mandir, culling from my own experience. When we visited Ayodhya in October, the weather was nice, not too cold and not too hot. More importantly, fortunately, the Ram Mandir was not too crowded as well. So, we had a smooth dashan (obeisance) and an overall good experience of exploring Ayodhya.
Day-1: Reaching Ayodhya
We reached Ayodhya late in the evening from Gorakhpur. After checking in a hotel near the Ram Mandir, we set out to explore Ayodhya city under the lights. We took an e-rickshaw ride to the Lata Mangeshkar Chowk. From there, it was only a few minutes walk to the Saryu Ghat. Since it was late night, there wasn’t much action at the ghats. But we did observe some devotees hanging around the ghats.
The ghats on the banks of Saryu River looked serene under the light. On the other side of the river, Ayodhya city seemed like waving at us from the history with the Ram Mandir tucked away somewhere behind the cityscape. After taking a stroll by the river, it was time to get back to our room.
Day-2: Darshan at Ayodhya Ram Mandir
Early next morning, we reached Ayodhya Ram Mandir anticipating a large crowd of devotees. However, surprisingly, we saw only a thin queue of devotees at the main entrance. Without wasting much time, we joined them at the queue. It was about hundred meters from the main entrance to the main temple. In a matter of less than half an hour, we reached gateway to the main temple.
Before entering, we had to submit our bag and phone at a safety house. In a few minutes from there, we reached the principal shrine- the Sanctum Sanctorum (Garbhgrih). The newly founded idol of Lord Ram looked serene and beautiful. Made out of blue-black stone, the 4.25 feet impressive idol of Ram Lalla (child form of Ram) was clearly visible from a distance.
Though the main shrine was complete, work was still going on to complete other temples and structures within the temple campus. So, we couldn’t spend much time inside. In about 30 minutes, we were out of the main temple.
Ayodhya Ram Mandir: Architecture
The credit for the impressive architecture of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir goes to the Sompura family from Ahmedabad. Among hundreds of temples in their bio, the new Somnath Temple in Gujarat stands out. Following the Nagara architectural style of north India, the main temple stands 161 feet tall. Covering an area of 2.7 acres with a built-up area of 54,700 sq. ft, Ayodhya Ram Mandir is among the world’s largest Hindu Temple complexes. {If you want to know about the world’s largest Hindu Temple complex, check out: Angkor Wat, Cambodia}
The Sanctum Sanctorum encompasses five Mandapas (hall/ pavilion) with Shikharas (tower). The three-storied structure has the pavilions on the first floor. The temple complex also includes other temples for Hindu deities like Ganesh, Surya, Shiva, Annapurna and Hanuman.
{For more such magnificent Hindu Temples, read: Jagannath Puri (Odisha) ||| My Son Sanctuary (Vietnam)}
Tips for darshan at Ayodhya Ram Mandir:
Now, before visiting Ayodhya, most visitors would have one question in mind: How to have a smooth darshan (paying obeisance)? So, let me address this question in this section. First thing is the timing. During major festival times like Ram Navami, Dussehra, Diwali and Kartik Purnima, obviously, darshan is going to be difficult. So, if you want to have a smooth darshan, you must avoid these major festivals.
Anyway, whenever you visit, keep the darshan timings in mind; see below.
- Temple timings: Morning: 6 AM to 12 PM. Evening: 3 PM to 9 PM.
- Aarti timings: 4.30 AM (Mangal Aarti); 6.30 AM (Shringar Aarti) and 9.30 PM (Shayan Aarti). Timings may vary a little as per season.
General or Sugam Darshan:
Generally, for darshan, one has to stand in queue like all other visitors. On normal days, it takes about 30- 45 minutes to complete the process. However, on special/ festive days, the wait could be much longer. Unlike some temples in south India, they don’t have any facility for VIP darshan. All darshans are free for devotees. But some private players do offer special/ quick darshan services for a fee.
If you have elderly/ specially-abled people with you, check their website: Sugam Darshan. I have tried many times, but it doesn’t work! See if it works for you, or maybe, it works at certain times of the year!
Three Step Method for Darshan:
If you are a devote Hindu, there’s a three-step method for darshan:
- Step-1: Take a dip at Saryu Ghat
- Step-2: Visit Hanuman Garhi Temple
- Step-3: Visit Ram Mandir for darshan
This is what people in Ayodhya will tell you when you visit the temple city. However, it’s not a cardinal principle. It’s optional, and mainly followed by devote religious people.
Do’s and Don’ts to follow at Ayodhya Ram Mandir:
- Wear decent clothes covering the body; short dresses are not allowed.
- For security reasons, they don’t allow big bags and valuables (including phones and cameras) inside the main shrine. But one can carry them till the main shrine, outside which one can keep them in the public locker free of cost.
- Staying close to the temple can be convenient, though not necessary.
