Cabs
Ayodhya sightseeing by cab

Ayodhya in 1 day: what to see, in what order

Start at Hanuman Garhi at about 08:30, then the Ram Mandir from about 09:20 and Tulsi Smarak Bhawan before lunch. After lunch, Bahu Begum's tomb and Gulab Bari in Faizabad, the Queen Heo park and Kanak Bhawan, then the Saryu aarti at Naya Ghat. It is about 33 km by cab, back by about 18:50.

8 places33 km by cabtimed against opening hours
Day 1

Ram Mandir, Faizabad and the Saryu aarti

Hanuman Garhi at about 08:30, then the Ram Mandir from about 09:20 while the queue is shorter, and Tulsi Smarak Bhawan before lunch. In the afternoon, Bahu Begum's tomb and Gulab Bari in Faizabad, then back to the Saryu for the Queen Heo park and Kanak Bhawan when it reopens at 16:30. End with the Saryu aarti at Naya Ghat. About 33 km by cab, back by about 18:50: a long day of about 10 hours, an hour longer from April to October when the aarti is later. Tulsi Smarak Bhawan is closed on Mondays.

08:30 to 18:508 places33 km by cab
  1. 1Hanuman Garhi
  2. 2Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir (Ram Mandir)
  3. 3Tulsi Smarak Bhawan
  4. Lunch
  5. 4Bahu Begum ka Maqbara, Faizabad
  6. 5Gulab Bari, Faizabad
  7. 6Queen Heo Memorial Park
  8. 7Kanak Bhawan and Dashrath Mahal
  9. 8Saryu aarti at Naya Ghat
  10. Back
  1. Leave central Ayodhya
  2. 1

    Hanuman Garhi

    45 min here
    Hanuman Garhi
    Photo: Kumar aj95, CC BY-SA 4.0

    A fort-like temple to Hanuman on a small hill in the middle of Ayodhya, reached by 76 steps. Many pilgrims come here first, because Hanuman is said to guard the town. Inside is a small image of Hanuman as a child sitting in his mother Anjani's lap. The steps are lined with stalls selling laddoos to offer.

    TemplesAbout 04:00 to 22:00. One listing gives a midday closure from 12:00 to 16:00, so go in the morning. Free?

    Tip: The cab drops on Ram Path at Hanuman Garhi crossing; the steps start a short walk away. Tuesdays and Saturdays are the busiest days. Keep food and glasses away from the monkeys, and leave shoes at the stalls by the steps.

  3. 2

    Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir (Ram Mandir)

    2 h 30 min here
    Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir (Ram Mandir)
    Photo: Narendra Modi, CC BY 3.0

    The new temple on the spot believed to be Ram's birthplace, opened in January 2024. It is built of pink sandstone from Rajasthan, with no steel, and has three floors of carved pillars. Ram Lalla, Ram as a five-year-old child, stands in the inner shrine. Kuber Tila, with a small Shiva temple and a statue of Jatayu, is inside the same complex.

    TemplesWinter darshan (from late October) about 07:00 to 21:00; entry stops for the bhog at about 12:00 and opens again at 13:00. In summer darshan runs about 06:00 to 21:30 or 22:00. Free. Check the latest times on srjbtkshetra.org

    Tip: Phones, cameras, bags and smart watches are not allowed. Leave them in the cab or in the lockers at the pilgrim facility centre opposite Birla Dharamshala, where the cab drops you. From there it is about 800 m on foot along Janmabhoomi Path. Darshan is free. The queue can take 1 to 3 hours on weekends and festival days.

  4. 3

    Tulsi Smarak Bhawan

    45 min here
    Closed on Mondays

    A memorial to Tulsidas, the poet who wrote the Ramcharitmanas, the Hindi telling of the Ramayana. It has a small museum of Ram stories, paintings and old books, and a stage where the Ramleela is acted every evening. Next door is the Tulsi Chaura, where Tulsidas is said to have started writing.

    Faizabad & museumsAbout 10:00 to 21:00, with the Ramleela on stage about 18:00 to 21:00. Closed on Mondays and, in one listing, the second Sunday of the month?

    Tip: Closed on Mondays. Come back at about 18:00 if you want to see the Ramleela.

  5. Lunch, about 1 h. Your driver will know a place nearby. The times after this include it.
  6. 4

    Bahu Begum ka Maqbara, Faizabad

    40 min here
    Bahu Begum ka Maqbara, Faizabad
    Photo: Rakeshyadav38, CC BY-SA 3.0

    The tomb of Bahu Begum, wife of Shuja-ud-Daula, finished in 1816. It is one of the tallest buildings in Faizabad, with a big dome over rows of arches, and is often called the finest Nawabi building outside Lucknow.

    Faizabad & museumsAbout 07:00 to 16:00?

    Tip: It closes at about 16:00, so do not leave it late. It is about 2 km from Gulab Bari.

  7. 5

    Gulab Bari, Faizabad

    45 min here
    Gulab Bari, Faizabad
    Photo: Mukulfaiz, CC BY-SA 3.0

    The 18th-century tomb of Nawab Shuja-ud-Daula of Awadh, in Faizabad. Gulab Bari means rose garden: the tomb sits in a walled garden with fountains, water channels and rose beds. Faizabad was the capital of Awadh before the Nawabs moved to Lucknow.

    Faizabad & museumsOpen early to about 19:00 every day. Free

    Tip: Faizabad is about 6 km west of central Ayodhya. Entry is free. The garden is at its best in winter, when the roses flower.

  8. 6

    Queen Heo Memorial Park

    30 min here

    A memorial park on the Saryu for Queen Heo Hwang-ok, a princess from Ayodhya who, Korean legend says, sailed to Korea in 48 AD and married King Suro. Many Koreans count her as an ancestor. The park has a pavilion, a pond and stone pieces in Korean style.

