Synonymous with purity and one of the most pious places in India, Ayodhya is believed to be the birthplace of Lord Ram was born according to the Hindu epic Ramayana. So, construction of Ram Temple at the hypothesized birthplace of Janmabhoomi of Lord Ram was the natural choice. As the Pran Pratishtha or consecration ceremonies of Ram Lalla idol is set to begin from the 16th of January, here are 5 things people planning to visit Ayodhya should know.
1. Non-stop Flights to Ayodhya from January
All major cities will be a flight away from Ayodhya. With Air India and Indigo running direct flights from Mumbai, Delhi and even Ahmedabad, would help boost tourism in Ayodhya.
The frequency of flights:
a. Delhi to Ayodhya – Flights to commence from 06th of January.
b. Mumbai to Ayodhya – Daily flights to commence from the 15th of January.
c. Ahmedabad to Ayodhya – Tri-weekly flights to begin from 11th of January.
2. Improved Rail Connectivity
Mythological murals adorning the walls of the railway station, refurbished platforms, escalators and other supplementary services made available, Ayodhya Railway Junction has received a major facelift as Ayodhya Dham Junction from the 30th of December 2023.
Some of the trains that have been introduced for Ayodhya visit and some other trains whose route will include Ayodhya are as below:
Vande Bharat Express – Delhi to Ayodhya in 8 hours.
The Karnataka Bharat Gaurav tourist train – Starts from Secunderabad in Telangana -> Puri -> Konark -> Gaya -> Varanasi -> Ayodhya -> Prayagraj. This tour package will include guided tours, hotel stays and meals.
Amrit Bharat Express trains – Non air-conditioned, no-frills, low-cost trains with sleeper cum General Unreserved Coaches that will run between Darbhanga in Bihar and Anand Vihar in Delhi, and Malda Town in West Bengal and Sir M Visvesvaraya Terminus in Bengaluru, all via Ayodhya.
3. Newly Launched Cruise Experiences
With flights and railways getting an upgrade so did the cruise services. Functional since September 2023 is The Jatayu Cruise that starts from Naya Ghat and ends at Guptar Ghat.
A two-hour ride along the Saryu River, this cruise has two air-conditioned levels with scenes from Ramayana painted on it along with documentary on Ayodhya’s history playing for the tourists. This cruise has a capacity of 70.
Ticket price: INR 300
Start Trip: The first trip starts at 4:30 am and ends at 6:30 am.
Last Trip: the last trip is at 6:00 pm and ends at 8:00 pm.
Where to book the tickets?
The tickets can be procured from the Ghat but will be available online soon.
There will be two more cruises that will become available soon – one is Garud and the other Pushpak Viman which will have a holding capacity of 150.
4. Booking Temple Aarti Online
For the first time ‘Aarti Pass’ is available online for Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra. Performed thrice a day - 6.30 am, 12pm and 7pm only pass-holders will be able to attend with a maximum capacity of 30 people at a time. If you want to avoid long-queues, then booking online passes is the best way to go.
5. A Smart City is Under Development
Transformation to this holy city is not just limited to upgradation of its entry points and cruises but also within the city. There are reports of development of a 1,500-acres greenfield city around Ram temple. From solar power setup to widening of the roads throughout the city with murals beautifying the city, installation of public wi-fi at four locations, installation of light and sound show at some of the restored 108 water bodies, even the construction of luxury hotels are on the cards. All possible marketing strategies that would attract tourists to the city of Lord Ram have been undertaken to promote tourism of this upcoming destination.
Visiting Ayodhya had been on my mind for quite a few years. The only reason of not fulfilling it was the apprehension of the facilities available. But with so many new additions and the plans towards creating a ‘smart city’, this city has hopped back on my bucket list.
What about yours?
Think we missed out on something? Tell us about it in the comments below. Or write about it here on Tripoto and earn Tripoto Credits!
' fill='%23359391'%3e %3cpath d='M46.1538462%2c43.5714286 L41.5%2c50 L36.8461538%2c43.5714286 L36.8670256%2c43.5714286 C36.3173077%2c42.7142857 36%2c41.6851429 36%2c40.5714286 C36%2c37.4854286 38.4535641%2c35 41.5%2c35 C44.5464359%2c35 47%2c37.4854286 47%2c40.5714286 C47%2c41.6851429 46.6826923%2c42.7142857 46.1329744%2c43.5714286 L46.1538462%2c43.5714286 Z M41.4294872%2c39 C40.6150641%2c39 39.9487179%2c39.675 39.9487179%2c40.5 C39.9487179%2c41.325 40.6150641%2c42 41.4294872%2c42 C42.2439103%2c42 42.9102564%2c41.325 42.9102564%2c40.5 C42.9102564%2c39.675 42.2439103%2c39 41.4294872%2c39 L41.4294872%2c39 Z' id='Location-white'%3e%3c/path%3e %3c/g%3e %3c/svg%3e)
