Ayodhya

Ayodhya is best known for being the city of Hindu mythological epic Ramayana. As per legends, Saint Manu, the initiator of mankind founded the city and gave it to the Ikshvaku clan to rule. Being the capital city of Kosala, Ayodhya was then ruled by King Dasaratha, a descendant of Ikshvaku. It is, however, interesting to note that historians have interpreted Ayodhya's existence, as per Ramayana, as an urban centre consisting of buildings and palaces. But, the excavations at present-day Ayodhya indicate that it had a primitive life. This has led to the conclusion that the city of Ayodhya in Ramayana was a fictional one.

A local tradition states that Ayodhya became desolate after Lord Rama's ascent to heaven and was later revived by King Vikramaditya of Ujjain, in 50 BCE. The great Kalidasa, however, mentions in Raghuvamsa that Lord Rama’s son Kusa was the one who led Ayodhya’s revival.

Several legends like Brahmanda Purana and Garuda Purana mention Ayodhya as one of the "most sacred and foremost cities" and "one of the holiest places for Hindus in India", respectively. The Jain tradition states that 5 Tirthankaras- Rishabhanatha (first), Ajitanatha (second), Abhinandananatha (fourth), Sumatinatha (fifth) and Anantanatha (fourteenth) were born in Ayodhya.

The biggest centre of attraction of Ayodhya is the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple. Believed to be the birthplace of 7th incarnation of Lord Vishnu, Lord Ram, this area came under a religious dispute between the Hindus and the Muslims.

It is believed that there was a temple here which was demolished by Mughal Emperor Babur in 1528 AD, who built a mosque here. The mosque is said to have been taken down by the Hindus in 1922, killing 2000 civilians. However, some claims also suggest the Masjid's location here before its official record as a Hindu religious site.

With multiple sessions of official back and forth surrounding this dispute in court, this region was once a place of both Hindu and Muslim worship until 1949. The prolonged disagreement between the two parties resulted in the 2019 judicial verdict that ensured 1/6th and 1/3rd of the disputed land were given to the Hindus and the Muslims respectively.

As of the 5th of February, 2020, the Indian Government established the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra, an official temple trust on the Ram Janmabhoomi after marking 5 acres at a different site under the management of the Sunni Waqf Board to build the mosque. 

Options for food in Ayodhya can be quite limited since only vegetarian is available, the town being a major religious centre. There aren't many fancy dining places in Ayodhya as well.

The handful of local restaurants and Dhabas here offer Punjabi, North-Indian and Chinese cuisines. The state is known for the colour and flavours of its Chaat, which includes Aloo Tikki, Pani Puri, Kachori, Papri Chaat, Samosa and more.
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Ayodhya is famous as a holy tourist spot as it has many pilgrim sites and temples. The place is known for its purity and simplicity.

Options for food in Ayodhya can be quite limited since only vegetarian is available, the town being a major religious centre. There aren't many fancy dining places in Ayodhya as well.

The handful of local restaurants and Dhabas here offer Punjabi, North-Indian and Chinese cuisines. The state is known for the colour and flavours of its Chaat, which includes Aloo Tikki, Pani Puri, Kachori, Papri Chaat, Samosa and more.
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The top places near to Ayodhya are Shravasti which is 80 km from Ayodhya, Lucknow which is located 124 km from Ayodhya, Varanasi which is located 181 km from Ayodhya, Allahabad which is located 155 km from Ayodhya, Agra which is located 417 km from Ayodhya

The top things to do in Ayodhya are Ram Janmabhoomi, Kanak Bhawan, Nageshwarnath Temple, Hanuman Garhi, Ayodhya, Gulab Bari, Treta Ke Thakur. You can see all the places to visit in Ayodhya here

Weather is mostly pleasant in Ayodhya, all throughout the year. There are occasional heat waves and cold breeze during the peak of summer and winter seasons. The best time to visit although is between October to December, both for its weather and the festivities.
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Ayodhya is meant for elderly people. This place is for people who are intending to go on a religious trip and not a vacation

The place is meant for a religious tour and not a relaxing vacation. It can be hot and dry a major part of the year.

There are not many direct routes connecting Ayodhya to most places but once you are in the state of Uttar Pradesh, connectivity becomes much easier. There is no airport in Ayodhya but there is a railway station. Regular buses are also available from other cities to Ayodhya.
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