Places to Visit in Ayodhya in One Day: Ram Mandir and Beyond

The main places to visit in Ayodhya can be seen well in a single day, as long as you plan around one thing: Ram Mandir's darshan slots. Get that right, and the rest of the city falls into place around it, even with elderly parents in tow. The other temples — Hanuman Garhi, Kanak Bhawan, Ram ki Paidi on the Saryu — are close together and fit easily around it. This guide gives the trust's own darshan and aarti timings, explains how the free passes work, and sets out a calm one-day plan.

Ram Mandir darshan and aarti timings

These are the timings published by the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra, the trust that manages the temple:

The trust notes that these timings apply from 18 April 2026 and are shown on your booking receipt. Timings can change on festival days — during Ayodhya Deepotsav, for example, the whole city runs differently; our Ayodhya Deepotsav 2026 guide covers that week.

How Ram Mandir passes work

The trust's official booking portal offers three kinds of pass:

• Free Sugam Darshan
• Free Samanya Darshan (general darshan)
• Free Aarti

Two statements from the trust matter more than anything else you will read online:

1. "Trust does not charge any fee for aarti & darshan passes." There is nothing to pay.
2. "Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra does not authorize any agents for online bookings." Anyone offering to "arrange" a pass for money is not acting for the trust.

The trust also asks devotees to follow the instructions printed on the pass carefully. Security at the temple is strict; carry as little as possible, and read your pass before you set out.

If someone offers to sell you special access, you now know the answer: the trust's own passes are free, and it authorises no one to sell them.

Places to visit in Ayodhya in one day

The Ayodhya district administration describes the city's main temples. These are the places to visit in Ayodhya that fit easily into one day:

Hanuman Garhi is where many pilgrims begin: the tradition is to seek Hanuman's blessing before going to Ram's temple. The district notes the belief that Hanuman lived here to guard Ayodhya.

Kanak Bhawan is close to Ram Janmbhoomi. The district calls it one of the finest temples in the city, and records the belief that it was gifted to Sita by Kaikeyi after her marriage to Ram.

Ram ki Paidi is a series of ghats along the Saryu. The district describes the riverfront as especially striking when lit at night — the perfect end to the day.

A one-day plan

If you want to attend an aarti, the Shringar Aarti at 6 AM is the easiest to fit into this plan — it means an early start, but it leaves the rest of the day open. The Shayan Aarti at 10 PM suits families staying the night nearby.

Getting to Ayodhya and getting around

Ayodhya is reached by rail, road and air. Hanuman Garhi is about a kilometre from Ayodhya railway station, according to the district administration, which makes the station a convenient starting point for a day like this. By road, Ayodhya is well connected with Lucknow and other cities in Uttar Pradesh.

Inside the city, e-rickshaws and autos are the easiest way to move between the temples. The area around Ram Janmbhoomi has security cordons and restricted vehicle zones, so expect to walk the last stretch. On festival days, traffic diversions can add a great deal of time; build in more than you think you need.

What to carry and what to leave behind

• Your darshan pass, and a photo ID for everyone named on it.
• As little as possible besides. Temple security is thorough, and anything you are not allowed to take in must be left outside.
• Comfortable footwear you can slip off easily — you will remove it at every temple.
• Water and a light snack for the gaps between temples.
• Modest clothing, suitable for temple visits and for the heat of the middle of the day.

Read the instructions on your pass the night before. The trust asks devotees to follow them carefully, and they are the most reliable guide to what is allowed on the day.

If you have two days

Two days make Ayodhya far more comfortable, especially with elderly parents:

• Day one: Hanuman Garhi, Ram Mandir on a morning pass, Kanak Bhawan, and a long rest.
• Day two: an early visit to Ram ki Paidi and Nageshwarnath while the ghats are quiet, then Devkali near Naya Ghat, and time simply to sit by the Saryu.

The second day is also the one you will remember most — the temples without the rush, and the river without the crowd.

Visiting with elderly parents

• Book a morning slot. It is cooler, and the day ahead is easier.
• Keep belongings to a minimum. Security is thorough; less to carry means less to manage.
• Plan a real rest at midday. Temple-to-temple walking in the sun is hard on older pilgrims.
• Consider two days instead of one. Ram Mandir one morning, the other temples the next.
• Check festival dates. Deepotsav and Diwali week are the most crowded of the year, and Ram Navami brings very large crowds too.

Ayodhya is one of the cities where MargKGB works. Our verified contacts include stays and drivers in Ayodhya, and connect you with them directly. If your parents are going without you, a MargKGB Buddy can stay with them from the queue to the Saryu — our comparison of a guide and a Buddy explains what a Buddy does. For a puja performed in your family's name in Ayodhya, see our puja and darshan services.

What to do next

Book your Ram Mandir darshan pass on the trust's official portal — it is free, and you need no agent. Choose a morning slot, plan Hanuman Garhi before it and Kanak Bhawan after, rest through the heat of midday, and end the day at Ram ki Paidi on the Saryu. That covers the main places to visit in Ayodhya in one unhurried day — and if you can give it two, even better.