Ayodhya

Not to be confused with Ayutthaya in Thailand.

Ayodhya (अयोध्या Ayodhyā) is an ancient city in the Awadh region of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Ayodhya is one of the major holy cities of Hinduism - the world's 3rd-largest religion. It has a central role in the ancient Indian epic, the Ramayana, whose protagonist Lord Rama is God incarnated on Earth as the prince of Ayodhya.

This article also covers Faizabad, the twin city of Ayodhya. Faizabad, and Ayodhya before it, was the capital of the 18th and 19th-century Oudh State before the capital was moved to Lucknow.

Understand

Ram ki Paidi

Name

The name Ayodhyā literally means "invincible" in Sanskrit, which is derived from the root yudh ("to fight, to wage war"). Historically, Ayodhya was also known as Saketa, which was widespread by Buddhist travellers and faraway traders.

Mythology

The Ramayana epic describes Lord Rama's 14-year exile, his victory over evil and his grand return with his wife Sita to Ayodhya to become king. This return to Ayodhya is celebrated as Diwali, the leading festival of hundreds of millions of Hindus world-wide. Consequently, Lord Rama's reign over Ayodhya and its surroundings, called Rama Rajya, is the epitome of good governance and moral society in the Hindu tradition.

The story of Rama has transcended into a great inspirational story and parable for children and adults around the world. Ayodhya has come to symbolise inner peace, joy and spiritual upliftment.

The former Thai capital Ayutthaya and the Indonesian city of Yogyakarta are named after Ayodhya.

History

Ayodhya's history has also been marked by Hindu-Muslim disputes about a temple and mosque. In 1527, the Mughal Emperor Babur had a temple destroyed and a mosque constructed at the site in Ayodhya traditionally associated with the birth of Rama. Since then, the Babri Masjid became a focal point of grievances and disputes. The mosque was ultimately destroyed by Hindu demonstrators in 1992. Following the destruction, there were large riots in Gujarat and terrorist acts (including the Godhra train massacre, which triggered the Gujarat riots, and the 2005 Ram Janmabhoomi attack in Ayodhya). Following the rise of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government under Narendra Modi in 2014, the Supreme Court ruled in favour of awarding the site to the Hindus, while the Muslims were given an alternative site to build a replacement mosque.

Read

• Rama and Ayodhya by Meenakshi Jain. This book contains a detailed study of the religious and social history of Ayodhya.
• Ayodhya: The Case Against the Temple (2002) by Koenraad Elst. A very readable account of the socio-political issues concerning Ayodhya and the Ram temple in the late 20th century by a Belgian Indologist. ISBN 81-85990-7
• The Ayodhya Temple Mosque Dispute: Focus on Muslim Sources by Harsh Narain. This book contains descriptions of the city of Ayodhya by Muslim historians and writers from past centuries.

Visitor information

• Regional Tourist Office, 1-3/152/4, Civil Lines, Faizabad (near Pusparaj Guest House), ☏ +91 5278 223214. (updated Dec 2023)
• Government of UP Assistant Tourist Office, Pathik Niwas Saket (near Ayodhya Junction), ☏ +91 5278 232435. (updated Dec 2023)

Get in

By plane

• 1 Maharishi Valmiki International Airport Ayodhya Dham (AYJ  ^IATA) (close to NH 27 and NH 330). (updated Dec 2023)

By train

Ayodhya and Faizabad ares served by 2 Ayodhya Junction and 3 Ayodhya Cantt respectively. Trains are available from Delhi, Lucknow, Varanasi and Prayagraj. Some important express trains to Ayodhya Junction or Ayodhya Cantt include:

• From Amritsar: Saryu Yamuna Express
• From Gorakhpur: Lucknow Vande Bharat Express
• From Delhi: Raxaul Sadbhavana Express, Malda Town Farakka Express
• From Kolkata: Doon Express, Jammu Tawi Express
• From Lucknow: Gorakhpur Vande Bharat Express
• From Varanasi: Marudhar Express, Sabarmati Express

By car

The city is about 130 km from Lucknow, 200 km from Varanasi, 160 km from Prayagraj, 140 km from Gorakhpur and about 636 km from Delhi. Buses are frequently available from Lucknow, Delhi and Gorakhpur. Buses are also available from Varanasi, Prayagraj and other places.

