So we started our journey from Varanasi railway station and boarded the train for Ayodhya.
The train was delayed by about 1 hour, but owing the winter condition we were ok.
Finally we boarded the train and reached the brand new Ayodhya Dham Railway Station at around 06:00 AM in the morning.
We did not have our hotel booked in advance because most of the hotels in Ayodhya are newly constructed are not listed online.
So it was a task to find an accommodation since most of them were fully occupied.
Finally after a lot of efforts we found a hotel which was around 1.5 kms from the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir.
We had some rest, got fresh and started our spiritual tour of the day!
It is said that one must pay their respects to Lord Hanuman at the #HanumanGarhi temple before going to the Shri Ram temple and we did just that.
However there was a lot of rush at the Hanuman Garhi temple. But the whole atmosphere was filled with chants of Bajrang Bali ki Jay and Jai Shree Ram. It was indeed a moment of spiritual high.
After taking the darshan of Lord Hanuman, we checked the clocks but saw that it was almost the time of closure for the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi temple.
So the timings for #ShreeRamJanmaBhoomi temple are 07:00 AM - 11:30 AM and later 02:00PM - 07:00PM. One can plan their visit accordingly.
We then had lunch and went to our hotel for some rest.
We went back to the #RamMandir temple at around 02:00 PM. Camera, mobile phones, luggage etc is not allowed inside the temple; but their are free lockers available within the temple premises where you can deposit your belongings. It is a very systematically maintained facility provided by the temple authorities.
After security check we finally enter the beautiful Ram Mandir and oh my God!
Words fall short to describe the beauty of the temple. The intricately carved white marble pillars and equally beautiful ceiling steals your heart.
In just 5 minutes we come face to face with the exquisite idol of #RamLalla. We pay our respects to the Lord and come back out.
Next we decide to visit the #KanakBhavan, or the Palace of Gold. Folklore mentions this was a palace gifted by Kaikeyi to Sita as a wedding gift. The Bhavan is a beautiful building to visit at just walking distance from the Ram Mandir.
We then explore the local streets and markets of Ayodhya around the temple. The entire street is buzzing with chants of Lord Ram. The atmosphere was indeed electrifying.
As evening descends, we make our way towards the #NayaGhat at #RamkiPaidi.
The clean, well maintained sprawling ghat on the banks of sacred #SarayuRiver is illuminated with pretty lights in the evening which presents a marvelous site.
Visitors are teated to a mesmerizing 3D light-and-sound show that breathes life into the pages of the Ramayana. The 30 minutes show takes us to some of the most important events in the life of Lord Rama.
We end our day with with buying some famous local sweets and dinner at the #Chatori restaurant which seems to be the only decent restaurant currently in the vicinity.
The next day we start our travel to Lucknow in the Gorakhpur Lucknow Vande Bharat Express.
We also check the new #AyodhyaDhamJunction railway station. The station itself is no less than an airport with all modern amenities available.
Finally the trains arrives and we board the Vande Bharat express sharp at 08:00 AM.
With a scrumptious breakfast served enroute and enjoying the scenic beauty around, we reach our destination at 10:15AM.
Points to Remember:
1. Major hotels are available on the Faizabad Ayodhya highway or on the other side of the river. Local Dharamshala or small b&bs are only available in the vicinity of Ram Mandir
2. On the main street leading from River Sarayu to Ayodhya Railway station called the Ram Path, no vehicular traffic is allowed except maybe for motorbikes.
So be prepared to walk.
3. Don't miss walking to the Sarayu Ghat in the evening.
