• How I could make it easier for Ma to visit the Sri Ram Mandir at Ayodhya? What to see in Ayodhya and local Insights. 

Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, India, is a spiritual destination revered as the birthplace of Lord Rama. My mother is turning 87 this month, so my sister decided to gift her a trip to Kashi and Ayodhya. Lucknow became the airport get away! 

How did we go?

As a family, Ramayan was a staple diet in our house especially in the month or April. Yes, Ram Navami had a special place in our hearts. Many Indian communities have this FESTIVAL of story telling by learned speakers. I lived in Ghatkopar, Mumbai and those speakers would stay in our house. My parents were hospitable so for at least 15 years, we had the privilege of hosting them.

This meant I met about 12-13 scholars and discussed ‘Vibheeshan’, ‘Surpanakha’ ‘Agni-pravesh’ and similar topics at the dining table. These scholars – Keeran, Toopul, Bakakrishna Sastrigal, ……to name a few let me taste Valmiki, and Kamban right from class 5. 

Being a Mumbaikar I did not study Tamil in school. My mother said ‘If you want to read Ramayan, learn Tamil. Thus, ‘Ramayana’ by C Rajagoplachari became my Tamil textbook.

My sister told mother ‘For your 87^th birthday, I need 2 people-I will feel safer’. That is how I went too. 

For most ‘Ayodhya’ is a dream. Honestly, if any other CM and PM had achieved this, I would have been surprised. Lord Ram wanted his temple to be consecrated, and he choose Yogi Adityanath and Narendra Modi to do the job. 

We flew to Varanasi and drove down to Ayodhya. It is just a three hour drive from Varanasi, so left after breakfast and reached well before lunch.

Where did we stay?

We stayed at Saket Hotel in Ayodhya. This hotel is just about 500m from the Temple. They have a website and our booking (2 rooms, ground floor) was nice, clean, running hot and cold water. It is not exactly a luxury hotel, but strongly recommended! The food was good too, but there are many food options.

Wheel Chair for Our Mother

Outside the hotel and all along the road to the temple, there were people will quality wheel chairs. Price is negotiable. I paid Rs 250/ from our hotel to the Ram Mandir.

Next to the ticket counter (require for Aarti) is a counter for wheel chair. They assign a wheel chair and a young boy to navigate it. Fee is fixed at Rs 150/ which is paid to the boy directly. He was very good and looked after mother well including taking her for the aarti.

What arrangements for food at Ayodhya?

About 300 metres from the temple complex are 2-3 big Udipi hotels. One has an amazing range of food options – reasonably priced. Of course, there are cheaper options – at the roadside. 

There are many options for tea, breakfast, etc. even at 6am, these big hotels too open early – at 7am. Probably, meant for devotees who go for the 6am aarti. Since the temple opens at 7 am for general public it is for those who wish to have breakfast before the darshan.

I enjoyed wearing a ‘Jai Shree Ram’ on my forehead. How to get it? Many people hanging around the place will do it for you for just Rs. 10!

Has the Ram Mandir increased local business opportunities?

Yes. Most of the people on the road selling small items / services whom I spoke to said they were not from Ayodhya but migrated to the holy city to benefit from the opportunities the city now offered. Actually, Ayodhya per say is a small town that I could cover easily on foot.  

What does Ayodhya have other than the temple?

 The city blends history, culture, and religion, with roots dating back to the 6th century BCE as an urban settlement and former capital under various empires like the Mauryas and Guptas.  In recent years, it has seen a boom, attracting over 110 million devotees in the first half of 2024 alone, thanks to the Pran Pratishtha of the Ram Mandir. Festivals such as Deepotsav (Diwali celebration with millions of oil lamps) add vibrancy, while serene ghats along the Sarayu River provide peaceful reflection.

Beyond spirituality, it is a site of cultural heritage, with ties to Buddhism, Jainism (birthplace of five Tirthankaras), and even international legends like the Korean princess Heo Hwang-ok. New attractions, such as the world's first Ramayana Wax Museum, enhance its appeal. 

Overall, Ayodhya offers a unique mix of devotion, history, and modern experiences for pilgrims, history buffs, and travellers like us!

Which are the Must Visit Places in Ayodhya?

Ayodhya has many temples, ghats, museums, and historical sites, many of which are associated with the Ramayana. Below is a list of top attractions with brief descriptions. We did not pay any entrance fees and the timings were convenient.

Ram Janmabhoomi / Ram Mandir

The grand temple complex features intricate carvings, gold gates, and the presiding deity Balak Ram (infant Rama). They have learnt from many other famous temples and the administration is great.

Would it have mattered to me that the temple is so grand? No. It is a great temple to visit. Suggest visit after the temple work is complete.

Darshan Experience

Jai Shri Ram.

Consecrated in 2024; expect security checks and quick darshan (viewing). We took Ma on a wheelchair. I had kept one hour for darshan but we finished in about 30 minutes. I had darshan of the Shri Ram Durbar i.e. on the first floor but the wheelchair could not go there.

