Location:
Uttar Pradesh
Attractions: Ramkot, Hanuman Garhi
Best Season: Throughout The Year
Languages: Hindi, Avadhi, English
 The Birth
Place Of Lord Rama
On the right bank of the river Ghagra or Saryu, as it is called
within sacred precincts, stands the holy city of Ayodhya, believed to be
the birth place of lord Rama, the seventh incarnation of lord Vishnu.
Ayodhya during
ancient times was known as Kosaldesa. The Atharvaveda describes it as
“a city built by gods and being as prosperous as paradise itself”.
The illustrious Ikshvaku of the solar clan (suryavamsa) was the ruling
dynasty of this region.
The ancient city
of Ayodhya, according to the Ramayana, was founded by Manu, the
law-giver of the Hindus. For centuries, it was the capital of the
descendants of the Surya dynasty of which lord Rama was the most
celebrated king.
Ayodhya is
pre-eminently a city of temples yet, all the places of worship here, are
not only of Hindu religion. At Ayodhya several religions have grown and
prospered simultaneously and also at different periods of time in the
past. Remnants of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Islam can still be
found in Ayodhya. According to Jain belief, five tirthankaras were born
at Ayodhya, including Adinath (Rishabhadeva), the 1st tirthankar.PRIME
ATTRACTIONS
Religious
Places
Ramkot: The
chief place of worship in Ayodhya is the site of the ancient citadel of
Ramkot, which stands on an elevated ground in the western part of the
city. Although visited by pilgrims through out the year, this sacred
place attracts devotees from all over India and abroad, on ‘Ramnavami’,
the day of the lord’s birth, which is celebrated with great pomp and
show, in the Hindu month of Chaitra (March-April).
The Hanuman
Garhi: Situated in the centre of the town, this temple is
approachable by a flight of 76 steps. Legend has it that Hanuman lived
here, in a cave and guarded the Janmabhoomi or Ramkot. The main temple
contains the statue of Anjani, with child Hanuman, seated on her lap.
The devotees believe that all their wishes will be granted with a visit
to this holy shrine.
A massive
structure in the shape of a four-sided fort with circular bastions at
each corner , houses a temple of Hanuman and is the most popular shrine
in Ayodhya.
Treta-Ke-Thakur:
This temple stands at the place, where Rama is said to have
performed the Ashvamedha Yagya. About 300 years ago, the Raja of Kullu
built a new temple here, which was improved by Ahilyabai Holkar of
Indore, during 1784. At the same time, the adjoining ghats were also
built. The initial idols in black sandstone were recovered from Saryu
and placed in the new temple, famous as Kaleram-ka-Mandir.
 Nageshwarnath
Temple: The temple of Nageshwarnath is said to have been established
by Kush, the son of Rama. Legend has it that Kush lost his armlet, while
bathing in the river Saryu, which was picked up by a nag-kanya, who fell
in love with him. As she was a devotee of Shiva, Kush erected this
temple for her. It is said that this is the only temple to have survived
till the time of Vikramaditya, the rest of city had fallen into ruins
and was covered by dense forests. It was by means of this temple that
Vikramaditya was able to locate Ayodhya and the sites of different
shrines here. The festival of Shivratri is celebrated here with great
pomp & show.
Kanak Bhawan: Legends
have it that queen Kaikeyi had built it for Sita. It has been restored
time and again by various kings. Rani Krishnabhanu Kunwari of Orchha
built the present temple, in 1891.
Maniparvat: This
hillock standing about 65 fee high is considered to be of Buddhist
origin, by many. According to legend, it was while Hanuman was carrying
the hill bearing the ‘sanjeevani booti’, for Lakshman’s wounds
from Himalayas on way to Lanka, a portion broke off and fell in Ayodhya.
Jain Shrines: There
are also several Jain temples at Ayodhya, as it is said to be the
birthplace of five tirthankaras. Kesari Singh, the treasurer of Nawab of
Faizabad, built five shrines to mark the birthplace of these
tirthankaras, which bear the date of Vikram Samvat 1781. The temple of
Adinath is near the Swargdwar, while the Anantanath temple stands on the
Gola Ghat & Sumantnath shrine is at Ramkot.
Tulsichaura: The
Hindi version of the epic Ramayana, “The Ramcharitmanas” is said to
have been composed by Tulsidas, here.
Tulsi Smarak
Bhawan: Built in memory of the poet Goswami Tulsidas, this monument
is used for prayer meetings, religious sermons and discussions, and the
singing of devotional songs (Bhajans and kirtans). It also houses the
Ayodhya Shodh Sansthan, where a large collection of literary works of
Swami Tulsidas can be seen. A cultural center of Performing Arts also
functions here. Ramkatha museum, set up at Ayodhya since 1988, is
engaged in collection, preservation and conservation of antiquities
related to the life of Rama.
HOW TO GET
THERE
Air: For
Ayodhya the nearest airports are Amausi, Bumrauli and Babatpur.
Rail: Ayodhya is situated on the broad gauge northern
railway line on Mughal Sarai- Lucknow main route. Ayodhya/Faizabad are
connected to various parts of the country by rail lines.
Road: Connected by road to several major cities and towns
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