Ayodhya
Rama's birthplace, home to the newly built Ram Mandir
Best time to visit Ayodhya
- Jan, peak season
- Feb, peak season
- Mar, shoulder season
- Apr, best avoided
- May, best avoided
- Jun, best avoided
- Jul, shoulder season
- Aug, shoulder season
- Sep, shoulder season
- Oct, peak season
- Nov, peak season
- Dec, peak season
peak shoulder off-season avoid
- Go: October to February
- Shoulder: March and July to September, quieter, and the weather is less of a sure thing
- Skip: April to June
Planning a specific month? JanuaryFebruaryOctoberNovemberDecember
Ayodhya season by season
Winter December to February Prime time
Peak pilgrimage season: comfortable weather for the temple circuit and river ghats
Summer March to May Shoulder
Heat climbs fast by April-May; Ram Navami in April draws huge crowds despite the temperature
Monsoon June to September Shoulder
Humid and less crowded, the Saryu ghats are atmospheric but expect rain disruptions
Autumn October to November Prime time
Deepotsav in October/November is the single biggest draw. Book accommodation months ahead
What Ayodhya is actually like
Overwhelmingly a pilgrim crowd post-Ram Mandir. Here for the temple, not socializing
Getting to Ayodhya
New Ayodhya airport direct flights, or train from Lucknow 2h
Practical ways in: flighttrainroad
Trip facts
- How long to stay
- 2 days
- Budget
- Shoestring
- How busy
- Busy at its peak
- Solo travel
- Doable solo with some planning
- Altitude
- 100 m
- State
- Uttar Pradesh
- Coordinates
- 26.7922, 82.1998
Common questions
When is the best time to visit Ayodhya?
October to February is peak season in Ayodhya. March and July to September is shoulder season: thinner crowds, a bit more risk in the weather. Avoid April to June. Deepotsav in October/November is the single biggest draw. Book accommodation months ahead.
How many days do you need in Ayodhya?
2 days is the usual stay. Overwhelmingly a pilgrim crowd post-Ram Mandir. Here for the temple, not socializing.
How do you get to Ayodhya?
New Ayodhya airport direct flights, or train from Lucknow 2h. Practical ways in: flight, train and road.
Is Ayodhya expensive, and does it get crowded?
Shoestring by Indian travel standards, and it runs busy at the busiest time of year. Doable solo with some planning.
Is there a festival in Ayodhya?
Oct/Nov: Deepotsav lamp festival. Time a trip around it and you see the place at its loudest, but book beds early.
Nearby, and where to go next
-
Shravasti (Sahet-Mahet)
Uttar Pradesh
Jetavana ruins where the Buddha spent 25 rain retreats
110 km from Ayodhya, roughly about 2 h by road
-
Lucknow
Uttar Pradesh
Nawabi capital of grand Imambaras and kebabs
160 km from Ayodhya, roughly about 3 h by road
-
Jaunpur
Uttar Pradesh
Sharqi sultanate mosques and Akbar's stone bridge on the Gomti
170 km from Ayodhya, roughly about 3 h by road
-
Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary (Unnao)
Uttar Pradesh
Shallow migratory-bird lake halfway between Lucknow and Kanpur
200 km from Ayodhya, roughly about 4 h by road
-
Prayagraj (Triveni Sangam)
Uttar Pradesh
Ganga-Yamuna Sangam, Magh Mela sands and Anand Bhavan
200 km from Ayodhya, roughly about 4 h by road
-
Kushinagar
Uttar Pradesh
Where the Buddha died: reclining statue and Ramabhar stupa
220 km from Ayodhya, roughly about 4 h by road
-
Kaushambi (Kosam)
Uttar Pradesh
Buddha-era Vatsa capital, earth ramparts above the Yamuna
240 km from Ayodhya, roughly about 5 h by road
-
Naimisharanya (Nimsar)
Uttar Pradesh
Forest where the Puranas were told: Chakra Tirth and Gomti
240 km from Ayodhya, roughly about 5 h by road
More places to visit in Uttar Pradesh
- Agra Uttar Pradesh
- Barsana & Nandgaon Uttar Pradesh
- Bateshwar & Chambal Safari (Bah) Uttar Pradesh
- Bhitargaon Uttar Pradesh
- Bithoor Uttar Pradesh
- Chitrakoot (Ramghat) Uttar Pradesh
- Deogarh (Lalitpur) Uttar Pradesh
- Dudhwa National Park Uttar Pradesh
- Fatehpur Sikri Uttar Pradesh
- Hastinapur Uttar Pradesh
- Jaunpur Uttar Pradesh
- Jhansi Uttar Pradesh
- Kalinjar Fort Uttar Pradesh
- Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary Uttar Pradesh
- Kaushambi (Kosam) Uttar Pradesh
- Kushinagar Uttar Pradesh
- Lucknow Uttar Pradesh
- Naimisharanya (Nimsar) Uttar Pradesh
- Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary (Unnao) Uttar Pradesh
- Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (Chuka) Uttar Pradesh
- Prayagraj (Triveni Sangam) Uttar Pradesh
- Salkhan Fossils Park (Sonbhadra) Uttar Pradesh
- Shravasti (Sahet-Mahet) Uttar Pradesh
- Varanasi Uttar Pradesh
- Vrindavan-Mathura Uttar Pradesh