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Voykit pocket guide · India
Ayodhya
Visit Ayodhya for a day or two to see the Ram Mandir, Hanuman Garhi and the ghats; longer stays only for festivals.
Ayodhya is a key Hindu pilgrimage centre in Uttar Pradesh. The core sights – Ram Mandir, Hanuman Garhi, Nageshwarnath Temple and the Sarayu ghats – fit into a half‑day, but festivals such as Diwali or Ram Navami benefit from an overnight stay. Trains connect the city to Delhi, Lucknow and Varanasi; the nearby Maharishi Valmiki International Airport (AYJ) offers limited flights.
- Country
- India
- Best months
- Oct–Mar (cooler, festivals)
- Avoid
- Apr–Jun (heat, monsoon)
- Stay
- 1–2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- INR
- Money
- Indian rupees (INR, ₹) in small notes for autos, street food, tips and entry tickets.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₹1,200–2,000 excl. bed · Mid ₹2,500–4,000 excl. bed · High ₹4,500–7,000 excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Jio, Airtel and Vi sell tourist SIMs at airport counters and their shops; passport, visa and a photo needed; activation can take a few hours.
- Emergency
- Police 100 · Fire Department 101 · Ambulance 102
- Plugs
- Types C, D, M · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin C plugs fit most sockets; D (three round pins) is the common wall socket; hotels often have universal sockets. UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Street food and dhabas: Nothing.; Restaurant: 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.; Car and driver: ₹300–500 a day at the end of the trip.; Guide: ₹300–500 for a half day.; Hotel porter / housekeeping: ₹50–100.; Auto or Uber: Round up.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Buy sealed bottles (check the cap), or use RO-filtered refill stations in hotels and cafés; avoid ice from street stalls.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels, malls and airports; squat toilets with a water jug or hose in stations and villages. Carry tissue and sanitiser; paid public toilets (Sulabh) cost ₹5–10.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Vegetarian thali | ₹150–300 |
| Bottle of water (500 ml) | ₹20–30 |
| Auto‑rickshaw (5 km (3.1 mi))Auto‑rickshaw (3.1 mi (5 km)) | ₹100–150 |
| Train ticket Delhi–Ayodhya (2nd class) | ₹1,200–1,800 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- AYJ · Maharishi Valmiki International Airport Ayodhya Dham
- —
Typical fares
- Delhi → Ayodhya (train, 2nd class)
- ≈₹1,500, 6 h (check)
- Auto‑rickshaw 5 km
- ≈₹120
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Trains (Ayodhya Junction, Ayodhya Cantt) link to Delhi, Lucknow, Varanasi; frequent buses from Lucknow, Delhi and Gorakhpur; taxis or auto‑rickshaws for local moves; walk between most temples in the town centre.
See and do
Known for
- Ram Mandir
- Hanuman Garhi
- Sarayu River ghats
- Ram Navami festival
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Lucknow | Train from Ayodhya Junction, about 2 h | ≈2 h |
| Prayagraj | Train or bus, about 3 h | ≈3 h |
Sleep
- Birla Dharamshala
- Basic rooms near bus station
- Hotel Ramprastha
- Mid‑range hotel on Naya Ghat
- Shri Ram Hotel
- Budget hotel in New Colony
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | माफ़ कीजिएmaaf kijiye |
| Thank you | धन्यवादdhanyavaad |
| How much is this? | यह कितना है?yah kitna hai? |
| Where is the bathroom? | शौचालय कहाँ है?shauchalay kahan hai? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Namaste (palms together) or a handshake between men; wait for a woman to offer her hand; avoid: Hugging or kissing strangers
- Hands and feet: Give and eat with the right hand; apologise if your foot touches someone; avoid: Pointing feet at people or shrines; touching books or food with your feet
- Temples: Shoes off, walk clockwise around shrines, accept prasad (blessed food) with the right hand; avoid: Leather in Jain temples; entering sanctums that say Hindus only
- Home visit: Bring sweets or fruit; accept tea at least once; avoid: Refusing all food; wearing shoes inside
- Questions: Expect personal questions (married? job? salary?) as friendliness; avoid: Taking offence; answer vaguely if you prefer
- Saying no: A firm, polite 'nahi, dhanyavaad' (no, thank you) and keep walking; avoid: Long explanations to touts
- Dress: Loose clothes covering shoulders and knees; kurta tops are cheap and cool; avoid: Swimwear or shorts away from Goa beaches
Scams and watch-outs
- Meat sales banned within 15 km of Ram Mandir (2026); only vegetarian food available.
- Crowds surge during Diwali, Ram Navami and Ram Lila – plan early arrival and secure accommodation.
- Summer heat can be intense; carry water and sun protection.
Ayodhya is generally safe for pilgrims; stay alert in crowds, keep valuables secure, and avoid isolated areas after dark.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Ayodhya yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Ram Mandir
- Hanuman Garhi
- Sarayu River ghats
- Ram Navami festival
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata – Ayodhya: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12345
- Wikivoyage: Ayodhya, revision 5275552 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5275552
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/ayodhya). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.