There are many places to visit near Ayodhya Ram Mandir; however, before we go forward, let us delve into some of the history of Ayodhya as a city. It is a city situated on the banks of the Sarayu River in the Indian State of Uttar Pradesh. This city was historically known as Saketa.
This famous city is the birthplace of the Hindu deity Rama of Kosala, the setting of the great Ramayana and its many versions. In Hinduism, this city is considered one of the seven most important pilgrimage sites.
Likewise, there is a belief that a temple was built at the place of Rama’s birth, but it was demolished by the Mughal Emperor Babur or Aurangzeb and replaced with a mosque. However 1992, a dispute happened, and a grand temple of Rama replaced the mosque at the site.
Enough about the history, now let us talk about the places to visit near Ayodhya Ram Mandir
List of the Best Places to visit near Ayodhya Ram Mandir
1. Ram Janmabhoomi
This is Ram’s birthplace, Ram Janmabhoomi, which is supposed to be the birthplace of Lord Ram. This place is a highly revered site for Hindu devotees. By order of the Supreme Court of India, the Ram Janmabhoomi land was transferred to a trust to construct the Ram temple. The foundation stone for the Ram Temple of Ayodhya will be laid on August 5, 2020, during a groundbreaking ceremony.
According to legend, Babr demolished this temple and built a mosque on its site. There are many controversies regarding this location. But now the magnificent Ram Mandir is being built on this location, and it will be completed on the 24th of January 2024. So, it is one of the best places to visit in Ayodhya.
2. Hanuman Garhi
In Sai Nagar, Hanuman Garhi is a 10th-century temple dedicated to the Hindu God, Hanuman. It is one of the most important temples in Ayodhya, and it’s a tradition to visit Hanuman Garhi before visiting the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. It is much believed that Lord Hanuman lived at the temple – guarding Ayodhya.
This temple has a 76 – 76 staircase pathway to the entrance. There is a 6-inch tall idol of Hanuman here. The main temple has an interior cave adorned with the many statues of Lord Hanuman and his mother, Maa Anjani. Many devotees are attracted to Hanuman Garhi. In Ayodhya, it is a must-visit place near the Ram Mandir.
3. Kanak Bhavan
The Kanak Bhawan was established towards the northeastern corner of the Ram Janmabhoomi in Tulsi Nagar. This temple is also known as Sone–Ka–Ghar. It is dedicated to Lord Rama and his wife, Goddess Sita.
A silver roof covers the sanctum sanctorum of this Golden Palace, which contains three golden-crowned idols of the two gods. The Sri Vrishbhan Dharma Setu Trust Private Limited currently manages this Bundela-styled temple. This temple is also considered to be one of the best religious places in Ayodhya.
4. Nageshwarnath Temple
The Nageshwarnath Temple is located adjacent to the Terhi Bazaar in Ayodhya. It is believed to have been set up by Kush or Kusha, Lord Rama’s son.
The current temple is said to have been reconstructed in 1750 by Safar Jung’s minister, Naval Rai. This temple attracts many devotees during Mahashivaratari and Trayodashi. This is the best time to visit the temple, as Shiv Barat is taking place at this time. Every year, thousands of devotees from all over the world come to Ayodhya to attend the Shiva procession.
It is around 16km away from Ram Mandir.
5. Gulab Bari
Also known as the Garden of Roses, the Gulab Bari is in Vaidehi Nagar. It is considered the tomb of the third Nawab of Faizabad. This Gulab Bari brings out pure Nawab-styled architecture alongside a vast array of rose species and lush greenery.
Gulab Bari is currently preserved as a part of national heritage. If you are planning an Ayodhya tour, include this tourist attraction on your list of places to visit. Its beautiful architecture will amaze you.
6. Treta Ke Thakur
The Treta Ke Thakur Temple houses many idols, including Lord Ram, Sita, Lakshman, Hanuman, Bharat, and Sugreev. These very statues have been sculpted out of a single black sandstone. This temple is believed to have been constructed 300 years ago by Kullu, the king of that time.
The temple was revamped in the 1700s by the Maratha queen of the time, Ahilyabai Holkar. If you are a history enthusiast and love to explore ancient temples, you should visit this place during the Ayodhya tour.
7. Choti Chawni
Also popularly known as Valmiki Bhawan, Choti Chawni is a magnificent Ayodhya structure crafted from white marble. This place is beautiful and worth a visit.
The heritage caves are 34 in number: 12 to the south are Buddhist, 17 in the center are Hindu, and 5 in the north are Jain; this is a significant architectural brilliance. This is one of the best tourist places near Ram Mandir. It is located approximately 14km from Ayodhya. By taking local transport, travelers can easily reach there.
