Sacred Sites of Ayodhya: Temples, Ghats and Pilgrimage Spots

Ayodhya is, before everything else, a city of temples. From the elevated citadel of Ramkot in the west to the quiet ghats of the Sarayu in the north, every quarter of the old city is bound to some episode of the Ramayana or to a saint who lived and meditated here. The eight sites described below, seven Hindu shrines and the cluster of historic gurudwaras, together form the traditional pilgrim circuit (yatra) of Ayodhya.

Each site has its own dedicated page on this site, with full history, mythology, festival information, and visiting guidance. This overview is the map.

The pilgrim’s circuit at a glance

The traditional sequence, followed for centuries, begins with Hanuman, then Rama, then a bath in the Sarayu:

1. Hanuman Garhi: pay respects to Sevak Hanuman first, by tradition, before approaching Lord Rama.
2. Ramkot: the elevated citadel on which the new Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir stands.
3. Kanak Bhawan: the “House of Gold” of Sita and Rama, a few minutes’ walk from Ramkot.
4. Nageshwarnath: the ancient Shiva temple said to have been founded by Kusha, son of Rama.
5. The Sarayu: snan at Ram Ki Paidi or Naya Ghat, and the evening Sarayu Aarti.
6. Tulsidas Bhawan: memorial to Goswami Tulsidas, with free Ramleela performed every evening.
7. Mani Parbat: the small hill where, by legend, a fragment of the Sanjivini mountain fell.
8. The Sikh Gurudwaras: the shrines that mark the visits of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, and Guru Gobind Singh Ji to Ayodhya.

A devout pilgrim can complete this circuit in a single full day; most visitors prefer two days, splitting the temple cluster (1–4) from the river-and-saints cluster (5–8).

What you will find on each page

Every site page on this guide follows the same structure, so you can skim the section you need:

• History & origins: when the shrine was founded, by whom, and what the inscriptions and gazetteers record.
• Legends & scriptural basis: the episodes of the Valmiki Ramayana, Ramcharitmanas, Skanda Purana or local tradition that the site preserves.
• What’s there today: the architecture, the principal idol, ancillary shrines.
• Festivals: when the site is at its most active (e.g. Ram Navami at Ramkot, Vivah Panchami at Kanak Bhawan, Mahashivratri at Nageshwarnath, Deepotsav along the Sarayu, Sravan Jhula Mela at Mani Parbat).
• Visiting: timings, dress code, accessibility notes, and how to get there.

Practical notes for first-time visitors

• Heart of old Ayodhya is compact: Hanuman Garhi, Ramkot, Kanak Bhawan, and the bazaar lanes lined with prasad sellers are all within walking distance.
• The Sarayu ghats stretch about 6 km along the river’s right bank, from Ram Ki Paidi upstream down to Guptar Ghat: the spot where, by tradition, Lord Rama entered the river to return to Vaikuntha.
• Mani Parbat and Tulsidas Bhawan are slightly outside the central temple cluster: best reached by auto.
• Ayodhya is well connected by the new Maharshi Valmiki International Airport (15 km) and Ayodhya Dham Junction railway station (2 km from Ramkot).
• For darshan at the Ram Mandir specifically, see the dedicated darshan guide for entry passes, timings, and dress code.

Use the cards below to dive into any single site.