Saryu River Ghat:
On the banks of Saryu River (a.k.a. Ghaghra River), it is believed that King Dasrath had his palace where Lord Ram was born. So, the ghats of the river assume much religious significance. A section of the long ghats is called ‘Ram Ki Paidi’. This is where devotees gather in Ayodhya to take a holy dip before heading to the Ram Mandir. It looks quite a happening place.
Standing on the far side, I loved the view of Ayodhya city behind the ghats. Old buildings (mostly ancient and medieval) jam packed into each other cover the entire skyline. We walked around the ghats observing devotees engaged in their rituals and monks helping them out.
In the evening (~6- 7 PM), they hold an aarti like the ones in Varanasi and Rishikesh. Plus, on many a days, there’s a laser show too. So, one should visit the ghats again in the evening. The look of the ghats under lights has quite a different charm.
Hanuman Garhi Temple:
Just a few hundred meters away from Ayodhya Ram Mandir, this temple dedicated to Hanuman, is of special importance to devotees. Built in the 10th century by Baba Bhagwan Das, it houses the child form of Hanuman. It’s located on a raised landscape; one has to climb 76 steps to reach the temple. It opens around 5 AM and the aarti is held ~6 AM.
Some other monuments in Ayodhya:
After darshan at Ram Mandir, we headed to explore the other temples and monuments in Ayodhya. Among the major ones were Hanuman Garhi Temple, Dashrath Mahal, Kanak Bhawan, Tulsi Smarak Bhawan, and Nageshwaranath Temple.
- Dasrath Mahal: The erstwhile palace of King Dasrath, where Lord Ram was born.
- Kanak Bhawan: The palace gifted by queen Kaikeyi to Lord Ram after his wedding.
- Tulsi Smarak Bhawan: A museum dedicated to the life and works of famous poeet- Tulsi Das.
- Nageswarnath Temple: A temple near Ram Ki Paidi, dedicated to Lord Shiva, said to be built by Kush, the son of Lord Ram.
Ayodhya: Travel Tips
Best time to visit:
Except for the monsoon months of July to September, every month is good to visit. Though during summers (April- June) and winters (Dec- Feb), Ayodhya experiences difficult weather conditions, it’s okay to visit.
So, keeping all factors in consideration, March- April and October- November are the best months to visit Ayodhya Ram Mandir. More than the weather, these are the festival months. So, one should choose the dates carefully. If one chooses the festival days, it would have great religious/ cultural experience, but one should be ready for large crowds.
How to reach:
- Flight: Ayodhya has an airport, 10 kms away from the city. Flights operate from major Indian cities.
- Train: Ayodhya is well connected by trains with many cities from across the country.
- Bus: There are luxury and ordinary buses from across many cities in Uttar Pradesh and nearby states.
Where to stay:
Some budget hotel options: AP Palace Hotel ||| Shri Ram Hotel ||| Surya Palace ||| Raghuvar Inn ||| Shree Ram Sharanam Guest House ||| Vatsalya Bhawan. From what I have seen, Ayodhya doesn’t have good hotels for budget travellers.
How to get around:
Being a small city with narrow streets, it’s good to get around by the local e-rickshaws and e-golf carts. One would find them running incessantly everywhere in the city. They are cheap and convenient. Driving your own car is difficult on the crowded streets. So, park them at your hotel, or somewhere else, and take to these EVs.
What/ where to eat:
- Being the lord’s birthplace, Ayodhya is primarily vegetarian. But it’s a street food lover’s paradise. For non-vegetarian food, head to Faizabad, an adjacent town.
- Must try: Thaali ||| Baati- Chokha ||| Savories like Samosa, Kachori, Bedmi Puri- Aloo Ki Subzi ||| Sweets like Jalebi, Imarti, Gulab Jamun, and Rabdi.
- Some good restaurants/ cafes: M3 Cafe & Restaurant ||| Udupi ||| 2 Chammach ||| Awadh Ka Swad ||| The Aura ||| Shanri Rasoi ||| Baba Bhojanalay ||| Maurya Mistan Bhandar.
Concluding Thoughts
Though Ayodhya is a city of ancient origin, tourism here is of very recent origin. So, the limited carrying capacity of the small city means not-so-good travel experience. That’s why, it’s all the more important to plan well. We stayed at a hotel very near to the Ram Mandir, but the hotel didn’t do justice to its tariff. Soon we realized that it’s just normal for the city. So, without expecting any good experience, we focused on the main purpose- visiting Ayodhya Ram Mandir.
The controversy surrounding the temple is unfortunate. Humans being humans, this is expected. Otherwise, a few sane heads from either side could have solved it well much earlier than it actually happened. However, just forgetting the controversy, if you just visit the ancient city, it has lot of history and heritage to explore all around. And of course, religious people have their objective set out clearly!
If you are planning a trip, you may reach out to us for further inputs.
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