    The Saryu ghatsOpen in daylight. Free?

    Tip: Next to Naya Ghat, so it fits in before the evening aarti. Entry is free.

  9. 7

    Kanak Bhawan and Dashrath Mahal

    45 min here
    Reopens 16:30, so a 11 min wait
    Kanak Bhawan and Dashrath Mahal
    Photo: Shalini Tomar, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Kanak Bhawan is a palace-temple said to be Kaikeyi's gift to Sita after her wedding. The courtyard is quiet and the images of Ram and Sita wear gold crowns. Dashrath Mahal, the palace of Ram's father, is a few minutes' walk down the same lane and has bhajans in the evening.

    TemplesKanak Bhawan about 08:00 to 11:00 and 16:30 to 21:00; Dashrath Mahal about 08:00 to 12:00 and 16:00 to 22:00. Both closed in the middle of the day. Free?

    Tip: Both close in the middle of the day, about 11:00 or 12:00 to 16:00, so come early or after 16:30. The lane is narrow and may be closed to cars; it is about 400 m on foot from Hanuman Garhi.

  10. 8

    Saryu aarti at Naya Ghat

    1 h 15 min here
    Saryu aarti at Naya Ghat
    Photo: Gamerzer, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Every evening priests offer lamps to the Saryu at Naya Ghat, with bells, chanting and crowds on the steps. You can also take a boat on the river before the aarti. Lata Mangeshkar Chowk, with its giant veena, is a few minutes' walk away.

    The Saryu ghatsThe evening aarti on the Saryu starts around sunset: about 18:00 from November to March and about 19:00 from April to October, and lasts about 30 to 45 minutes. Free?

    Tip: The aarti starts around sunset: about 18:00 from November to March and about 19:00 from April to October, so in summer the plan ends about an hour later. Agree the boat price before you get in.

  11. Back at central Ayodhya

Drive times come from road routing without traffic. Police often close Ram Path, Bhakti Path and the lanes round Ramkot to cars, especially on festival days, weekends and Ram Navami, so the cab may drop you at a parking lot and you walk or take an e-rickshaw or the e-cart shuttle. Allow more time than the map shows, and much more around Diwali (Deepotsav) and Ram Navami. Opening hours marked ? are not yet confirmed, so check them before you go.

Book a cab for this day

Call or message a local Ayodhya operator with this plan. Tell them your hotel and dates, and they send a price for the car and driver.

1 × full day, 8 h / 80 kmSedan, SUV or InnovaPrice from the operator

We are still listing Ayodhya operators. Write to [email protected] and we will put you in touch.

Opening times for this plan

The hours we planned around. Check before you go on a public holiday.

PlaceOpenBest timeVisit
Hanuman GarhiAbout 04:00 to 22:00. One listing gives a midday closure from 12:00 to 16:00, so go in the morning. Free?Early morning, before the Ram Mandir. Tradition says you see Hanuman first.45 min
Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir (Ram Mandir)Winter darshan (from late October) about 07:00 to 21:00; entry stops for the bhog at about 12:00 and opens again at 13:00. In summer darshan runs about 06:00 to 21:30 or 22:00. Free. Check the latest times on srjbtkshetra.orgMorning, soon after darshan opens, or late evening when the queue is shorter.2 h 30 min
Tulsi Smarak BhawanAbout 10:00 to 21:00, with the Ramleela on stage about 18:00 to 21:00. Closed on Mondays and, in one listing, the second Sunday of the month?Late morning for the museum, or 18:00 for the Ramleela.45 min
Bahu Begum ka Maqbara, FaizabadAbout 07:00 to 16:00?Before 15:00, so you are not rushed before it closes.40 min
Gulab Bari, FaizabadOpen early to about 19:00 every day. FreeAfternoon, when the garden is quiet.45 min
Queen Heo Memorial ParkOpen in daylight. Free?Late afternoon, on the way to the Saryu aarti.30 min
Kanak Bhawan and Dashrath MahalKanak Bhawan about 08:00 to 11:00 and 16:30 to 21:00; Dashrath Mahal about 08:00 to 12:00 and 16:00 to 22:00. Both closed in the middle of the day. Free?Early morning, or after 16:30 for the evening aarti and bhajans.45 min
Saryu aarti at Naya GhatThe evening aarti on the Saryu starts around sunset: about 18:00 from November to March and about 19:00 from April to October, and lasts about 30 to 45 minutes. Free?Evening, 20 to 30 minutes before the aarti for a place on the steps.1 h 15 min

More or less time in Ayodhya?

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Ayodhya in 2 days

Hanuman Garhi, the Ram Mandir and Ramkot · Faizabad's Nawabi tombs and the Saryu

See the 2-day plan →

All 10 places in Ayodhya

Every sight with what to see, opening times and how long to stay.

See all places →

Questions people ask

Can you see Ayodhya in one day?

Yes. The main temples are close together, so one day of about 10 hours covers them, Faizabad and the evening aarti, with only about 33 km in the cab.

Why Hanuman Garhi before the Ram Mandir?

Tradition says you greet Hanuman first. It also works for time: Hanuman Garhi is open from early morning, and the Ram Mandir queue is shorter before 10:00 than at midday.

Why is Kanak Bhawan so late in the day?

Kanak Bhawan closes from about 11:00 to 16:30, and the Ram Mandir takes the whole morning. So the plan comes back at 16:30, when it reopens for the evening, on the way to the aarti.

What if my day is a Monday?

Tulsi Smarak Bhawan is closed on Mondays. Skip it and have an early lunch; the rest of the day is open every day of the week.