Ayodhya
- the abode of Lord Rama
Hanuman Temple, Ayodhya Uttar Pradesh
Ayodhya, the divine land
where Lord Rama was born and spent much of his life time is one of
the most important pilgrimages in India. Situated on the banks of
river Saryu, Ayodhya is the place where you can walk over the
streets where Lord Rama or Goddess Sita might have passed
thousands years back. You can feel the divinity in the air and the
ancient heritage of the simple and quiet city is sure to take you
for a ride in the ancient era.
As the Legend Goes
Ayodhya is having a heritage that dates back to several centuries.
As the legend goes, founded by Manu or his son Ikshvaku, the first
king of the solar dynasty, Ayodhya had always been the seat of
power for the Surya dyanasty of which Rama was the most celebrated
king. This is the place where king Dasaratha, who had no son,
performed the divine Yajna with the help of Sage Rishyasringa and
as a result of that, Dasaratha had four sons, Sri Rama, Bharata,
Lakshmana and Shatrughna. The city still holds the heritage of
Lord Rama fringed in each of the corners of the city.
The most popular festival of India, Diwali was celebrated for the
first time in Ayodhya to celebrate Lord Rama's triumph over the
tyrant king Ravana in Sri Lanka, when Lord returned home with his
consort Sita and brother Lakshmana.
The Divine Attractions in Ayodhya
The divine city Ayodhya holds the heavenly heritage of Lord Rama
and his exemplary ruling which is still remembered with respect
and devotion. A tour in the city will surely engulf you in a
divine feeling which has no is idiosyncratic in the world.
Ramkot
Situated in the western part of the city, the chief place of
worship in Ayodhya is the site of the ancient citadel of Ramkot.
Though visited by the devotees throughout the year, this sacred
place attracts a huge number of pilgrims from all corners of the
earth during 'Ramnavami', the day of the Lord's birth, celebrated
with much enthusiasm and hue in the Hindu month of Chaitra
(March-April).
Hanuman-Garhi Temple
Situated in the centre of the town, this ancient temple is
approachable by 76 steps. As legend goes, Hanumana, the devotee of
Lord Rama, used to live here in a cave and guarded the Janmabhoomi
of Lord Rama. The temple houses a statue of child Hanuman seated
at the lap of mother Anjani. The temple is a massive structure in
the shape of four-sided fort with circular bastions at each corner
and is the most famous shrine in Ayodhya.
Treta Ka Mandir
This temple stands where Lord Rama had performed the Ashvamedha
Yajna. The temple was built by the Raja of Kullu about 300 years
back, which was improved later by Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore
during 1784. The adjoining ghats make a nice view in the morning
and evening.
Tourist Information
Both the state and central government have came up with a number
of measures to promote tourism in Ayodhya. A number of hotels and
guest houses run by UPTDC and other private organizations make
your stay in Atyodhya a pleasant experience.
Getting There
By Air
Ayodhya can access both the airports of Lucknow (135 km) and
Varanasi (190 km) with equal ease. Lucknow is well connected to
the rest of the country with Indian Airlines, Jet Airways and Air
Sahara flights. The Varanasi airport connects Delhi, Kolkata,
Lucknow and Khajuraho on a regular basis.
By Rail
Faizabad is at a distance of 6km from Ayodhya and is three hours
from both Varanasi and Lucknow by train on a broad gauge railway
line. From Ayodhya to Varanasi two trains are available – the
Farakka Express and the Saryu Yamuna Express. There is also a
local train service from Ayodhya to Faizabad.
By Road
The nearest bus hub to Ayodhya is at Faizabad (6 km) and it is
connected to Lucknow, Allahabad and Gorakhpur in regular bus
service. An early morning bus service to Sunauli, for Nepal from
Faizabad bus stand is also available. The distance from some major
cities are : Lucknow – 141 km, Varanasi – 190 km, Allahabad – 167
km, Gorakhpur - 140 km. |
