Must Visit Landmarks in Ayodhya and the Stories Behind Them

I have spent most of my life walking the lanes of Ayodhya, from the crowded ghats along the Saryu to the quiet temples tucked behind houses in Naya Ghat. If you are planning a trip and looking for the must visit landmarks in Ayodhya, I want to give you the kind of guide I wish someone had handed me before my first proper pilgrimage through this city. These are the places with real stories, real crowds, and a few surprises most guidebooks skip.

The Ram Janmabhoomi Temple and the Surrounding Complex

The Ram Janmabhoomi Temple sits at the heart of old Ayodhya, in the Kuber Tila area, surrounded by a security perimeter that has reshaped the neighborhood over the past decade. The temple itself was consecrated in January 2024, and visiting it feels different from visiting other shrines because of the layered history of the site, the archaeological finds beneath it, and the sheer number of pilgrims who line up daily.

The Vibe? Heavy with devotion and constant movement, even on slow weekdays.
The Bill? Entry is free, but expect to pay 10 to 30 rupees for locker services and prasad counters.
The Standout? The black stone idols of Ram Lalla in the garbhagriha, carved by Mysore sculptor Arun Yogiraj.
The Catch? Mobile phones, cameras, belts, and most personal items are not allowed inside, so plan for the cloakroom queue, which stretches on weekends.

Go early, ideally before 7 a.m., when the aarti finishes and the lines thin out for about an hour. Most tourists do not realize the temple sits directly above a documented archaeological site, and you can see artifacts from the excavations displayed inside the museum wing of the complex, which closes at 5 p.m. If you want a quiet darshan, Tuesdays are noticeably calmer than Sundays.

Hanuman Garhi Temple

Climb the 76 stone steps just off the Naya Ghat road and you reach Hanuman Garhi, a hilltop fortress temple built in the 10th century, said to be where Hanuman sat guarding Ram. The structure looks more like a small fort than a temple, with circular ramparts and a central shrine, and the view from the top gives you a real sense of how dense and layered the old city actually is.

The Vibe? Loud bells, chanting priests, and langur monkeys that own the stairs.
The Bill? Free entry, with optional donations of 21 or 51 rupees at the shrine.
The Standout? The inner sanctum where the idol of Hanuman is believed to have been placed by Abhaimanyu, with a small cave beneath that pilgrims crawl through for blessings.
The Catch? The steps get slippery in monsoon, and the monkeys here are far bolder than at most temples, so leave your sunglasses and loose snacks behind.

Visit between 8 and 10 a.m. to catch the morning aarti without the school-trip rush that hits around 11. A local tip most visitors miss: there is a small kiosk on the left side of the stairway that sells fresh jalebi and boiled chana wrapped in leaf plates for 20 rupees, and it is the best breakfast in a three-block radius.

Kanak Bhawan

Right across from the Ram Janmabhoomi entrance lane, Kanak Bhawan is one of those famous monuments Ayodhya that people forget is actually older than the modern temple around it. Built in 1891 by Rani Vrishbhanu of Kullu, this temple houses gold-plated idols of Ram and Sita dressed in bright seasonal robes that change several times a year.

The Vibe? Intimate, colorful, and far less crowded than the main temple across the street.
The Bill? Free, though donations are welcomed.
The Standout? The jeweled crowns and embroidered garments on the deities, which are changed in Bhadon, Agrahayan, and Chait months.
The Catch? Photography is restricted inside, so you will need to actually look with your eyes instead of through a screen.

Go in the late morning, after 10 a.m., when the priest finishes his rounds and you can stand close to the idols without being hurried. Most tourists do not know that the temple has a back door opening onto a narrow lane full of flower sellers who supply shrines across the city, and they will braid you a fresh gajra for 10 rupees if you ask nicely.

Nageshwarnath Temple

Walk south toward the ghats and you reach Nageshwarnath, a Shiva temple founded, according to local belief, by Kush, son of Ram, and later restored by the Kullu queens who also built Kanak Bhawan. The temple sits near the old bathing ghat and becomes especially busy on Mondays and during Shravan.

The Vibe? Cool stone floors, the smell of milk being poured over the lingam, and a sleepy calm outside of festival days.
The Bill? Free, with a small charge of 10 to 20 rupees if you want to participate in the rudrabhishek.
The Standout? The ancient shivling said to have been installed by Kush himself, visible in the inner sanctum.
The Catch? The lane leading to it floods during heavy rain, and there is no proper signage, so ask any shopkeeper in the old bazaar for directions.

Visit on a Monday morning if you can, around 7 a.m., when the first batch of devotees finishes their abhishek and you can actually see the deity without jostling. The temple is one of the historic sites Ayodhya that locals treat as a working shrine, not a tourist stop, so be ready to step aside for palki processions and barefoot priests.

