Ayodhya Ram Mandir Darshan: A Journey to the Treta Yuga

Highlights & Route

Most visitors give Ayodhya a few rushed hours between other cities. This package gives it three days. You arrive at Ayodhya airport or railway station, stay two nights close to the temple zone, and take the main darshan at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir on the second morning when you are rested and the queue is at its shortest. The remaining time goes to the places that make Ayodhya more than a single temple: Hanuman Garhi, Kanak Bhavan, Nageshwarnath, Sita Ki Rasoi, Treta Ke Thakur, Dashrath Mahal and the Saryu ghats.

A local guide accompanies you on the first two days. Ayodhya’s temples each carry a story from the Ramayana, and hearing them at the spot makes the yatra far richer, especially for children and for elderly parents who have waited years for this darshan. Evenings are spent at Ram Ki Paidi for the Saryu aarti, and the last morning begins, for those who wish, with a dip in the river.

Pickup and drop are at Ayodhya, so you can fly in directly to Maharishi Valmiki International Airport or arrive by train at Ayodhya Dham junction. If you are coming via Lucknow (about 135 km) or Varanasi (about 200 km), we can arrange the transfer at extra cost. Meals are pure vegetarian breakfast and dinner at the hotel.

Route

Ayodhya arrival → Hanuman Garhi and Kanak Bhavan → Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir → Nageshwarnath, Ram Ki Paidi, Sita Ki Rasoi, Treta Ke Thakur → Saryu snan and Dashrath Mahal → Ayodhya departure

Good to know before you book

• Ram Mandir darshan is free and open in two sessions, roughly 7 am to 11.30 am and 2 pm to 7 pm. Timings change with season and festivals; we confirm the day’s schedule before you go.
• Aarti passes (mangala, shringar, sandhya and shayan aartis) are free and limited, issued online by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust or at its camp office with a photo ID. Apply as soon as your dates are fixed.
• Phones, cameras, electronic keys and bags are not allowed inside the mandir premises; lockers and cloakrooms are at the entry.
• Dress modestly. Shorts and sleeveless tops are discouraged in all Ayodhya temples.
• Ram Navami (March–April), Diwali and the Kartik Purnima Saryu snan bring very heavy crowds; expect long waits and road diversions on those dates.
• October to March is the comfortable season; summer afternoons are hot and the morning darshan session is preferable.

Darshan, puja and timing notes

We plan the main Ram Mandir darshan on the morning of Day 2, at the start of the session, when you are rested and the line is shortest. A second, more relaxed darshan on the evening of Day 2 is often possible. The Saryu aarti at the ghats begins at sunset, roughly 5.30 pm in winter and later in summer.

• Ram Mandir hours: the Trust has run darshan from early morning (about 6–7 am) to about 9.30 pm, with a short break around midday for bhog; hours have changed several times since 2024, so we check on the day.
• Ram Darbar: since August 2026 the separate pass for the Ram Darbar on the first floor has been removed. After Ram Lalla darshan in the general line, devotees can go up directly.
• Aarti passes: mangala, shringar, sandhya and shayan aarti passes are free and limited, issued by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust with photo ID.
• Not allowed: phones, smartwatches, cameras, bags and pens. Lockers and shoe counters are at the entry.

If you want to attend an aarti inside the mandir, apply for passes as soon as your dates are fixed; numbers are small and are released close to the date. Kanak Bhavan, Sita Ki Rasoi and Dashrath Mahal each close for a few hours after midday, so the guide visits them in the morning or after 4 pm.

Festivals to plan around: Deepotsav (eve of Diwali, early November 2026), the Kartik Purnima Saryu snan and Kartik parikramas, Vivah Panchami in November–December, and Ram Navami on 15 April 2027. These are moving days to be in Ayodhya, but expect long waits, road diversions and higher hotel rates.

Is this yatra right for you?

This is our recommended Ayodhya programme for families with elderly parents, first-time visitors and NRIs. Two nights mean no rushed darshan, a guide on the first two days, and time for the smaller Ramayana shrines. The effort is modest: standing in the queue (twenty minutes to two hours) and the 76 steps at Hanuman Garhi, which can be skipped. Wheelchairs are available at the Ram Mandir entry on request.

If you have only a few hours, a single morning or evening is enough for the main darshan; see the shorter options below. If you want Nandigram and Bharat Kund, or a night in Lucknow at the end, the five-day yatra suits better. To check hotel options close to the temple, use the enquiry form on this page or call/WhatsApp us (numbers on our Contact page).

How this differs from our other Ayodhya yatras

For a combined journey, see Kashi, Prayagraj & Ayodhya Yatra.

Getting there and nearby tirthas

Ayodhya has direct flights to Maharishi Valmiki International Airport and trains to Ayodhya Dham and Ayodhya Cantt stations; Lucknow is about 135 km and Varanasi about 200 km by road. With half a day more, Guptar Ghat on the Saryu and Bharat Kund at Nandigram (about 20 km south) complete the Ramayana story of Ayodhya. All related programmes are under Kashi and Ayodhya yatras.