Day trip to Ayodhya
LUCKNOW – AYODHYA 140 KMS
Pick up from your hotel in Lucknow and drive towards the most sacred place in Hindu context, Ayodhya. Day trip to Ayodhya is a holy trip to place where Hindu God Lord Rama was born. Ayodhya is located 140 km away from Lucknow and takes 3 hours to reach by road.
Ayodhya Day Trip
Ayodhya is the most sacred city for Hindus, situated on the bank of river Saryu near Faizabad. It is 140 km from Lucknow, which is a capital of Uttar Pradesh. It has a significant role in the ancient Indian epic, The Ramayana. This town is associated with Lord Rama, the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Ayodhya is said to be the birth place of Lord Rama. Rama was borne here as the prince of Ayodhya, a son of King Dashratha. The epic describes 14 years exile of Lord Rama and his return to Ayodhya after exile to become King. His return to Ayodhay is celebrated as Diwali, a hugely celebrated Hindyu festival. Ayodhya is known to be the city of temples. Places of worships here include not only Hindu temples but also of Buddhism, Jainism and Islam in Ayodhya. According to the Jainism, all the five Tirthankaras were born at Ayodhya including their first Tirthankara, Adinath Rishabhadeva.
ARRIVES AYODHYA
Arrives Ayodhya. Upon arrival, go to see the main attractions of Ayodhya.
Places to see in Ayodhya
Ramkote, Ayodhya:
Ramkote is an important place of worship in Ayodhya, situated on a hillock in the western part of the town. Presently this place has occupied by temples and Mathas. Ramkote is flocked by large number of pilgrims especially during the auspicious occasion of Ram Navami, the birth of Lord Rama.
Shri Ramjanma Bhoomi, Ayodhya:
Ramjanma Bhoomi is renowned Hindu pilgrimage site known as the birth place of Lord Rama. Ram Janma Bhoomi is said to have discoved by King Vikramaditya. It is a birth place of Lord Rama and visited by large number of Hindu devotees during an auspicious occasion of Ram navami every year. The holy site where Lorad Rama is believed to have spent most of his childhood.
Ram Janma Bhoomi Timings: (Open daily 7 am to 10 am and 3 pm to 5 pm)
Nageshwarnath Temple, Ayodhya:
Nageshwarnath temple is located on bank of river Saryu. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, considered to be a presiding deity of Ayodhya. Nageshwarnath temple is said to have established by Kush, a son of Lord Rama. It is believed to say that when Kush lost his amulet in the river Saryu while bathing, which was found by the Nag –Kanya (Sanke damsel) who fell in love with Kush. Kush also found her to be a devotee of Lord Shiva, hence built a temple for her, dedicated to Lord Shiva. Devotees flock the temple in huge numbers on Shivratri festival. The only temple is said to have been survived till the time of Vikramaditya. The Present Temple was built under the reign of Safdar Jung by Naval in 1750.
Nageshwarnath Temple Timings: (Open daily 5 am to 11 am and 12 pm to 8 pm)
Swargdwar, Ayodhya:
The strip of land from Sahastradhara to Nageshwarnath temple is commonly known as Swargdwar. The buildings on the Ghat facing the river were mainly built during the reign of Nawab Safa Jung and his Hindu minister Naval Rai, who is credited in particular for their construction. The buildings and the ghats offer a fine view. It is popularly known as Pairi and offers an excellent view from the bridge.
Tulsi Smarak Bhawan, Ayodhya:
Tulsi Smarak Bhawan, as name suggests was built in the memory of poet Goswami Tulsidas. It is believed to be the site where Tulasidas had written and composed Ramacharitmanas or Ramayana. Presntly, a vanue is used for religious ceremonies, prayers, meetings and religious discourses. It has a huge collection of literary works of Tulsidas displays in Ayodhya Shodh Sansthan along with Ramkatha and other associated subjects.
Kanak Bhavan, Ayodhya:
Kanak Bhawan, often called as Sone Ka Ghar (the House of Gold) is one of the finest temples located in the center of Ayodhya. It is dedicated to the Lord Ram and his wife Sita. It is a magnificent temple built by the queen of Tikamgarh, Vrishbhanu Kuvari in 1891, where musicians permform in the black and white tiled courtyard. The sanctum is beautifully decorated where idols of Lord Ram and Sita are installed and adorned with gold ornaments. It also houses the statues of Lord Rama and Sita in the inner sanctrum. A plaque written on the outer walls of the temple and images wearing gold crowns are also seen. Plaque on the temple states that there were many places on this site since Trerta Yuga (Age during which Lord Ram ruled).
Kanak Bhawan Timings: (Open daily 8.30 am to 12.15 pm and 4.30 pm to 9 pm)
Hanuman Garhi, Ayodhya:
A fort shaped massive structure houses a temple of Hanuman and is the one of the important shrine in Ayodhya. One needs to follows steep climb (76 steps) to reach the temple fort of Hanuman (Monkey God). Hanuman is said to have lived here in a cave and guarded the Janmbhoomi. Inner sanctum of the cave temple has the statue of Ma Anjani with infant Hanuman seated on her lap.
Treta Ke Thakur, Ayodhya:
Treta-Ke-Thakur is situated at the place where Lord Ram is said to have performed the Ashvamedha Yagya. The King of Kulu built a new temple at this site 300 years ago called Kaleram ka Mandir, which had been renovated by Ahalyabai Holkar of Indore in 1784. The initial idols of Lord Rama, Sita, Lakshman and Bharat in black sandstone were recovered and installed in the new temple. These idols are supposed to be from the original Rama temple, which once stood on the banks of the River Sarayu.
Sita Ki Rasoi, Ayodhya:
Sita ki Rasoi (The Kitchen of Sita) is a place, where Sita is said to have cooked for her family for the first time after marriage to Lord Rama. Temple houses statues of the four brothers Ram, Lakshmana, Bharat and Shatrughna along with their wives Sita, Urmila, Mandavi and Srutakirti. Symbolic kitchen utensils are displayed in the premises.
Moti Mahal, Ayodhya:
It is situated a few km away from Ayodhya, often called as pearl palace was once the residence of Shuja-ud-daulah’s wife, Bahu Begum. It is a fine example of Munhall architecture.
Mausoleum of Bahu Begum, Ayodhya:
It is a mausoleum Bahu Beum, a wife of Nawab Shuja-ud-daulah. Nawab built the Maqbara after her demise in 1816. The tomb was created with white marbles in an attempt to recreate the famous monument of love, Taj Mahal. Having an elevation of 42 metres, the mausoleum offers an aerial view of the entire city of Faizabad.
Mani Parbat and Sugriv Parbat, Ayodhya
The first of these ancient earth mounds is identified with a stupa built by the Emperor Ashoka, while the second is believed to be an ancient monastery.
RETURN TO LUCKNOW
After Ayodhya day trip sightseeing. Drive back to Lucknow. It will take another 3 hours to reach Lucknow.
ARRIVES LUCKNOW
Arrives Lucknow. Upon arrival, drop at your hotel in Lucknow.