Ayodhya Sightseeing during Ram Mandir Construction

21/01/2024 Indrani Ghose

The expectations of tourists, especially those exploring Ayodhya in India, or the newer development known as New Ayodhya, are notably high. Travelers heading to Ram Janmabhoomi for Ayodhya sightseeing anticipate a well-established general infrastructure, cleanliness, comfortable accommodation, and efficient transportation to and from the city.

During my recent tour of Ram Janmabhoomi and Ayodhya sightseeing, I saw the city going through a major facelift gearing up for the Ram Mandir Inauguration. The Ram Mandir construction isn’t complete yet and it may take another three years to get its definite full shape. I was an invitee to the Ayodhya Conclave where the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath ji, and many other dignitaries spoke on the developments taking place in this holy city to receive the massive inflow of tourists and devotees.

Ram Mandir Construction

Following is my blog on:

Ayodhya sightseeing in one day
some takeaway points from Ayodhya conclave
FAQ on Ayodhya city

Offbeat Places to Visit in Ayodhya

What set our Ayodhya sightseeing tour apart was the exploration of offbeat destinations tucked away in and around the city.

Ram Bhawan Ayodhya

We made a brief stopover at Ram Bhawan before we entered the core of Ayodhya City. The building is a modest one but has witnessed many historic events that has led to the final Ram Mandir Construction.

A brief prelude to the significance of this building – In the late 1940s, Shri KK Nair, the District Magistrate (DM) of Faizabad (now Ayodhya) in Uttar Pradesh, originally from Kerala, staunchly supported Hindus and actively submitted reports to the government advocating for the construction of Shri Ram Temple. The turning point occurred when, miraculously, the idol of Shri Ram Lalla appeared on the night of December 22-23, 1949, at the Janmabhoomi, witnessed by locals. This extraordinary event quickly spread like wildfire, drawing a multitude of Hindus who gathered to worship at the sacred site. This was told to us by Shakti Singh, grandson of Thakur Gurudutt Singh who was the City Mayor and assistant to DM KK Nair. This date Dec 22-23 is celebrated as Pratishtotsav.

With Shakti Singh in Ram Bhawan

Shubhash Chandra Bose Rashtriya Vichar Kendra

This small house was once the shelter of Gum Naam Baba who is widely believed to be Subhash Chandra Bose. And they site several reasons for that. One is that, some of his belongings had letters addressed to Subhash Chandra Bose by his sister-in-law. This was identified by his niece who recognized her mom’s handwriting. The building has two rooms with old photographs on wall, and a table with files and a chair. The house is revered by locals we understood as we were asked to remove our footwear before entering the rooms.

Both the places are in one complex and is an offbeat destination of Ayodhya and can be of specific interest to history buffs. No tickets are required to visit Ram Bhawan. Tour time required one hour if you engage yourself with the present owner, Shakti Singh, there.

Address: G D Indane Gas Service, near Bus Stand, Civil Line, Faizabad, Uttar Pradesh 224001
Geographical coordinates: 26.77875077922046, 82.12887963098251

Subash Chandra Bose Rashtriya Vichar Kendra

Guptar Ghat Ayodhya

Nestled along the shores of the Saryu River, Guptar Ghat carries profound religious importance. Legend has it that this is the sacred spot where Lord Rama concluded his earthly journey by taking his final dip, known as “jal samadhi,” before returning to his celestial abode, ‘Vaikunta.’

Consisting of a collection of meticulously crafted Ghats, this ghat complex was constructed by Raja Darshan Singh during the initial decades of the 19th century. Atop these Ghats, one can find the Sita-Ram Temple, along with the Chakrahari and Guptahari shrines, as well as the Narasingh Temple. Guptahari shrine has the sculpted image of Shri Ram’s feet that is worshipped by all devotees.

There are couple of photography points where tourists can be seen clicking instaworthy pictures. Motorboats are operated here, providing riders with exhilarating experiences. Ayodhya Tourism has plans for solar-powered boats and regular cruises along Sarayu River.

This place is ideal for spiritually inclined tourists, adventure seekers and weekend destination as picnic spot. Tour time can take two hours.

