Explore Tourist Places in and Around Ayodhya: An Unforgettable Journey

Ayodhya is the city of Lord Ram located in the state of Uttar Pradesh. Also known as Ram Janm Bhoomi, Ayodhya is also one of the best tourist spots in the U.P. It is situated on the banks of the holy Sarayu River and is an important pilgrimage site for the Hindus. Ayodhya holds great spiritual significance not just for Hindus but also for Buddhists. It has been mentioned in several sacred texts that Gautam Buddha spent several years in meditation in Ayodhya. While you are making an Ayodhya tour package sure to visit places such as Treta ke Thakur temple, Tulsi Samarak Bhawan Museum, Dashrath Mahal, and Sugriva Kila among others.

Places to Visit In and Around Ayodhya

1. Ram Katha Park
2. Nageshwarnath Temple
3. Mani Parbat
4. Ram Temple
5. Hanuman Garhi
6. Ram ki Paidi
7. Lucknow
8. Varanasi

1. Ram Katha Park

Ram Katha Park is a beautiful tourist spot in Ayodhya. It has open-air theatres and lawns spread over a vast area of land. At this venue, many cultural performances, devotional programmes, religious events, dance, poetry and katha recital sessions are held one day after another. Ram Katha Park holds both cultural and pop events for youngsters. It is a place which gives a chance to national and international artists to showcase their talents. This amphitheatre is a respite from the crowded and congested halls of the city, hence attracting crowds from all over the city.

2. Nageshwarnath Temple

This temple is located at Ram ki Paidi and was set up by Kush, Lord Rama's son. Nageshwarnath Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is one of the ancient temples of Ayodhya. Lord Shiva has many names, one of which is Nageshwar Nath meaning ‘lord of snakes’. Hindu devotees visit this temple every year during Shivratri and carry out the Shiv Baraat procession. It is a highly revered site for Hindu devotees and one of the most famous religious places in Ayodhya.

3. Mani Parbat

When Lord Hanuman uprooted a mountain to get Sanjeevani, i.e. a medicinal plant to cure the wounds of Lord Ram’s Brother Laxman, that is how Mani Parbat originated. It has been mentioned in the Great Indian Epic, Ramayana that Mani Parbat fell in Ayodhya and it is a small chunk of that same mountain that was carried by Lord Hanuman for Sanjeevani. It is one of the most beautiful, tourist attractions in Ayodhya since it offers breathtaking views from the top.

4. Ram Temple

Ayodhya is  Ram Janmabhoomi which means the birthplace of Lord Ram. Ayodhya is surrounded by the Sarayu River which is considered to be a holy river. Hindu devotees from all across the country visit this place, especially on the occasion of Ram Navami and take a dip in this holy river. Ram Temple is going to be one of the best places to see in Ayodhya in the coming future. Its structure is designed to be the largest temple in India with a height of 161 feet and 28,000 square feet of area. It will be inaugurated in the year 2024. One of the most unique features of this temple is that it is being constructed with Ram Shilas. These are bricks inscribed with the name of Lord Rama. It is an upcoming tourist attraction being built in Ayodhya since it has a lot of stories and controversies associated with it. It will soon be open to all Hindu devotees and have a dedicated area to showcase the story of Lord Rama.

5. Hanuman Garhi

Hanuman Garhi is one of the most important places to see in Ayodhya. Devotees who come to visit the Ram Nagri are sure to visit Hanuman Garhi first since Lord Hanuman is the supreme devotee of Lord Rama. Hanuman Garhi is a 10th-century temple and one of the most visited temples of Lord Hanuman in India as it is customary to visit Hanuman Garhi before visiting the Ram Temple here. Many people believe that Lord Hanuman lived at the temple site to guard Ayodhya. It is home to a beautiful statue of Lord Hanuman sitting in the lap of his mother Anjani.

6. Ram ki Paidi

Many devotees visit this famous place in Ayodhya which comprises ghats located on the bank of the Sarayu River. It was built for the Ram devotees in 1984 so that they could take a dip in this sacred river. It is believed by many that the Sarayu River washes away all your sins and purifies your soul. There are 25 bathing ghats bordering the Sarayu river. It looks really beautiful on the full moon day or Purnima. When you visit Ram ki Paidi, you will find various hostels and places to change clothes nearby. You can also indulge in the North Indian delicacies in various restaurants near these ghats.

7. Lucknow

Another one of the best places to visit in Uttar Pradesh is Lucknow. It is popularly known as the ‘City of Nawabs’ located on the banks of the Gomti River. Lucknow is one of the most preferred tourist destinations in the U.P. because of its rich historical and cultural heritage. Its historical places such as Bara Imambara are primarily known for its incredible maze or Bhul Bhulaiya inspired by Mughal architecture. This is one of the most interesting tourist places to visit near Ayodhya. It has 1024 ways to get inside the maze but only 2 to come out of it. Moreover, it is also an important place of worship for the Muslim community. Muslims visit Bara Imambara every year to celebrate the festival of Muharram. Some of the other tourist places that you can visit in Lucknow are Moti Mahal, Chota Imambara, Juma Masjid, the 1857 Memorial Museum, Rumi Darwaza, Sikandar Bagh and many more.

8. Varanasi

The most visited tourist place near Ayodhya, Varanasi, also known as Kashi is the world's oldest living city. It is widely known as the spiritual capital of India. Varanasi is also called Benaras by the locals, it is one of Hinduism's seven holy cities. It lies along the western banks of the Ganges. This divine city is also important for the Buddhist community. This is because Lord Gautam Buddha preached his first sermon in Varanasi and its part is now in Sarnath. Many tourists who visit places in Ayodhya are sure to visit this colourful and indiscreet city. Since, it is known for its temples, ghats, and colourful inhabitants. Many Hindu devotees believe that taking a dip in the river Ganga can cleanse a lifetime’s worth of sin. So they come in huge numbers to Varanasi not just on religious festivals but all around the year. There are many places to visit in Varanasi, some of them are Panchganga Ghat, Manikarnika Ghat, Ramnagar Fort and Museum, Banaras Hindu University, Assi Ghat, Darbhanga Ghat, and Varanasi Ghat. But a must-visit place here is Kashi Vishwanath Temple. Since it is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas dedicated to Lord Shiva.

How to Reach Ayodhya?

To reach Ayodhya via flight you can simply take a flight to  Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport in Lucknow. Alternatively, if you wish to come by train you can take a train to Ayodhya railway station from Lucknow, Kanpur, Allahabad, Varanasi, or Delhi.

You can visit all the tourist places nearby Ayodhya and then reach your final stop by taking a bus from any of the neighbouring cities such as  Lucknow, Kanpur, Allahabad, etc.