Ayodhya Itinerary - 3 Days Done Right
Day 1: Ram Mandir + Hanuman Garhi. Day 2: Kanak Bhavan + Saryu Aarti. Day 3: Treta ke Thakur + Nageshwarnath.
Three days is the sweet spot. Two feels rushed, five too long unless you're combining with Varanasi or Prayagraj. The plan below visits the main darshan in the cool morning, the deeper temples in the afternoon, and the Saryu in the golden evening light. Skim the overview, then read each day in order.
Arrival + the main darshan
A quiet landing in the afternoon, your first evening at the gate of Ram Mandir, sunset from the top of Hanuman Garhi.
- AfternoonBy 2:00 PM
Check in, lunch at the hotel
Train and flight schedules put most pilgrims here between 1 and 3 PM. Eat a proper lunch and take 30 minutes for chai by a window before you set out.
- Afternoon3:30 PM
Walk to Ram Mandir for Sandhya Aarti
Eight minutes on foot. Queue forms from 4:30 PM. Phones, cameras, wallets and belts stay in the free locker outside the security check.
- SunsetAfter darshan
Climb Hanuman Garhi
76 steps up to the fortress-style temple. Panoramic view of the entire city. Best photographed at golden hour.
- NightLate
Dinner nearby, sleep early
Pure-veg satvik options a short walk away. Aim to be in bed by 10 PM. Day 2 starts before dawn if you take the Mangla Aarti slot.
The deeper circuit
Kanak Bhavan and the inner temples in the morning, a midday rest, ending at Saryu Aarti by the river.
- Early morning5:00 AM
Optional: Mangla Aarti at Ram Mandir
Skip if you did Day 1's Sandhya. The smallest queue of the day. Sleep in if you'd rather start at 9.
- Morning9:00 AM
Kanak Bhavan
The gold-walled palace given to Sita by Kaikeyi. Surprisingly intimate. Spend 20 quiet minutes.
- Morning10:30 AM
Sita Rasoi
Sita's mythical kitchen, small but historically rich. Right next to Kanak Bhavan, 5 minutes on foot.
- Midday12:30 PM
Lunch and rest
Heat peaks between 11 and 4. The hotel courtyard is your friend. Power-nap if you can.
- Afternoon3:30 PM
Dashrath Bhavan + Treta ke Thakur
Palace site of King Dashrath, plus the spot of Ram's ashvamedh yagya. 10-minute auto between the two.
- Sunset5:30 PM
Auto to Ram Ki Paidi for Saryu Aarti
Winter aarti at 6:00 PM, summer at 6:30. Arrive 30 minutes early for a spot on the lower ghat steps.
- NightLate
Dinner at the hotel
You'll be back by about 8 PM. Plenty of time for a slow meal and a debrief.
Outer temples + departure
A quiet morning of smaller temples, the temple-side bazaar at noon, then an unrushed exit.
- Early morning7:00 AM
Nageshwarnath + Surya Kund
Shiva temple founded by Kush. The early light here is exactly the photograph you'll want to take home.
- Morning9:00 AM
Mani Parvat
Small hill said to be a piece of the original Sanjeevani mountain Hanuman carried. 20-minute visit.
- Morning10:30 AM
Tulsi Smarak Bhavan
Memorial and library to Goswami Tulsidas, who composed the Ramcharitmanas. Quietly moving.
- Midday12:00 PM
Bazaar and lunch
Prasad packs, brass diyas, devotional books. Eat a final thali in the bazaar before the bags come down.
- AfternoonBy 11:00 AM (or late check-out)
Check out
Most hotels including ours offer paid late check-out until 4 PM. Useful if your train is in the evening.
- Departure2:00 PM onward
Trains and flights to Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru
Most outbound trains leave between 4 and 9 PM. Allow 90 minutes for the airport, 30 for either station.
If you only have two days
Drop Day 3. Compress Days 1 and 2 into a tighter schedule, Ram Mandir + Hanuman Garhi on Day 1, Kanak Bhavan + Saryu Aarti on Day 2. You'll miss the smaller temples but you'll have done the core circuit.