Ram Mandir Ayodhya: Everything You Need to Know Before You Go

Jai Shri Ram. If you’re planning a visit to the new Ram Mandir, you’re joining tens of thousands of devotees who arrive every single day. After taking my own family last winter, here is everything I wish someone had told us.

How to get there

Ayodhya now has its own airport — Maharishi Valmiki International Airport (AYJ), opened in December 2023, with daily flights from Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Hyderabad. By rail, Ayodhya Cantt (AY) and Ayodhya Junction are well-connected. By road, it’s 130 km from Lucknow (3 hours) on excellent expressway.

The Pran Pratishtha & the new temple

The grand new Ram Mandir was consecrated on 22 January 2024. The temple is built in the traditional Nagara style of Indian temple architecture — pink Bansi Paharpur sandstone, three floors, 392 carved pillars. The garbha griha (sanctum) houses the magnificent Ram Lalla idol carved by Arun Yogiraj from a single black-stone (Krishna Shila) block from Karnataka.

How to plan the darshan

• Book a darshan slot online via the official Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust website (srjbtkshetra.org) — allows skip-the-line entry through the dedicated channel.
• Aarti timings: Mangala Aarti (4:30 AM), Shringar Aarti (6:30 AM), Bhog Aarti (12:00 PM), Sandhya Aarti (7:00 PM), Shayan Aarti (10:00 PM). Free passes for aarti issued at the Yatri Suvidha Kendra — reach by 4:00 AM for Mangala.
• Mobile phones, cameras, leather, food — all prohibited inside. Free locker facilities at the entry.
• Wear modest clothing. Ladies in saree or salwar; gents in dhoti, kurta-pyjama or formal trousers preferred.

Other essential temples in Ayodhya

• Hanuman Garhi — the ancient hilltop temple of Lord Hanuman; tradition says you must visit Hanuman before Ram. 76 steps to climb.
• Kanak Bhawan — said to have been gifted to Sita Mata by Kaikeyi as a wedding present. The most photogenic small temple in Ayodhya.
• Nageshwarnath Temple — founded by Lord Ram’s son Kush. The Mahashivratri celebration here is unforgettable.
• Sita Ki Rasoi — the kitchen of Sita Mata, near the main complex.
• Tulsi Smarak Bhawan — dedicated to Goswami Tulsidas, the author of the Ramcharitmanas.

Saryu Aarti — the most beautiful evening

Don’t miss the evening Saryu Aarti at Ram ki Paidi ghat — held daily at sunset (around 6:00 PM in winter, 6:45 PM in summer). The ghats are stepped, the river is calm, and the synchronised aarti is on a scale to rival Varanasi but with far fewer crowds. Take a small diya offering for your own lamp.

Where to stay

• Premium: The Ramayana Hotel (newest and closest to the temple complex), Hotel Ramprastha
• Mid-range: Hotel Shane Avadh, OYO Townhouse Ayodhya
• Dharmashalas (free/donation): Birla Dharamshala, Kanak Bhawan Dharamshala — clean and well-maintained
• Lucknow base: 130 km away — many travellers prefer to base in Lucknow and day-trip in

Best time to visit

• October – March — pleasant weather, ideal for darshan.
• Diwali (October – November) — the entire city is lit with diyas; the Saryu ghats become a spectacle. Book hotels 6+ months ahead.
• Ram Navami (April) — the holiest day in Ayodhya; expect very heavy crowds.
• April – June — very hot (40+ °C), avoid noon darshan.
• July – September — monsoon, manageable but humid.

Combine with

Ayodhya pairs naturally with two extensions:

• Varanasi (200 km, 4 hr drive) — the Ganga aarti at Dashashwamedh ghat is the perfect spiritual finale.
• Prayagraj (170 km) — the Triveni Sangam and the Bharadwaj Ashram (where Lord Ram, Sita and Lakshman halted on the way to exile).
• Naimisharanya (130 km) — the holy forest where the Mahabharata was first narrated.

The honest truth

The crowds are real. On any festival or weekend, the temple complex sees 1.5 lakh visitors a day. Plan your darshan for a weekday morning, book accommodation 2+ months in advance, and consider hiring a Gulshan Tours guide who knows the back-route shortcuts and the best aarti seats. The wait is worth it. The moment you stand before Ram Lalla — everything settles.

Plan an Ayodhya yatra: Ayodhya Tour Packages — we arrange transport, hotel, darshan slots and an experienced local guide. Combine with Varanasi for a 5-day spiritual circuit.