Saryu River Ghats and the Guptar Ghat

The chain of ghats along the Saryu is the spine of the city, and Guptar Ghat, at the southern edge, is where Ram is believed to have taken jal samadhi. This is also where the famous Saryu Aarti takes place every evening, drawing thousands of people to the riverbank steps.

The Vibe? Marigolds floating in the water, conch shells echoing off the steps, and a crowd that grows loud and warm after sunset.
The Bill? Boats to the midstream Ramjhula point cost 50 to 100 rupees per person, depending on group size.
The Standout? Standing on the stone platform where the aarti lamps are lit, with the temple skyline glowing across the water.
The Catch? The steps are uneven and get crowded fast, and the boat operators near the south end sometimes overcharge, so agree on a price before boarding.

Get there by 5 p.m. during winter or 6 p.m. in summer to claim a good spot along the lower ghats. Most tourists do not realize there is a small museum next to Guptar Ghat displaying stone sculptures recovered from the riverbed, and it closes at 4 p.m., so it is best to visit before the aarti. The ghats themselves are a major part of Ayodhya architecture, with centuries-old carved balustrades that locals still repair by hand every year before Diwali.

Treta Ke Thakur

Just north of the main temple area, near the old Khirni Mohal lanes, sits Treta Ke Thakur, a temple that contains a black sandstone idol said to mark the exact treta where Ram performed the Ashwamedh yajna. The temple has been rebuilt several times, with the current structure dating to the early 20th century.

The Vibe? Quiet, slightly worn, and steeped in a kind of neighborhood devotion that makes you lower your voice.
The Bill? Free.
The Standout? The standing idols of Ram, Sita, and the four brothers in their royal posture.
The Catch? The lane is narrow and parking is essentially impossible, so come on foot from Kanak Bhawan.

Visit between 9 a.m. and noon, when the natural light hits the inner sanctum and you can see the details on the stone faces clearly. A small thing most visitors miss: the priest here keeps a register of devotees going back decades, and if you ask politely, he might show you entries from earlier generations of families who have visited every year.

Chhoti Devkali Mandir and Ram Ki Paidi

Just east of the Ram Janmabhoomi complex, Chhoti Devkali is a small but powerful shrine dedicated to Goddess Kali in her softer form, said to be the protector deity of the royal household of Ayodhya. From here, a long flight of stone steps, known as Ram Ki Paidi, runs down to the river, lined with smaller shrines along the way.

The Vibe? A working neighborhood temple with a steady stream of women coming for evening prayers.
The Bill? Free, though flower offerings cost 20 to 30 rupees.
The Standout? Walking down Ram Ki Paidi at dusk, when the steps are lit and the river breeze picks up.
The Catch? The steps can be steep and slippery after a rain, and there are no railings on the lower half, so watch your footing.

Go in the late afternoon, around 4 p.m., so you can see the temple, walk the steps slowly, and end up at the river as the sun begins to set. Locals know that the small Devi shrine halfway down the steps is where women come to pray for their children, and you will see fresh bangles and sindoor left there daily. This whole stretch is one of the most quietly famous monuments Ayodhya has, even though most travelers rush past it on their way to bigger names.

Tulsi Smarak Bhawan

A few minutes west of Naya Ghat stands Tulsi Smarak, a research library and memorial dedicated to Goswami Tulsidas, the poet who wrote the Ramcharitmanas. The building has a small museum, a beautiful courtyard, and an auditorium that hosts classical performances during Ram Navami and other festivals.

The Vibe? Calm, scholarly, and a welcome break from the temple crowds.
The Bill? Entry is free, and the museum closes at 5 p.m.
The Standout? The handwritten pages of the Ramcharitmanas on display, along with old printing blocks.
The Catch? The auditorium events are sometimes closed to the public on rehearsal days, so call ahead if you want to attend a specific performance.

Visit between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., when the reading rooms are open and the staff are happy to show you manuscripts if you ask. Most tourists do not know that the courtyard here has a tulsi plant grown from a sapling said to descend from the original plant tended by Tulsidas himself, and on Sundays, students recite verses here that you can quietly listen to from the steps.

Mani Parvat and Sugriv Parvat

Two small hills in the south of the city, Mani Parvat and Sugriv Parvat are linked to stories from the Ramayana, where Mani Parvat is believed to have held a floating stone and Sugriv Parvat marks the cave where Sugriv is said to have hidden during his exile. Both hills have small temples at the top and are popular among pilgrims who want to combine mythology with a short climb.