Address: Faizabad Cantt, Uttar Pradesh 224001
Geographical Coordinates: 26.835142527561644, 82.12531061872282

Gupt hari Mandir Ayodhya

Gurudwara Nazarbag Ayodhya

The Gurudwara, honoring the visits of Guru Nanak Dev and Guru Tegh Bahadur to Ayodhya at different times, stands as a testament to their presence. Located in Ayodhya, Gurudwara Nazarbag boasts a splendid interior on the first floor where prayers are conducted. Additionally, another significant Gurudwara in Ayodhya is the Brahm Kund Gurudwara, which houses revered items such as Guruji’s sandals, katar (dagger), steel arrow, and chakra (quoit). Visitors have the opportunity to witness these artifacts on display. For those fortunate enough to be present during lunchtime, participation in the langar, a communal meal, is a welcomed and enriching experience.

Ideal destination for spiritually inclined tourists and hungry budget travelers.

Address: Najarbagh, near Hanuman Ghari, Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh 224123
Coordinates: 26.79957928505467, 82.20291931534209

Gurudwara Nazarbag Ayodhya

Hanuman Garhi in Ram Janmabhoomi

Situated in the city of Ayodhya, Hanuman Garhi, or Siddhapeeth Shri Hanuman Garhi – dedicated to Lord Hanuman, is a revered Hindu temple dating back to the 10th century. It holds a significant place in any Ayodhya itinerary for devotees, as it is believed that seeking permission from Hanuman here is a prerequisite before visiting the Ram Mandir. According to lore, Lord Ram entrusted Ayodhya to Hanuman before taking the Jal-samadhi. What makes this temple truly unique is the presence of a depiction showing Hanuman’s mother, Anjani, cradling a young Hanuman in her lap.

The temple is open every day from 4 AM to 10 PM. No tickets are required. Tour time depends a lot on the crowds. During festival times the temple gets quite crowded. There are 76 steps leading to the temple. Difficult to access for the handicapped.

Address: Sai Nagar, Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh 224123
Geographical coordinates: 26.795977127832682, 82.20164290000001

Hanuman Garhi in Ram Janmabhoomi – Ayodhya Sightseeing

Ram Mandir

The new Ram Mandir construction wasn’t complete when we reached Ayodhya. But we did have the good fortune to visit the old make-shift tent that had the idols of infant form of Ram, Lakshman, Bharat and Shatrughna. It takes time to reach the tent and depends on length of the queue of the devotees, however darshan takes just a few minutes.

Ram ki Paidi Ayodhya Sightseeing

The walk along the chain of ghats of Sarayu River, Ram ki Paidi, was most relaxing. The river bank is done up so well with colorful lights, soothing fountains and a mega screen that displayed the Ramayana serial.

Ram ki Paidi – Ayodhya sightseeing

Souvenirs from Ayodhya

Similar to any other city, one of the delightful experiences in Ayodhya is indulging in the purchase of local souvenirs. I discovered that many of these souvenirs come with a very budget-friendly price tag. The streets of Ayodhya are adorned with charming shops offering a diverse array of appealing keepsakes. During my Ayodhya visit, the saffron flags bearing the inscription “Jai Shri Ram” were particularly popular, flying off the shelves rapidly. Additionally, the miniature models of the Ram Mandir were also in high demand and disappearing swiftly from the displays.

Jai Shri Ram flags

Ayodhya Facilities for Tourists and Pilgrims

There exists a clear and fine demarcation between the expectations of devotees and tourists when visiting spiritual destinations. Devotees often make pilgrimages as a recurring ritual, returning year after year, while tourists typically visit such places only once. Indian tourist destinations get repeat tourists when they are able to take back the culture with them – keeping that as the motto the infrastructure around this holy city, Ram Janmabhoomi, has been developed.

During Ayodhya Conclave event which was graced by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and other high dignitaries, we were briefed about the steps the state government has taken to provide better facilities for tourists and pilgrims.

Roads, the lifeline of any city have been improved. Four main roads of Ayodhya City – Ram Path, Janmabhoomi Path, Dharam Path and Bhakti Path – have been widened. The roads are lined with shops, all given uniform façade which has enhanced the general look a lot. Yogi Adityanath ji during his speech in Ayodhya Conclave said that, “In this process the locals displaced have been compensated/rehabilitated with an equal compensation in money/kind.”

