Quick answer: Ram Lalla darshan at the Ayodhya Ram Mandir is free. The trust’s current schedule lists darshan from about 7 am to 9 pm with a break around noon, and aartis at about 4 am (Mangal), 6 am (Shringar) and 10 pm (Shayan); timings change with the season. Aarti passes and Sugam Darshan passes are also free and are booked only at online.srjbtkshetra.org. Phones and bags are not allowed inside.
Updated for the 2027 yatra season (facts checked October 2026)
Since the pran pratishtha of Ram Lalla on 22 January 2024, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir has become one of the most visited temples in India. The temple is managed by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, and every pass the trust issues is free. Most of the confusion families face comes from out-of-date timings, paid “VIP pass” offers and not knowing how much time the locker and security process takes. This guide brings together what the trust has published and what we have learned taking families to Ayodhya.
What are the Ram Mandir darshan timings?
The trust’s website lists the schedule below, which it said would be reflected in booking receipts from 18 April 2026. The trust revises timings for winter and summer and on festival days; a revised timetable was reported for November 2026. Always check the timing printed on your pass.
| Time (as listed by the trust) | What happens |
|---|---|
| 4:00 am | Mangal Aarti |
| 6:00 am | Shringar Aarti |
| 7:00 am to 12:00 noon | Darshan slots (7 to 9, 9 to 11, 11 to 12) |
| 12:00 noon to 1:00 pm | Break for bhog (no darshan) |
| 1:00 pm to 9:00 pm | Darshan slots (1 to 3, 3 to 5, 5 to 7, 7 to 9) |
| 10:00 pm | Shayan Aarti |
In winter the trust has in past years opened later and closed entry earlier in the evening, so leave a margin if you plan a late visit between November and February.
Are Ram Mandir aarti passes and Sugam Darshan paid?
No. The trust states plainly that it does not charge any fee for aarti and darshan passes. In October 2026 it again warned devotees not to pay anyone for a pass. If a website, hotel or person asks for money for “VIP darshan” or an “aarti pass”, you are not dealing with the trust.
There are three kinds of pass, all on the same official portal:
- Sugam Darshan pass: a timed slot that gives an easier entry for general darshan of Ram Lalla.
- Aarti pass: a limited number of free passes to attend the Mangal, Shringar or Shayan aarti.
- Ram Darbar pass: the Ram Darbar on the first floor was consecrated in June 2025, and reports say a separate free time-slot pass is used for it.
What changed in the pass system in October 2026?
The trust announced a major change to Sugam Darshan in October 2026, reported by Organiser and UNI:
- More passes: online Sugam Darshan passes rose from 975 to 2,000 per day from 18 October 2026.
- Longer window (being rolled out): the advance window is to grow from 15 days to 90 days.
- Released in stages: passes are to be released 90, 62, 30, 14, 7, 3 and 1 day before the darshan date, plus same-day tatkal passes.
- Verification: advance applications are to be checked to stop automated booking, with results in about 24 to 48 hours; tatkal passes are confirmed at once.
The trust said the staged system would come in gradually after software changes and testing. Until it is fully live, expect the older pattern of passes opening about two weeks ahead and selling out quickly for weekends and festivals.
How to book a Ram Mandir pass online
- Open online.srjbtkshetra.org, the trust’s booking portal. It is linked from the official site srjbtkshetra.org.
- Register with your mobile number and verify it with the OTP.
- Choose Sugam Darshan, an aarti or Ram Darbar, then the date and slot.
- Add each devotee’s name, age and photo ID details exactly as on the ID.
- Submit. No payment is asked for. Under the new system an advance request may show as pending until verification.
- Download and print the pass, and read the instructions on it, which tell you the gate and reporting time.
What can you carry into Ram Mandir?
Security is airport-style. Reported rules for 2026:
- Not allowed: mobile phones, smartwatches, cameras, earphones, power banks, bags and backpacks, belts, food, water bottles, lighters and sharp objects.
- Lockers: free lockers and shoe stands are at the pilgrim facility centres outside the complex. Depositing and collecting can take 30 to 60 minutes each way on busy days; suitcases are not accepted.
- Carry: your printed pass, original photo ID, and a little cash for prasad.
- Dress: modest Indian clothes are best; cover shoulders and knees.
The easiest plan is to leave phones and bags at your hotel and walk to the temple with only your ID and pass.
How long does Ram Lalla darshan take?
| Situation | Typical time inside the complex | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Weekday, Sugam Darshan pass | About 1 to 2 hours including security | Pick a morning slot |
| Weekday, general queue | About 2 to 3 hours | Go at opening time |
| Weekend or long weekend | 3 hours or more | Book a pass well ahead |
| Ram Navami, Diwali week, 22 January | Very long; special arrangements | Avoid with elderly or children |
These are planning figures from our experience, not official numbers. Add the locker time before and after.
Ram Mandir darshan for senior citizens and divyang yatris
A separate lane and battery carts from the parking area to the entrance have been reported for elderly and divyang devotees, and wheelchairs have been reported at the help desks. Whether one family member may accompany them varies with the crowd, so confirm with the trust’s help desk before you travel. A Sugam Darshan pass on a weekday morning is the most comfortable choice. Long stretches are on foot, so carry medicines and keep rest breaks in the plan.
