Ayodhya is going to be one of the hottest tourist destinations of 2024. The 22nd Jan, 2024 grand event of “Pran Pratishtha” changed everything. From then on lakhs of tourists have visited this place. Even the administrative set up of the state of U.P. had to fight it hard to control the crowd in the first few days after 22nd January.
The land of Ayodhya represents the religious identity of India. Generations have been listening and viewing Ramayana from hundreds of years. Ramayana has been the epitome religious identity of the Hindus.
A lot of infrastructure changes are taking place in Ayodhya. The Ayodhya airport (Phase-I) has come up in Ayodhya. This airport has been developed at a cost of Rs. 1450 crore. The terminal building of the airport spans an area of 6500 sq.m. and has the capacity to serve 10 Lakh people per year. The airport is infused with features like insulated roofing, LED lightning, rainwater harvesting, solar power etc.
The Ayodhya Dham Junction railway station (Phase I) boasts of a modern three story structure developed at a cost exceeding Rs. 240 crores. It is equipped with elevators, escalators, shops, food plazas and various other amenities. Vande bharat trains connect Ayodhya to various destinations in the country are being added regularly.
Ayodhya is being refurbished with widening or roads, multi-level parking facilities and Wi-Fi hotspots. Roads have been widened and beautified with prominent ones being Ram path, Bhakti path, Dharampath & Shri Ram Janmabhoomi path.
The best time to visit Ayodhya is October to March when the weather is cool. This period is perfect climate to explore the city’s rich culture and tradition.
- Ayodhya sightseeing – You may see the various sightseeing places in Ayodhya below.
- Ram Lalla Mandir – This is no doubt the first place which every Ayodhya tourist visits in the first place. It is located near the Saryu River in Ayodhya. The nearest railway station is Ayodhya Junction. The Ram Lalla idol which is a childhood embodiment of Shri Ram was inaugurated in Garbh griha in January 2024. It is believed that the Mandir is located at the site of the Ram Janmabhoomi, the place where Lord Rama was born. On 22nd January 2024, the Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi served as the Mukhya Yajman to perform rituals leading to the “Pran Pratishtha”. From that date till the mid of February about 21 lakh people have had darshan of Ramlalla. Huge figure in about 25 days. The time to visit this temple is 6 AM to 10 PM. This figure is further going to swell and will surely cross the 1 crore mark in another two months.
- Ayodhya’s boat ride of the Saryu River – A cruise service was started in September 2003 in Saryu River. It is being operated by a private agency. It operates between Nayaghat and Guptarghat. This ‘Jatayu Service’ is an initiative which will surely boost tourism and will help the visitors to explore the scenic beauty of Ayodhya. The boat service is fully air-conditioned and accommodates 100 people at one time. Aarti of Saryu river is also covered during the ride. The boat service operates with the help of solar power. It has state of the art facilities which depict the life of Lord Rama like his childhood, Swayamvar, time spent in forest and his war with Ravana.
- Hanuman Garhi – It is reckoned as a hilltop marvel of Ayodhya. It is located near Ram Janmabhoomi and at a distance of 2 Km from the Ayodhya Junction railway station. It is shaped like a four sided fort with circular ramparts at each corner. You have to climb 76 stairs to reach the temple. The inner chamber houses a 6 inch deity of hanuman depicted in youthful (Bal) form. The deity is positioned in the lap of his mother ‘Anjani’. The versus of Hanuman Chalisa are inscribed on the temple walls. The timings to visit Hanuman Garhi are 5 AM to 10 PM.
- Gulab Bari (Garden of Roses) – It is situated in the Vaidehi Nagar area of Ayodhya. It has a captivating mix of Mughal Architecture and lush greenery in the front. The monument in the backyard houses the tomb of Nawab Shuja-ud-Daula, the third Nawab of Faizabad. The rose garden in front lightens up when roses spread their hue all over. The timings to visit Gulab Bari are 9 A.M. to 6 P.M.
- Kanak Bhawan – It is situated in Tulsi Nagar, near Ram Janmabhoomi. It was built in 1891 and is dedicated to Lord Rama and Goddess Sita. It is believed that this temple which was previously a magnificent palace was gifted by Queen Kaikeyi to Sita after marriage with Lord Rama. Kanak Bhawan owes its existence to Bundela style Architecture and is renowned for its decorations and skillful craftsmanship. The inner sanctum of Kanak Bhawan houses three pairs of gold-crowned idols of Lord Rama and Goddess Sita. These idols represent different periods and are adorned with heavy gold ornaments. That is the reason why the place is christened Kanak Bhawan. Time to visit Kanak Bhawan is 5 AM to 12 PM and 4 PM to 9 PM.
- Treta ka Thakur temple – The temple is open only on Ekadashi once in a year. It is located near NayaGhat Ayodhya. It was built 300 years back by the local king, Kullu. The place where the temple was built is of historical significance as Lord Rama performed the ‘Ashwamegha Yagya’ during that period.
- Nageshwar Nath temple – It is at the walking distance of ‘Hanuman Garhi’ in the Theri Bazaar, Ayodhya. Tradition has it that this temple was opened by Kush son of Lord Rama. This temple attracts thousands of visitors during Mahashivratri. The temple is open from 6 A.M. to 12 P.M. and 4 P.M. and 9 P.M. The temple went through renovation way back in the year 1750 but still maintains its grandeur.
- Choti Chawni – It is also known as Valmiki Bhawan. It is an architectural masterpiece with 34 heritage caves. It is divided into Buddhist, Hindu & Jain sections. There is a Kailash temple inside the caves which is a wonder to watch. Although this place has gone through wear and tear it is a testament to skillful architecture. The time to visit this place is from 9 AM to 6 PM.
- Tulsi Smarak Bhawan – This place is located at the Eastern End of the National Highway. The time to visit this place is 8 AM to 8 PM. It was built to honour the saint poet Goswami Tulsidas. It has a rich collection of literature related to the cultural heritage of Ayodhya. Ram Katha is recited on a daily basis at this place.
- Sita Ki Rasoi – The timings to visit this place are 6 AM to 8 PM. It is located near Ram Janmabhoomi. Entry is free and this place is actually a temple. It is believed to be an ancient place used by Goddess Sita as a kitchen. The sacred kitchen which is in the basement bears Sita’s name.
Apart from the above 10 famous places to visit in Ayodhya there a numerous temples in Ayodhya worth visiting. This place is surely going to be the most visited place in the years to come.
