Ayodhya Trip & Tips: Heading to Ram Mandir for Darshan? Keep These 5 Things in Mind

Over 3 million people have visited the Ram Temple in Ayodhya in the first two weeks of the temple opening for public darshan. Nearly 2.5 lakh people visit the temple daily, which is a record for devotees consistently at any religious site in India or in the world.

The rush at the Ayodhya temple is not expected to subside any time soon and is only expected to increase in the lead-up to Ram Navami in April and summer vacations.

If you are planning to take a trip to the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, here are the five things to keep in mind:

1. Book a hotel room: The easiest way of getting to Ayodhya is on a direct flight. Indigo, Air India and Spice Jet are running daily flights to Ayodhya from various metros like Mumbai, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Chennai, Jaipur, Patna and Darbhanga. A plan is to pump in Rs 150 crore for the expansion of the airport in Ayodhya. Train connectivity to Ayodhya is also good, including a Delhi-Ayodhya Vande Bharat and Amrit Bharat. If you choose to fly to Lucknow, Ayodhya is about a two-and-a-half hour road journey on a highway. Book a hotel room in advance as rooms are in shortage. One can also opt for dharamshalas or download the ‘Holy Ayodhya’ app for booking homestays.
2. Plan a two-day trip: It is best to stay a night in Ayodhya given the rush at the temple which makes a day trip, even by flight, difficult. In at least a two-day trip, you will have enough time to visit the new temple, see the Ram Ki Paudi in the evening, where the annual Deepotsav takes place, and the famous Hanumangarhi Temple. Don’t miss out on the ladoos available near Hanumangarhi temple.
3. Try the morning hours for darshan: The Ram Temple opens at 6.30 am, till noon. It is closed for two hours between noon and 2 pm. The temple then re-opens at 2 pm and is open till 10 PM. An early morning visit to the temple may see less rush. Remember, you can’t carry footwear, mobile, electronic items, or bags inside the temple complex. You can only carry your small wallet. Deposit all items in Teerth Yatri Suvidha Kendra before entering the queue at the main gate of the temple. Also, you can’t take any prasad inside or flowers for offering to god. You can get the prasad inside the temple premises from the trust.
4. Expect a long walk: With a huge rush of pilgrims, you may find police check-posts at least 3-4 km ahead of the temple entry on Dharam Path that leads to Lata Mangeshkar Chowk, and vehicles could be stopped here. So be prepared to walk a long distance and wear a good pair of shoes. The Uttar Pradesh government is running electric buses for pilgrims on the Dharam Path and Ram Path that leads to the temple. In anticipation of a potential rise in the number of tourists and devotees with the construction of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi temple in Ayodhya district, widening and beautification of three access roads and development of parking and public facilities are being carried out at six places.
5. Expect a long queue: With 2.5 lakh people daily at the temple, one can expect a long queue and prolonged waiting time of an hour or two. But there are chairs and matting now on the Ram Janmabhoomi Path that leads to the main temple, along with a drinking water facility. Holding areas have also been made to send pilgrims ahead in a staggered manner. Once before the deity in the Garbhgriha, you may be able to get darshan only for about 4-5 seconds given the rush. Magistrates are posted at various points so pilgrims can reach out for help if needed.