See

• 1 Bahu Begum ka Maqbara. Tomb and still one of the highest buildings in Faizabad. (updated Jun 2021)
• 2 Gulab Bari. Gulab Bari translates to "garden of roses" and this tomb of the 16th century ruler of the Kingdom of Oudh, Shuja-ud-Daula, has both a magnificent mausoleum and a rose garden. (updated Jun 2021)
• Lakshman Ghat (On the banks of the Sarayu River). This is where Rama's brother Lakshmana is said to have voluntarily given up his life-an act called samadhi. Another version says that he gave up living after he broke a vow. 
• 3 Mani Parbat, Kami Ganj. A former Buddhist vihara (cave with cells) that became a Hindu temple. It is dotted with little shrines and if you stand on the topmost terrace you get a splendid view of Ayodhya, one that includes a cluster of small white buildings at the base of the hill that turns out to be a Muslim graveyard. 
• Memorial of Heo Hwang-ok. The legendary Korean queen Heo Hwang-ok, also known as Suriratna, is believed according to the Samguk yusa to have been an Indian princess from Ayuta, nowadays identified with Ayodhya. A memorial to honour was set up in 2001 which was expanded and beautified in 2018. (updated Aug 2020)
• 4 Ram Mandir (In the western part of the city). The colossal temple in Ayodhya, built on the supposed birthplace of Rama. Although visited by pilgrims throughout the year, this sacred place attracts devotees from all over India and abroad on Ram Navami, the day of Lord's birth, which is celebrated with great pomp and show, in the Hindu month of Chaitra (March-April). (updated Jan 2024)
• 5 Ram ki Paidi. A series of ghats on the bank of the Sarayu River. It is known for the Ayodhya Deepotsav during Diwali. (updated Dec 2023)
• Swarg Dwar. According to mythology, Lord Rama is said to have transformed himself into Lord Mahavishnu and left for Vaikunth. 

Temples

Vijayraghaw temple

• Choti Chawni. A very big temple made by 100% white marble. 
• 6 Hanuman Garhi Temple, Sai Nagar (Right in the center of the town), ☏ +91 97926 02105. Visitors to Ayodhya must make a move towards Hanuman Garhi. It is a massive structure in the shape of a four-sided fort with circular bastions at each corner. The temple is highly revered for its imposing architecture and its religious value. (updated Dec 2023)
• 7 Kanak Bhawan (Palace of Gold) (Near Hanuman Garhi). The Bhawan is frequented by scores of visitors every year. The temple is widely known for the images of Sri Rama and Sita wearing gold crowns and because of this the Bhawan is also referred to as Sone-ka-Ghar. 
• 8 Nageshwarnath Temple (On the bank of the river, on the east side of town). 5AM-11AM, noon-8PM. It is said to be built by Kush, Lord Rama's son. Legend has it that he almost destroyed the water-living Nagas (semi-divine snake people) because he suspected them of stealing his amulet. Only Lord Shiva's intervention saved the semi-divine snakes. Khush then established this temple showing the Nagas worshipping Lord Shiva, his father's favourite deity. Another version of this legend states that the lost amulet was found by a Nag-kanya (young girl from the Naga tribe), who fell in love with him, and as she was Lord Shiva's devotee he constructed this temple for her. 
• Ramrekha Temple. (updated Dec 2023)
• Treta ke Thakur. It is a temple that stands at the place where Rama is said to have performed the Ashwamedha Yagna. The Raja of Kulu is said to have built a new temple here about 300 years ago called Kaleram ka Mandir, where the idols of Lord Rama, Sita, Lakshman and Bharat have reportedly been carved out of a single block of black sandstone. These idols are supposed to be from the original Rama temple, which once stood on the banks of the River Sarayu. 
• Vijayraghaw temple (Shri Vishwa Virat Vijay Raghav Mandir), Nayaghat (In front of Punjab National Bank). It is one of the best temple in Ayodhya, build in 2008. In this temple god Ram presented in 12 faces called Viswa-virat(world's big). This temple made by red marbles and stainless steel. 

Do

• 1 Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar International Sports Stadium. A multi-purpose stadium with a capacity of 30,000. (updated Dec 2023)

Events

Ayodhya being a sacred religious place, has lots to offer to a spiritual mind. Some of the fairs and festivals Ayodhya is famous for are

