Kashi & Ayodhya

Kashi, Prayagraj and Ayodhya yatra at a glance

Kashi (Varanasi), Prayagraj and Ayodhya are the three great tirthas of Uttar Pradesh, each about 3 to 5 hours apart by road. Kashi holds the Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga and the Ganga ghats, Prayagraj the Triveni Sangam of Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati, and Ayodhya the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir. The circuit needs no trekking and suits all ages. A comfortable yatra of all three takes 5 days; single-city visits take a day to three. October to March is the best season. Our Dehradun team plans everything and stays on call.

Which Kashi or Ayodhya yatra is right for you?

For a complete yatra, choose one of the 5-day plans that cover all three cities. If you are short on time, two nights in Kashi or Ayodhya give an unhurried darshan. Families performing shraddh can add Gaya, and those who want to see Dev Deepawali should book early. The table lists every yatra in this category, most popular first.

How to plan a Kashi, Prayagraj and Ayodhya yatra in 5 days

The usual order is Kashi first, then Prayagraj, then Ayodhya, so the yatra flows in one direction and you fly or take a train home from Ayodhya or Lucknow. A typical plan looks like this:

1. Day 1, Kashi: arrive, evening Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat.
2. Day 2, Kashi: sunrise boat ride, Kashi Vishwanath darshan, Annapurna, Kaal Bhairav, Sankat Mochan; Sarnath (10 km) in the afternoon.
3. Day 3, Prayagraj: drive about 120 km (3 hours), boat to the Sangam for snan, Bade Hanuman, Alopi Devi and Akshayavat.
4. Day 4, Ayodhya: drive about 165 km (4 to 5 hours), evening Saryu aarti at Ram Ki Paidi.
5. Day 5, Ayodhya: morning Ram Lalla darshan, Hanuman Garhi and Kanak Bhawan, then departure.

Varanasi airport is about 25 km from the city and Ayodhya's Maharishi Valmiki airport about 11 km from the Ram Mandir; both cities also have major railway stations. From Dehradun most yatris travel via Delhi or Lucknow.

Kashi Vishwanath darshan: what to know

• Phones, cameras, bags, belts with metal and leather items are not allowed inside the temple. Paid lockers are at the corridor gates; carry only your ID and a little cash.
• General darshan is free. Paid Sugam Darshan and the aartis are booked only on the temple trust's site, shrikashivishwanath.org, and online sales stop on peak days such as Mahashivratri and Shravan Mondays.
• Vehicles cannot enter the lanes near the temple; expect a 10 to 15 minute walk or an e-rickshaw from the drop point.
• Many yatris also take darshan of the Vishalakshi Shakti Peeth and Kaal Bhairav, traditionally called the kotwal of Kashi.

Our Kashi Vishwanath darshan guide covers queues and aarti timings in detail.

Ayodhya Ram Mandir darshan: timings and aarti passes

Darshan at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir is free and runs in two sessions, roughly 7 am to 11.30 am and 2 pm to 7 pm; timings change with season and festivals. Aarti passes are free but limited, issued by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust online or at its camp office against a photo ID, so apply as soon as your dates are fixed. Phones, bags and electronic keys are not allowed inside; lockers are at the entry. Ram Navami, Diwali (Deepotsav) and Kartik Purnima bring very heavy crowds. See our Ayodhya Ram Mandir darshan guide.

Dev Deepawali 2026 in Varanasi

Dev Deepawali is celebrated on Kartik Purnima, when the ghats of Kashi are lit with lakhs of diyas. In 2026 it falls on 24 November. The best view is from the river, and boats are booked out weeks ahead; hotel rates in the city rise sharply that week. We offer a reserved seat on a large bajra boat for the evening, a one-night package, and a 5-day yatra that adds Prayagraj and Ayodhya. The 2027 date will follow the Kartik Purnima calendar; ask us when you plan.

Pind daan at Gaya with Kashi

Many families combine Kashi with pind daan at Gaya, about 250 km and 6 hours away by road. The rites are performed at the Falgu river, the Vishnupad temple and Akshayavat by a Gaya purohit, and Bodh Gaya is only 13 km away. Pind daan can be done throughout the year; Pitru Paksha is the most auspicious and most crowded period. In 2027 it is expected from 15 or 16 September to Sarva Pitru Amavasya on 29 September, so book rooms and the purohit early. Our Gaya pind daan guide explains the process. If you cannot travel, see our online Gaya pind daan.

Best time, crowds and senior-citizen tips

October to March is the most comfortable season. April to June is very hot, and in the monsoon the Ganga rises over the lower ghats and boat rides may be suspended. The heaviest crowds come on Mahashivratri (6 March 2027), Shravan Mondays in Kashi, Ram Navami in Ayodhya, and the main snan days of the Magh Mela at Prayagraj in January and February.

For elders we choose hotels close to the ghats or temples, keep one drive a day, and plan darshan in the early morning. If a family member needs a wheelchair, tell us in advance and we will check what the temple provides for your date.

What we arrange

Hotels, a private AC vehicle throughout, pure-vegetarian breakfast and dinner on multi-day yatras, airport or station pickup and drop, boat rides as listed, and help with Sugam Darshan or aarti pass applications where the temple allows it. Entry tickets, puja and donations are paid at the temple.

Frequently asked questions

How many days are enough for Varanasi, Prayagraj and Ayodhya?

Five days and four nights is the comfortable minimum: two nights in Kashi, then Prayagraj for the Sangam snan on the way to Ayodhya, and a final morning for Ram Lalla darshan. It can be squeezed into four days, but the drives of 3 to 5 hours each make that tiring for elders.

What is the distance between Varanasi, Prayagraj and Ayodhya?

Varanasi to Prayagraj is about 120 km (around 3 hours), Prayagraj to Ayodhya about 165 km (4 to 5 hours), and Ayodhya back to Varanasi a little over 200 km. All three are on good highways, and most yatras travel them in a single direction to avoid doubling back.

Is a pass needed for Ram Mandir darshan?

No pass is needed for ordinary darshan, which is free. Passes are needed only for the aartis, and these are free but limited, issued by the temple trust online or at its camp office against a photo ID. Apply early, especially for festival dates.

Can I carry my phone into Kashi Vishwanath temple?

No. Mobile phones, cameras, smart watches, bags and leather items are not allowed inside. Paid lockers are available at the corridor gates. Carry only your ID and some cash, and agree a meeting point with your family before you enter.

When is Dev Deepawali in 2026?

Dev Deepawali falls on Kartik Purnima, 24 November 2026. The main lighting happens at dusk, with the Maha Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat. Boats and hotels sell out early, so book as soon as possible if you want to see it from the river.

Is this yatra suitable for senior citizens?

Yes. There is no trekking, and the temples are reached by car and a short walk or e-rickshaw. The main strain is crowds and heat, so travel between October and March, avoid festival days if possible, and take darshan early in the morning.

Can we add Gaya or Bodh Gaya to a Kashi yatra?

Yes. Gaya is about 250 km from Varanasi. Our 4 and 5-day Kashi–Gaya yatras include pind daan at the Falgu and Vishnupad with a Gaya purohit, and a morning at the Mahabodhi temple in Bodh Gaya, 13 km from Gaya.

Tell us your city, dates and which tirthas you want to cover, and we will send a written day-wise plan. Use the enquiry form on this page or call/WhatsApp us; our numbers are on the Contact page.