The Vibe? Open skies, dry grass, and a feeling of being outside the city even though you are still inside it.
The Bill? Free, though guides around the base sometimes ask for tips of 20 to 50 rupees.
The Standout? The view of the entire Ayodhya skyline from the Sugriv Parvat top, especially on a clear winter morning.
The Catch? There is almost no shade on the climb, so carry water and avoid midday in May and June.

Start at 7 a.m. so you finish before the heat sets in, and wear shoes with grip because the stone path is loose in places. Locals say that if you circle the smaller Mani Parvat three times clockwise, the stone near the top hums faintly when you press your ear against it, and while I cannot confirm that, it is a tradition many families repeat without fail.

Bharat Kund and the Quiet Western Ghats

Cross the river toward the western bank and you reach Bharat Kund, the site where Bharath is believed to have performed austerities while waiting for Ram to return from exile. This side of Ayodhya is far less crowded than the eastern ghats and has a softer, more reflective atmosphere.

The Vibe? Empty riverbanks, distant bells, and a stillness that feels older than the rest of the city.
The Bill? Free, though the local boat ride across the Saryu costs around 20 rupees per person for shared boats.
The Standout? Watching the sun set over the main temple skyline from this bank, with the river acting as a mirror.
The Catch? Mobile network is patchy on this side, and the return boats stop running around 8 p.m., so plan accordingly.

Visit just before sunset, after a daytime trip across the ghats, and bring a small cloth to sit on the stone steps. Most visitors miss the small Devi shrine behind the main Bharat Kund platform, where a single priest tends to a lamp that, locals say, has not been extinguished in decades.

When to Go and What to Know

The best window for visiting Ayodhya is October through March, when daytime temperatures stay between 12 and 25 degrees Celsius and the ghats are not flooded. Avoid May and June, when temperatures cross 42 degrees and most outdoor walking becomes uncomfortable. Ram Navami, usually in March or April, and Kartik Purnima, in November, are the two biggest festival periods, and while the city is magical, expect crowds of several lakhs and very tight lodging availability.

Carry small denominations of cash, because many temple donation boxes and small shops still do not accept digital payments. Wear comfortable shoes you can easily slip off at temples, and carry a light scarf or stole, as several shrines require covered shoulders. Auto-rickshaws from the railway station to the temple area charge between 50 and 100 rupees depending on traffic, but shared e-rickshaws on fixed routes cost just 10 rupees and are the easiest way to move within the old city.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best free or low-cost tourist places in Ayodhya that are genuinely worth the visit?

The Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, Hanuman Garhi, Kanak Bhawan, Nageshwarnath Temple, Guptar Ghat, Bharat Kund, Treta Ke Thakur, Chhoti Devkali Mandir, and the Tulsi Smarak Bhawan are all free to enter, with optional donations between 10 and 51 rupees. The only paid experiences of note are boat rides on the Saryu (50 to 100 rupees) and occasional entry fees at temporary exhibition halls during festivals, which rarely exceed 30 rupees per person.

Do the most popular attractions in Ayodhya require advance ticket booking, especially during peak season?

No formal advance booking is required for any major temple or ghat in Ayodhya. However, during Ram Navami and Kartik Purnima, the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple issues free passes with time slots to manage crowd flow, and these slots are often released one day prior or on the same morning at the entrance counter.

How many days are needed to see the major tourist attractions in Ayodhya without feeling rushed?

Two full days cover all the major landmarks in Ayodhya comfortably, including Ram Janmabhoomi, Hanuman Garhi, Kanak Bhawan, the Saryu ghats, Treta Ke Thakur, and Bharat Kund. A third day allows you to climb Sugriv Parvat, visit Mani Parvat, and spend unhurried time at the Tulsi Smarak museum.

Is it possible to walk between the main sightseeing spots in Ayodhya, or is local transport necessary?

Yes, almost all landmarks within the old city, including Ram Janmabhoomi, Hanuman Garhi, Kanak Bhawan, Nageshwarnath, Treta Ke Thakur, and Ram Ki Paidi, are within a 2-kilometer radius and walkable on foot within 25 to 35 minutes. Only Bharat Kund and Sugriv Parvat require crossing the river or covering longer distances, where shared e-rickshaws at 10 rupees per ride or auto-rickshaws at 50 to 100 rupees are more practical.

What is the safest and most reliable way to get around Ayodhya as a solo traveler?

Shared e-rickshaws running on fixed routes within the old city are the safest, most predictable option for solo travelers, costing 10 rupees per ride and operating from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. For night travel after the Saryu Aarti, prepaid auto-rickshaws from the temple area to the railway station are recommended, with fares fixed at 80 to 120 rupees.