Ayodhya

• History
• Places to visit
• How to reach

Considered as one of the seven holy cities, Ayodhya holds great importance for Hindu devotees. The city is revered as the Janam Bhoomi (birthplace) of Lord Rama and since ancient times, has seen nothing but prosperity and contentment in the lives of its inhabitants.

Talking from the tourism perspective, people who want to know the essence of Indian culture must consider planning a trip to this culturally vibrant Indian destination. It is situated on the banks of holy river Sarayu and as it is associated with Hinduism, one gets to see a great number of temples and behold the sacred heritage, which this religious tourist destination has to offer.

People who want to grow spiritually must-visit Indian holy cities like Ayodhya, as these are the kind of places which connects a person with their glorious history and help them know the significance of Vedanta and our sacred texts. Apart from that, one can explore various temples and historical sites in Ayodhya city.

Best Time to Visit Ayodhya

The best time to visit Ayodhya would be from September to March. The winter season is enjoyable as the temperature lies in between 22°C-8°C, and amid a breezy environment the excitement to explore the city just doubles.

History of Ayodhya

Ayodhya was the capital of Kosala. However, there are many scholars who believe that Ayodhya does have a similar resemblance to another town known by the name of Saketa. This is the town where it is believed, Lord Buddha, also once resided for a certain time and spread his teachings of Buddhism.

Then later on in history, the presence of Buddhist centres in this region was noted here. Apart from Buddhist monasteries, there were many other monuments like Buddhist shrines which were founded by Emperor Ashoka in 3rd century BCE.

Kanauj

With the passing of time, the kingdom of Kanauj saw its rise in this region. It was also known by the name of Oudh or Awadh during the 11th and 12th centuries. As per the historical records, the city was later included in the Delhi Sultanate and by 16th century, the Mughals had the reins of the city in their hands. 

Modern History

In the 18th century, this city came under the shade of British East India Company when it was annexed due to the subsequent loss of rights by the hereditary land revenue receivers. Then in 1877, it was joined with the Agra Presidency with the goal of forming North-Western Provinces, which in today’s times is referred to as Uttar Pradesh.

Major Attractions in and Around Ayodhya

1. Ram Janma Bhoomi

It is believed that Lord Rama was born here as the seventh Avatar of Lord Vishnu. If you want to feel the nostalgia associated with the glorious Hindu Itihaas then Ramjanma Bhoomi won’t disappoint you at all. In fact, it is a wonderful place to visit and spend some amazing time with your family and friends. This place will surely remain in your heart forever.

2. Hanuman Garhi

Dedicated as a worshipping place to Lord Hanuman, this temple is an amazing religious tourist destination. The glory of this temple is known in the entire Northern-India. And interestingly, there is a custom associated with this temple. As per the custom, a person has to first receive darshan here before heading to the main temple dedicated to Lord Ram.

3. Nageshwarnath Temple

As per the legends, it is believed that this temple was founded by Lord Ram’s son Kush. It is said that once, Kush lost his armlet while taking a bath in the Sarayu River. This same armlet was picked by one of the Nag-Kanyas who fell in love with him and as she revered Lord Shiva, Kush erected a whole temple for her.

4. Awantika

A wonderful place for the foodies where one can enjoy scrumptious meals ranging from Chinese to Italian to Indian cuisines. The best part you’ll realize here; the restaurant fits best in your pocket.

5. Bahu Begum ka Maqbara

This is a tomb of Queen Begum Unmatuzzohra Bano. This is one of the tallest buildings in the entire Faizabad and is a worthy example of non-Mughal architecture style. 

6. Gulab Bari

With an immense collection of roses and beautiful water fountains, the Tomb of Gulab Bari is fundamentally a maqbara of the Nawab Shuja-ud-Daula. It is a great place for history buffs to learn something new and interesting about our country’s past.

How to Reach Ayodhya

The city of Ayodhya carries great significance historically. It is believed to be the birthplace of Lord Rama. From Delhi, Bengaluru, Kolkata and Mumbai it is located at an approximate distance of 688, 1,899, 873, and 1,512 km respectively. Let’s see how you can reach Ayodhya via the following routes.

By Air

The two nearest airports from Ayodhya are Lucknow Airport and Faizabad Airport. The Lucknow Airport is considered to be the prime airport serving these regions. This airport is located at a distance of 150 km from Ayodhya whereas the Faizabad Airport is sited at a distance of 8-10 km.

Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport a.k.a Lucknow Airport has overall good connectivity with other Indian cities. Named after the fifth Prime Minister of India, this airport also features ILS CAT-III-B functionality which enables the flights to land here in bad weather conditions as well.

After deboarding at the airport, you will need to take a cab or some other means of public transportation to reach your respective destination.

Here is a list of Indian cities from where flights are available to Ayodhya

• Delhi to Lucknow Flight
• Mumbai to Lucknow Flight
• Kolkata to Lucknow Flight
• Bangalore to Lucknow Flight
• Hyderabad to Lucknow Flight
• Jaipur to Lucknow Flight
• Ahmedabad to Lucknow Flight

By Road

You can consider travelling to Ayodhya from road networks as well. Here is how to reach Ayodhya by road.

1. From Ajmer - 839 km via NH48 and Agra-Lucknow Expressway 
2. From Delhi - 699 km (approx) via NH19 and NH27 
3. From Gwalior - 474 km via NH19 and NH27 
4. From Jaipur - 707 km via Agra Rd and NH27 

You can also consider travelling via interstate buses to Ayodhya. Depending upon your location, you can easily book buses online.

By Train

Ayodhya has a train junction by the same name. It is very well connected with places like Varanasi, Lucknow, Gorakhpur and Aligarh.

Apart from Ayodhya Junction, you can also consider the Faizabad Junction, situated at an approximate distance of 8-10 km. Here is how you can reach Ayodhya via train routes.

1. From Varanasi - Board CPR LJN EXP, DOON EXP via Varanasi Junction 
2. From Delhi - Board Kaifiyat Express or Farakka Express via New Delhi Railway Junction 
3. From Aligarh - Board Kaifiyat Express via Aligarh Junction.

As you deboard at the Ayodhya Junction, you can easily take a cab or an auto to reach your respective destination.

Frequently Asked Questions about Ayodhya

Q. What is Ayodhya known for?
A. Ayodhya is known as a Hindu pilgrimage site and the birthplace of Lord Ram according to Hindu mythology. It is also famous for the Ram Janmabhoomi temple, a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Ram.

Q. What is the Ram Janmabhoomi temple?
A. The Ram Janmabhoomi temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Ram and is located in Ayodhya. It is a significant site for Hindu pilgrims and is believed to be the birthplace of Lord Ram.

Q. Is Ayodhya a historical city?
A. Ayodhya has a rich cultural and historical heritage and has been mentioned in several ancient Hindu texts and epic stories. The city has been a center of Hindu pilgrimage for many centuries and has been an important cultural and religious center in India.

You can plan your trip and create your own route to the city with Adotrip’s technically driven circuit planner. Click here.