A simple plan for your Ram Lalla darshan day
- Evening before: print your pass, check the gate and reporting time on it, and keep your original ID with it. Charge nothing you plan to carry, because phones stay behind.
- Early morning: take darshan at Hanuman Garhi first, as local tradition asks, then walk or take an e-rickshaw towards the temple.
- Before your slot: deposit shoes and any belongings at the facility centre, allowing up to an hour on busy days.
- Darshan: follow the queue through security and the temple; the moment in front of Ram Lalla is brief, so offer your prayer calmly.
- After darshan: collect your belongings, rest, and visit Kanak Bhavan and Dashrath Mahal nearby.
- Evening: Saryu aarti at the ghats.
How to reach Ram Mandir, Ayodhya
- Ayodhya Dham Junction railway station: about 1.3 km from the temple.
- Maharishi Valmiki International Airport, Ayodhya: about 10 km, around 25 to 35 minutes by taxi.
- By road: about 135 km from Lucknow and about 200 km from Varanasi, which is why many families combine Ayodhya with Kashi and Prayagraj.
- Last stretch: private vehicles stop at designated parking; e-rickshaws and walking cover the rest.
What else to see in Ayodhya
A complete Ayodhya yatra includes Hanuman Garhi (tradition says to take his darshan first), Kanak Bhavan, Dashrath Mahal, Nageshwarnath temple, and the evening Saryu aarti at the ghats of Ram ki Paidi. Nandigram, where Bharat ruled with Ram’s paduka, is about 20 km away. Two nights let you do all this without rushing.
When is the best time for Ram Mandir darshan?
October to March is the most pleasant weather; December and January mornings can be foggy and cold. Expect the heaviest crowds on Ram Navami (15 April 2027 by the panchang), during Deepotsav in Diwali week, on the anniversary of the pran pratishtha in January, on New Year, and on long weekends. Weekday mornings in November, February and early March are a good balance. See our Yatra Calendar 2027.
What we arrange
Our Ayodhya Ram Mandir Darshan yatra (2 nights, 3 days from Ayodhya) includes Ram Lalla darshan with guide support, Hanuman Garhi, Kanak Bhavan and the Saryu aarti; we help you apply for the free passes on the trust’s portal in your own names. To include Kashi Vishwanath and the Sangam, see the Kashi, Prayagraj and Ayodhya Yatra (4 nights, 5 days) or the Kashi and Ayodhya Yatra. You can also browse our Ramayana circuit and Kashi and Ayodhya yatras, and read our Kashi Vishwanath darshan guide. To plan dates, use the enquiry form on this page or call/WhatsApp us (numbers on our Contact page).
Frequently asked questions
Is there any VIP or paid darshan at Ram Mandir?
No. The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust says it charges no fee for any darshan or aarti pass, and in October 2026 it again warned devotees not to pay anyone for one. Sugam Darshan, aarti and Ram Darbar passes are all free on online.srjbtkshetra.org. Anyone selling “VIP passes” is not authorised by the trust.
How many days in advance can I book a Ram Mandir pass?
Passes have usually opened about 15 days ahead. In October 2026 the trust announced a 90-day window with staged releases at 90, 62, 30, 14, 7, 3 and 1 day before the date, plus same-day tatkal passes, to be introduced gradually. Check the portal for the window that applies when you book.
Can I visit Ram Mandir without a pass?
Yes. General darshan of Ram Lalla is open to everyone during darshan hours without any pass. A pass only gives a timed, easier entry or a place at an aarti. Without one, go early on a weekday and allow extra time for the queue, the lockers and security.
Are mobile phones allowed inside Ram Mandir?
No. Phones, smartwatches, cameras, bags and similar items must be left outside. Free lockers are available at the pilgrim facility centres, but on busy days depositing and collecting can take 30 to 60 minutes each way. Leave them at your hotel if you can and carry only your ID and printed pass.
What are the Ram Mandir aarti timings?
The trust’s current listing shows Mangal Aarti at 4 am, Shringar Aarti at 6 am and Shayan Aarti at 10 pm, with darshan from about 7 am to 9 pm and a break around noon for bhog. The trust revises timings seasonally and on festivals, so confirm the time printed on your pass.
How do I get the Ram Darbar darshan on the first floor?
The Ram Darbar on the first floor was consecrated in June 2025. Reports say entry uses a separate free time-slot pass booked on the same official portal. Slots are limited, so book together with your Ram Lalla darshan and check the gate and reporting time on the pass.
How many days are enough for Ayodhya?
Two nights are comfortable. One full day covers Ram Lalla darshan with its locker and security time, Hanuman Garhi and Kanak Bhavan; the second covers the Saryu snan, Dashrath Mahal, the smaller shrines and the evening aarti. Add Nandigram if you have a half day more.
Is Ayodhya easy to combine with Varanasi?
Yes. Ayodhya is about 200 km from Varanasi by road, and Prayagraj lies on the same circuit, so many families do Kashi, the Sangam and Ayodhya in four or five days. Trains and flights also connect Ayodhya to Delhi and Lucknow directly.