8. Sita Ki Rasoi
One of the must-visit places near Ayodhya Ram Mandir is Sita Ki Rasoi. This place is believed to be an ancient kitchen used by the goddess Sita herself. It is built close to the Ram Janmabhoomi, now a temple housing some perfect vessels. Sita Ki Rasoi is a basement kitchen.
Located northwest of Ram Janmanhoomi Ayodhya, this ancient kitchen was used by Sita. As Sita was the goddess of food, the temple followed the tradition of offering free food. The visitors can also donate any amount of money to charity here.
9. Tulsi Smarak Bhawan
Established in the memory of Goswami Tulsidas, this place is believed to have been when Tulisdas composed the Ramcharita. This place was built in 1969 by Sri Vishwanath Das, the Governor of Uttar Pradesh at the time.
The Smarak also houses a research center called the Ayodhya Research Sansthan, which is used to study and add significant literary, cultural, and spiritual information about Ayodhya. Here, Tulsi Jayanti is celebrated with much pomp and show every 7th of the Shravan month.
Every year, thousands of devotees visit this Bhawan to learn about Hindu culture. It is now one of the most popular tourist attractions in Ayodhya.
10. Bahu Begum Ka Maqbara
This is popularly known as the Taj Mahal of the East. This was dedicated to the queen bride begum Unmatuzzohra Bano, wife and queen of the Nawab Shuja – ud – Daula. This is the tallest monument in Faizabad and is famous for its non-Mughal architectural brilliance. It is very magnificent in appearance.
To elaborate further, this Makbara has three domes and marvelously done walls and ceilings. A garden in front of the complex has been beautifully done, and it’s a great tourist site. The view of the entire city can be seen from the top of the womb. If you like to see historic sites, include this place on your sightseeing list.
It is around 17 km from Ayodhya Ram Mandir.
11. Raja Mandir
Raja Mandir in Faizabad has been associated with many mythological stories time and again. The temple houses great carved idols of many Hindu gods and goddesses clad in silken fabrics and vibrant jewelry. The construction of the temple shows the brilliance of Hindu architecture. The shrine is now a regular temple with statues of numerous deities.
12. Ram Katha Park
This is a beautiful park in Ayodhya, housing open–air theatres and well-kept lawns. It is a popular venue for devotional programs, cultural performances, religious events, dance, and poetry. It also encourages national as well as international artists to showcase their talents. The airy amphitheater is an escape from the congested halls of the city.
13. Moti Mahal
Popularly known as the Pearl Palace, Moti Mahal is a few kilometers away from Ayodhya in Faizabad. The palace was the residence of Queen Begum, Unmatuzzohra Banu. This monument has a great, rich heritage of the Nawabi culture.
14. Dashrath Bhavan
Dashrath Bhavan is the residence of King Dashrath – the ruler of Ayodhya and father to Lord Sri Ram. This place is known as Bada Asthan and houses many magnificent shrines of King Ram/ This pretty palace is decorated and has an entrance with beautiful paintings.
In fact, within the palace, there are saffron-clad monks chanting mantras, singing, and dancing. The place becomes very beautiful during festival seasons such as Diwali, Ram Navami, and Shravan Mela. This place is a must-see during the festival season near the Ayodhya Ram Mandir.
15. Guptar Ghat
Guptar Ghat is a revered site in Faizabad, near Ayodhya. The ghat was once the neighbor of the colonial company gardens, now known as the Gupta Ghat Van. This place is said to be where the Hindu deity Lord Ram meditated and undertook the Jal Samadhi in the river. After this, he was said to have ascended into heaven as Lord Vishnu’s avatar.
The Guptar Ghat is currently equipped with modern amenities as well. Many devotees visit this Ghat every year because they believe that taking a dip in holy water will remove their sins. This is considered to be one of the best things to do in Ayodhya, and you can do it as well.
16. Mani Parbat
Mani Parbat is a tiny hillock situated in Kami Ganj, Ayodhya. It is a great city viewpoint and houses a stupa built by Emperor Ashoka and a Buddhist monastery. This parbat is close to another hilly mound called the Sugriv Parbat. There is an Islamic mausoleum at the foothills of Mani Parbat.
It is around 11km from Ram Mandir, one of the most popular places to visit in Ayodhya.
FAQs
Is it worth the time to make a trip to Ayodhya?
This is one of the most fascinating religious destinations. And it is absolutely deserving of a person’s attention and time!
What can one shop from Ayodhya?
This is the perfect site to purchase sculpted figures of Lord Ram, Sita, and Laxshman made of marble and hardwood. One can also purchase religious mementos.
What kind of food is good in Ayodhya?
Vegetarian biryani is known to be the best in Ayodhya. This dish is full of flavor and is very satisfying. This dish is absolutely difficult to refuse.
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