Ayodhya Sightseeing

Mr. Ranvir Prasad, The Housing Commissioner and Director of Nagar Bhoomi Seema Ropan, said that 30% of the land infrastructure is covered with trees and water bodies. Ayodhya will be the first city that will have a river (Sarayu River) flowing through it – a well-planned greenfield township. There will be ten unique ashrams and mutts of different fields, residential plots with low rise housing… all planned in such a way to enhance the experience of Ayodhya as an emotion that is divine. Thankfully the authorities have decided against skyscrapers as of now and I hope it doesn’t change.

In 2017 when the present government took over the charge of the state Ayodhya City received just around 1000 tourists per day. This number has now risen to 35 lakhs per day (during Ram Navami of 2023). To cater to this growing population of tourists especially during festivals, the New Ayodhya is being created to supply everything from the city. Apps for the different facilities is being readied to help tourists. All developments being made keeping in mind to preserve, conserve and promote Ajodhya’s culture.

During my walking tour of streets of Ayodhya, I found them to be clean, not spotlessly clean but definitely cleaner than Bangalore. If they continue to maintain the cleanliness, I am sure Ayodhya will beat Indore of Madhya Pradesh very soon for sure.

Cleanliness-in-charge Ayodhya

Sarayu River Cruise is another project that is taking off successfully. This will definitely add value for tourists to add to their Ayodhya itinerary. Efforts are on to ply electric buses in the city. Right now, 200 electric buses are on the roads of Ayodhya which will be increased to 500. The visionary Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh also said that their government is trying to make Ayodhya the first solar city in Bharat.

Frequently asked Questions about Ayodhya

Where is Ayodhya located?

The city is situated on the banks of the Sarayu River (also called Sarju, Ghaghra and Manas Nandini) in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Distance from Lucknow to Ayodhya is 135 km. Distance from Varanasi to Ayodhya is 219 km. Distance from Prayagraj to Ayodhya is 169 km.

What is Ayodhya famous for?

Ayodhya is known for its many temples and pilgrimage sites, attracting devotees and tourists alike. It holds great religious and historical significance, particularly in Hinduism. Ayodhya is believed to be the birthplace of Lord Rama, a revered figure in Hindu history, and it is associated with the ancient Indian epic, the Ramayana.

Work in progress

Where to stay in Ayodhya?

In 2017 there were hardly any good hotels or dharamshalas in Ram Janmabhoomi. But after the facelift has caught momentum, many five star and seven-star hotels have registered. Among them one is going to be a seven-star vegetarian hotel in Ayodhya. In his speech, Yogi ji said, more than 1000 people have registered with government to provide homestay facilities. (This section to be updated soon.)

How to reach Ayodhya?

By air: What was initially an airstrip of 166 acres has now expanded to 821 acres of airport land. Work is progressing in 3-stage phased out manner to build a world class international airport – Maharishi Valmiki International Airport, Ayodhya Dham.
By Train: Rail lines which were in meter gauge network before got replaced by broad gauge and now to double broad gauge. This has resulted in increased frequency of trains from cities around to Ayodhya.
By road: Ayodhya city has four-lane connectivity with all major cities around it.

Roads of Ram Janmabhoomi

Conclusion

The overwhelming sensation of being in Ayodhya, ancient holy city of Bharat, personally witnessing the facelift and constant change in every aspect of the experience was profound. Whether receiving darshan of Ram Lalla (infant Ram) just before Pran Pratishtha, strolling along the ghats, or exploring the various shrines, every moment during this Ayodhya sightseeing felt truly blessed. I am thankful to Uttar Pradesh Tourism, Times of India Lucknow and Nagar Vikas UP for this opportunity.

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Indrani Ghose is an Indian Travel Writer and Blogger based in Bangalore, India. She has written for numerous publications across the globe – including Lonely Planet, The National UAE, Whetstone Asia, Deccan Herald. You can follow her on her social media handles Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest and Facebook to see the wonderful destinations, beautiful offbeat places and get instant updates about them.