Ayodhya, Oudh or Awadh!

Tripoto
2nd Aug 2020
Day 1

"The birthplace of Lord Rama"

In the Atharvaveda, Ayodhya located on the banks of the holy River Sarayu, in Uttar Pradesh, was said to be “a city built by gods and being as prosperous as paradise itself”!

Garuda Purana, says Ayodhya is one of the seven holiest places for Hindus in India, with Varanasi being the most sacrosanct!
Ayodhya a ‘Mokshdayani Sapt Puri or ‘land of spiritual bliss and liberation from karma bandhan,’ along with Varanasi, and Dwarka.

In traditional history, Ayodhya was the early capital of the kingdom of Kosala, though in Buddhist times (6th–5th century BCE) Shravasti also in Uttar Pradesh became the kingdom’s chief city.

Famed as the birth place of Lord Ram, it is an important pilgrimage centre about 134 km from Lucknow, in Faizabad District.
Temples and mosques exist side by side in all architectural splendor in the twin cities of Ayodhya .
The ghats of Sarayu bring alive a deeply spiritual experience.

Ayodhya was founded by Nawab of Awadh Sadat Khan and a later Nawab Shuja ud Daula made it capital of Awadh.

Hindu scriptures Ramcharitmanas,Vishnu Purana and Shrimad Bhagvat Mahapuran recommend pilgrimage to the city.

Ayodhya plays a critical role in the Hindu epic of Ramayana as it is the birthplace of Lord Rama. The Indian epic, Ramayan, mentions Ram, Lord Vishnu's seventh manifestation, to have grown up along Ayodhya's river Sarayu.
The Ram Janmabhoomi is a highly revered site for Hindu devotees.

This religious town is also the birthplace of four of Jainism's 24 Tirthankaras (religious teachers), beckoning tourists with its serene ghats.

The rich lineage of the city as a king’s city is evident from the beautiful architecture that are an inseparable part of the buildings of Faizabad.
The rich heritage of the country and the city of Ayodhya, draws attention of pilgrims and heritage lovers from all over the world as it opens the traveller to a world of mythological and spiritual wonders!

With monkeys galore, and buzz of visiting tourists, and a general spiritual aura, Ayodhya has been surrounded by controversy since about a decade.
It was the site of the 1992 Indian riots related to the Babri Masjid fiasco. 
The mosque, which was allegedly built on Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, became the bone of contention between Hindus and Muslims.

In 2005, Ayodhya witnessed a terrorist attack at the site of Ramlalla Temple.

Despite the controversy, Ayodhya has so much colour and spirituality to see and has emerged as a significant spiritual centre.

As I write finally after five hundred years Ayodhya is preparing for the Bhoomi Pujan on 5th August 2020, to commence the construction of Ram Mandir a dream come true for Hindus all over the world!!

On way to Ayodhya

Photo of Ayodhya, Oudh or Awadh! by PRANATI KAMANI

Entering Ayodhya City

Photo of Ayodhya, Oudh or Awadh! by PRANATI KAMANI

Ramjanmabhoomi~ beyond this photography prohibited!

Photo of Ayodhya, Oudh or Awadh! by PRANATI KAMANI

Ramjanmabhoomi Nyas Workshop

Photo of Ayodhya, Oudh or Awadh! by PRANATI KAMANI

Construction Details regarding Ram Mandir

Photo of Ayodhya, Oudh or Awadh! by PRANATI KAMANI

Work for the Ram Mandir in Progress

Photo of Ayodhya, Oudh or Awadh! by PRANATI KAMANI

Workers carving designs in marble for the beautification of Ram Mandir which will be constructed soon!

Photo of Ayodhya, Oudh or Awadh! by PRANATI KAMANI

Pillars and Columns are ready!

Photo of Ayodhya, Oudh or Awadh! by PRANATI KAMANI

Ram Ki Paidi

Photo of Ayodhya, Oudh or Awadh! by PRANATI KAMANI

Ram ki Paidi

Photo of Ayodhya, Oudh or Awadh! by PRANATI KAMANI
Photo of Ayodhya, Oudh or Awadh! by PRANATI KAMANI

Street scene Ayodhya

Photo of Ayodhya, Oudh or Awadh! by PRANATI KAMANI

Gupta Ghar Ghat where Lord Ram took Jal Samadhi

Photo of Ayodhya, Oudh or Awadh! by PRANATI KAMANI

Temple at Guptaghar Ghat

Photo of Ayodhya, Oudh or Awadh! by PRANATI KAMANI

Idols at Temple Guptaghar Ghat

Photo of Ayodhya, Oudh or Awadh! by PRANATI KAMANI

View of the River Sarayu or Sarju as it is called, from Guptaghar Ghat ~ Faizabad

Photo of Ayodhya, Oudh or Awadh! by PRANATI KAMANI

King Dashrath's Palace

Photo of Ayodhya, Oudh or Awadh! by PRANATI KAMANI

Interior of Palace with Mandir

Photo of Ayodhya, Oudh or Awadh! by PRANATI KAMANI

Mandir in Palace

Photo of Ayodhya, Oudh or Awadh! by PRANATI KAMANI

Lord Ram and Mata Sita Mandir in Palace

Photo of Ayodhya, Oudh or Awadh! by PRANATI KAMANI

Entrance to Birla Mandir

Photo of Ayodhya, Oudh or Awadh! by PRANATI KAMANI

Birla Mandir

Photo of Ayodhya, Oudh or Awadh! by PRANATI KAMANI

Naya Ghat, Ayodhya ~ Pilgrims take a dip in the holy Sarayu River

Photo of Ayodhya, Oudh or Awadh! by PRANATI KAMANI

Aarti performed at Sunset of the Holy Sarayu River

Photo of Ayodhya, Oudh or Awadh! by PRANATI KAMANI

Ayodhya preparing for Ram Mandir Bhoomi Puja

Photo of Ayodhya, Oudh or Awadh! by PRANATI KAMANI

Ayodhya

Photo of Ayodhya, Oudh or Awadh! by PRANATI KAMANI

Ayodhya is being beautified

Photo of Ayodhya, Oudh or Awadh! by PRANATI KAMANI
Photo of Ayodhya, Oudh or Awadh! by PRANATI KAMANI

Walls are being painted all over Ayodhya

Photo of Ayodhya, Oudh or Awadh! by PRANATI KAMANI
Photo of Ayodhya, Oudh or Awadh! by PRANATI KAMANI
Photo of Ayodhya, Oudh or Awadh! by PRANATI KAMANI

Ramayan stamp Realeased by India Postal Service to commemorate the Bhumi Puja, and construction of Ram Mandir !

Photo of Ayodhya, Oudh or Awadh! by PRANATI KAMANI