• Chaturdashkoshi Parikrama. Constitutes a circular journey of 28 miles made once a year on the occasion of Akshainaumi, which is completed within 24 hours. 
• Ram Lila. The enactment of the story of Lord Rama is believed to have been started by great Saint Tulsidas. The Ramcharitmanas, written by him till today forms the basis of Ram Lila performances. In some places, Rama Lila is associated with Vijayadashmi celebrations in late September and early October and also with Rama Navami, the birthday of Lord Rama. Ram lila, basically an enactment of a myth, is presented as a cycle-play with the story varying from 7 to 31 days. The Rama Lila performance evokes a festive atmosphere and enables observance of religious rites. It is also rich in performance of crafts such as costume jewellery, masks, headgear, make-up and decoration. The four main Ram Lila styles are the pantomimic style with a predominance of jhankis based style with multi-local staging; the operative style which draws its musical elements from the folk operas of the region and the stage, Ram Lila of the professional troupes called mandalis. Ayodhya is popular for mandali Ram Lila. The performance is dialogue – based and presented on a platform stage. High standard of performance is complemented by songs and kathak dances and eye-catching décor. 
• Ram Navmi Mela. Ayodhya, the holy city of the sacred pilgrim centre of Hindus plays host to the Ram Navmi Festival in the month of April. Thousands of worshippers gather to venerate the Lord at Kanak Bhawan. 
• Sravan Jhula Mela. This mela celebrates the playful spirit of the deities. On the third day of the second half of Shravan, images of the deities (specially of Rama, Lakshman and Sita) are placed in swings in the temples. They are also taken to Mani Parvat, where the idols are made to swing from the branches of the trees. Later the deities are brought back to temples. The mela lasts till the end of the month of Shravan. 
• Parikramas. Ayodhya is perhaps the most noted place in the northern India where parikramas are undertaken by Hindu Pilgrims. These are circumambulations of important religious places and are of varying duration, shortest being the `Antargrahi Parikrama’ which has to be completed within a day. After taking a dip in the Saryu, the devotee commences the parikarma from the Nageshwarnath temple and passes through Rama Ghat, Sita Kund, Manipuravata and Brahma Kund, finally terminating at Kanak Bhawan. Then there is the `Panchkoshi Parikrama’ circuit of 10 miles, which touches Chakratirtha, Nayaghat, Ramghat, Saryubagh, Holkar-ka-pura, Dashrathkund, Jogiana, Ranopali, Jalpa Nala and Mahtabagh. On the way the people pay homage to deities in the shrines which are situated on the route. 

Buy

You can buy Ramnama towel, chundri, kurta and handicraft bags, tulsi mala, ramdana, Ramayana, books, sweet ball (laddoo).

Eat

Options are limited to local eateries/restaurants which offer largely vegetarian food.

• Gokul Restaurant (On National Highway No.28), Near Deokali Bypass Crossing (On Lucknow-Gorakhpur Road), vermadhananjay@rediffmail.com. An open air restaurant, serving vegetarian, non-vegetarian and continental food. 
• Kapoor Restaurant (Tirupati Hotel). 
• Mezaban Restaurant, Hote Shane Awadh, ☏ +91 578223586. Best fooding and best lodging in the city. 
• Trimurti Restaurant, Lucknow-Gorakhpur Rd (4 km from Faizabad), ☏ +91 9455384515, vipinsingh_007@yahoo.com. The best place serving vegetarian, non-vegetarian‚ Indian Cuisines and continental food in Faizabad. 

Drink

You can get water, fruit juice, cold drinks, etc.

Sleep

• 1 Birla Dharamshala, Chok Ayodhya Rd, New Colony (Bus Station), ☏ +91 5278-232252. 
• Gujrat Bhawan Dharamshala (near Bus Station), ☏ +91 5278-232075. 
• 2 Hotel Ramprastha, Naya Ghat, ☏ +91 5278-212204, +91 5278 232 111, info@hotelramprastha.in. 
• Jain Dharamshala (Rai Ganj), ☏ +91 5278-232308. 
• 3 Kanak Bhawan Dharamshala, ☏ +91 5278-232024. 
• Niskaam Sewa Aasram. Adjacent to Hanuman Bag trust, janki mahal road (Parikrama Marg). Ayodhya, all types of room available ac/non-ac with breakfast, lunch and dinner.contact-(+91)9415717214,05278-232558(+91)9795966108.email pkmfzd@rediffmail.com ,manishaydg27@gmail.com Excellent Ashram like environment. In-charge - Ramchandra Das 
• Pandit Banshidhar Dharamshala (Naya Ghat). 
• 4 Pathik Niwas Saket, Professor's Colony (Near Railway Station), ☏ +91 5278-232435, +91 95598 70573. Only one room available 
• Ram Anugsah Vishram Sadan, Chhoti Chhawani Marg, ☏ +91 5278-223142, +91 5278-223146. 
• Ram Charit Manas Trust Dharamshala. 
• 5 Ram Dham Guest House (near Railway Station Road), ☏ +91 5278-232791. 
• 6 Shri Ram Hotel, Chowk Ayodhya Rd, New Colony, (near Dant Dhawan Kund), ☏ +91 5278-232512, +91 5278-232474, +91 94151 40674, toll-free: +91 94151 40674. 
• UPSTDC Yatri Niwas, Naya Ghat, rahisaket@up-toursim.com. 
• Abha Hotel, Motibagh. 
• Hotel Alka Raje, Rekab Ganj. 
• Hotel Avantika, Civil Lines. 
• Hotel Krishna Palace, Civil Lines. 
• Hotel Prem, Rekab Ganj. 
• Hotel Shane Avadh, Civil Lines, ☏ +91 5278 223586, +91 5278 222075, fax: +91 5278 226545, shane_avadh@yahoo.com. 
• Hotel Tirupati (Civil Lines), ☏ +91 5278 222448, +91 5278 223231, fax: +91 5278 226607, tirupati_hotel@yahoo.co.in. 

Go next

• Lucknow
• Prayagraj

Routes through Ayodhya

Prayagraj ←

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