The counter for Aarti tickets opens at 9am (I suggest you be there by 8.15am) where you can get tickets for aarti at 4am, 6am (next day) and 10 pm aarti for the same day. All those who want to visit should stand in queue. The pass issued to you has your Aadhar card number and your photo (they take your pic). This can be done online, but the website is tough to access. Have not seen a better system anywhere.

Hanuman Garhi Mandir

A 10th-century fort-temple dedicated to Hanuman Ji. It has a murti of Maa Anjani holding Bal Hanuman. Nice temple, but not well maintained and you may not like the level of cleanliness – don’t even compare it to the Ram Mandir. 

It is customary to visit this temple before you visit Ram Mandir.

You may have to climb lot of steps so not recommended for people in wheel chairs!

Kanak Bhawan (Golden Palace)

Temple gifted to Sita and Rama, featuring three golden-crowned murtis in Rajasthani style under a silver roof.

Rebuilt in 1891; dedicated to Sri Ram and Sita. Check the timings before you visit. It is very close to Hanuman Temple.

Nageshwarnath Temple

Ancient Shiva temple built by Sri Ram's son Kush. It opens very early in the morning. The present temple was built in 1750 AD. Shivaratri is celebrated here in a big way.

Saryu Ghat / Ram Ki Paidi

On Normal days. December 2022 pic.

On Diwali.

Sacred riverbanks where Sri Ram is said to have bathed; series of 14 ghats for rituals, holy dips, and evening aarti (prayer ceremonies). The evening Aarti starts at 6.30 pm and was for 15 minutes. We got a good seat and could watch the aarti in full.

Water was clean. I saw most people going for a dip, but I was not inspired enough to do so! Best to visit at dawn or dusk.

It is famous for Diwali  diya lighting; 

Dashrath Bhavan

Palace of King Dashrath (Sri Ram's father) is now a shrine complex hosting festivals like Ram Navami and Diwali. We saw a young boy reading Ramayan!

Sita Ki Rasoi

Ancient kitchen site where Sita prepared food; now a temple with exhibits and daily langar (community meals). If you are short of time, skip this.

However, near this is a small Sri Ram Mandir which has the photographs of the Kothari brothers. My eyes got moist thinking of October 31, 1990 when these kar sewaks made the supreme sacrifice and the state ruled by Mulayam Yadav. The official figure of deaths is 17 but locals think the number was about 50.

Gulab Bari (Imambada)

Tomb of Nawab Shuja-ud-Daula. I cannot say much since skipped.

Guptar Ghat

Riverside site where Sri Ram took 'Jal Samadhi' (water burial) to ascend to heaven. 8 km from centre; peaceful for meditation; boat rides available.

Tulsi Smarak Bhawan

Memorial to poet-saint Tulsidas, with a library, research centre, and daily Ramayana recitals. Entry free. It has a museum and cultural performances in the evening.

Mani Parvat

Mani Parvat is that part of the Sanjeevani mountain that fell in Ayodhya, when  Hanuman who was carrying it got injured. It is believed that Buddha spent six years in Ayodhya. The hillside has a stupa built by Asoka. The parbat is 65 feet high so be prepared for a good climb. Source I did not visit.

Ram Katha Park / Sangrahalay

Open-air Theatre Park for devotional programs, cultural events, and Ramayana storytelling. Did not visit.

Sri Maniram das Chavani

Oldest ashram linked to Sant Nrityagopal Das. It offers free meals and stays for devotees. Did not visit.  

Bahu Begum Tomb

Known as the "Taj Mahal of the East"; mausoleum of Nawab's wife with unique non-Mughal design.  

Korean Princess - Heo Hwang-ok Memorial

Park honouring the legendary Korean princess from Ayodhya.   

For a Carnatic music buff like my mother it came as a bonus that finance minister Nirmala S  inaugurated the redeveloped Brihaspati Kund (also known as Vrihaspati Kund), one of Ayodhya's 108 sacred ponds, on October 8, 2025. 

This restores a historic site near the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple complex. During the event, she and Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath also unveiled bronze statues of three South Indian saint-poets who were devoted composers of Ram bhajans. These murtis symbolise cultural unity of North and the South. Details are -

9 Arunachala Kavi.

Other experiences include guided tours, Boat rides on the river Sarayu, and nearby sites like the Treta Ke Thakur Temple or the new Ramayana Wax Museum.

Dress and Security 

Dress modestly, carry aadhar security and identity, and note that photography may be restricted in temples.

Apollo Hospitals have an Emergency Medical Center at Ayodhya.

Ma returned to Kashi happy and content. 

Jai Shri Ram.

Author is a Chartered Accountant. His channel Subramoney

Also read

1. Kashi, Ayodhya, Prayagraj Yatra

2. Experience of Ayodhya Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha held on January 22 2024

3.  Apollo Hospitals Emergency Medical Center, Ayodhya

4. Architecture of RAM MANDIR Ayodhya

5. What is PRANA PRATISHTA