Ayodhya at a glance
Ayodhya is a city on the Saryu in Uttar Pradesh and the seat of the Ayodhya district and division. It is revered as the birthplace of Rama and is closely tied to the Ramayana, a belief that Hindu tradition carries. For Jain traditions the city matters too. Pilgrims and visitors come for the Ram Mandir, for Hanuman Garhi and Kanak Bhawan, and for the evening scene on the river steps.
This guide covers all of that: darshan and aarti at the Ram Mandir, the other temples, the Saryu ghats, Deepotsav, temple tours and day trips, combinations with Varanasi, weather, places to stay, the airport and the trains. The Ram Mandir, Hanuman Garhi, Kanak Bhawan and the ghats are separate places, and there is no single ticket for all of them. Each place has its own rules, and the city itself has no general entry fee. Prices are in Indian rupees (INR) as of 2026 and change.
Our picks: Ayodhya tours
The Varanasi car with driver is the cheapest way to get there if you need no explanations. The four-night route covers Ayodhya, Prayagraj and Varanasi, and the five-day tour starts from Delhi with a live guide.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Five-day guided tour: Varanasi, Ayodhya, Prayagraj
- Live guide
- Hotels with breakfast
- Private air-conditioned car
Five days with pickup and return and a guide on the road. Entry tickets cost extra.
Check availability →
Ayodhya, Prayagraj and Varanasi in four nights
- All meals
- Local guides in Ayodhya and Varanasi
- Kashi Vishwanath entry
Private car with driver, a 3-star hotel and boat rides in Prayagraj and Varanasi. Rickshaw rides are extra.
Check availability →
Private car day trip from Varanasi
- Air-conditioned car and driver
- Pickup at hotel, airport or station
- Tolls and parking
Water on board. There is no guide with this booking, so add one separately if you want explanations at the temples.
Check availability →Ayodhya tours and day trips
Guided visits to the temples and the river, and day trips to and from nearby cities, with live prices and availability.
Temples, darshan and the river
The places most visitors plan around, with timings and rules.
Ram Mandir
Consecration in 2024, the building and how a visit works.
Darshan timings and aarti
The winter schedule from 1 November 2026, passes and rules.
Hanuman Garhi
The hilltop temple with 76 steps and its visiting hours.
Kanak Bhawan
Timings, the tradition behind the name and Dashrath Mahal.
Saryu ghats
Ram ki Paidi, Naya Ghat, Guptar Ghat and the evening aarti.
Deepotsav
The lamp festival on the Saryu and what to expect in 2026.
Plan your trip
Tours, sights, seasons and the way in.
Ayodhya tours and packages
Temple tours and day trips, and what a paid tour does and does not include.
Places to visit
Nageshwarnath, Treta ke Thakur, Sita ki Rasoi and more.
Varanasi and Ayodhya
Distances, trains and how to link the two cities.
Weather and climate
Month by month averages for heat, cool mornings and monsoon rain.
Where to stay
Hotels, dharamshalas, homestays and tent accommodation.
Ayodhya airport
Flights, taxi and bus into the city.
Getting to Ayodhya
Trains, buses and the road from Lucknow.
Ram Navami
The festival of Rama's birth, with the date for 2027.
History of Ayodhya
From Saket and Kosala through the centuries, with the Supreme Court judgment of 9 November 2019.
A few things to know before you go
Practical points that shape a visit in 2026.
Ayodhya has its own airport
The Maharishi Valmiki International Airport has the code AYJ. Lucknow (LKO) is still an option, but it is no longer the only airport near the city.
Airport and transfers →Darshan passes are free
Sugam passes for the Ram Mandir are free of charge. Do not pay anyone for the pass itself. A longer booking window of up to 90 days is being introduced step by step.
Passes and rules →Opening and darshan are different times
The temple doors open earlier than general darshan begins. A winter schedule applies from 1 November 2026, and times can change, so check the current timetable with the temple administration.
Winter schedule →Two milestones, not one
The consecration of Ram Lalla took place on 22 January 2024. The formal completion of the temple was marked by the flag ceremony on 25 November 2025.
The Ram Mandir →Treta ke Thakur opens once a year
This site opens to the public only on Kartik Shukla Ekadashi, in November or December. Do not plan a daily visit inside.
More places →Boats and the water's edge depend on the river
In September 2026, boat rides were suspended at Guptar Ghat at high water, and ropes limited access to the water. Ask locally before you plan a boat ride.
Saryu ghats →Deepotsav 2026
The calendar date is 6 November 2026, and the wider programme may run to 11 November, with Diwali on 8 November. The record of 2,617,215 lamps was certified for 19 October 2025, not for 2026.
Deepotsav →Ayodhya: frequently asked questions
Is this the official website of the Ram Mandir?
No. This is an independent travel guide. It is not the website of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, the Ayodhya Development Authority, Uttar Pradesh Tourism or any temple, and it has no connection to a tour operator or hotel. Passes, timings and rules come from the temple administration, so check with them before you travel.
Do I have to pay for darshan at the Ram Mandir?
Sugam darshan passes are free of charge, as of 2026. Aarti entry is tied to a pass. Booking runs online through the temple trust, and nobody else needs to be paid for the pass. See the darshan timings page.
What is the best time of year to visit?
Long-term climate averages for the Faizabad station show April to June as hot, with average highs of 37.7 °C in April and 39.7 °C in May. Rain falls mostly in July and August. November to February is more comfortable for heat-sensitive visitors, with cool mornings: the January average low is 8.1 °C. Festivals bring crowds in any season. See the weather page.
How do I get to Ayodhya?
Fly to Ayodhya (AYJ) or to Lucknow (LKO), or take the train to Ayodhya Dham or Ayodhya Cantt. These are two different stations. By road, Lucknow is roughly 130 km away. The airport page and the getting there page have the details.
Can I see Ayodhya and Varanasi on one trip?
Yes. The road distance is roughly 200 km, and the rail distance between Ayodhya Dham and Varanasi is 191 km. Prayagraj is roughly 160 km away by road. See Varanasi and Ayodhya.
Where do I stay?
The city has hotels, dharamshalas and homestays, and tent accommodation exists too. Whether a dharamshala takes foreign guests varies, so ask before you book. The where to stay page explains the types and the areas.