We travelled to Ayodhya and Nandigram in March 2025, exploring a range of sacred sites over three days.
Below is a summary of the places we visited.

Day 1

Ram Mandir
Our online booking made the darshan process smooth, allowing us to enter through a dedicated queue and complete the visit without delays.

Ram ki Paidi Ghat
Lining the banks of the Sarayu, Ram ki Paidi offered a serene setting. We also stopped for a few photographs with the nearby Lata Mangeshkar Veena Statue, which honours the legendary singer.

Sarayu Aarti
The evening aarti, performed with lamps and rhythmic chants near Ram ki Paidi, was a beautiful experience, even though we viewed it from a distance.

Day 2 – Nandigram & Ayodhya

Guptar Ghat
Located about 10 km from Ayodhya, Guptar Ghat is revered as the place where Lord Rama is believed to have taken jal-samādhi. We also enjoyed a short boat ride and a refreshing dip in the clear Sarayu waters.

Bharath Temple / Guha / Kund (Nandigram)
This site is linked to Bharata’s period of penance while he governed Ayodhya on Rama’s behalf. We visited the temple, the sacred cave, and the kund before returning towards Ayodhya.

Surya Kund
On the way back, we stopped at Surya Kund, a revered pond dedicated to the Sun God.

Back in Ayodhya, we explored several ghats and temples along the Sarayu:

Lakshman Ghat
Associated with Lakshmana’s presence in Ayodhya, the ghat retains a calm ambience.

Papavimochan Ghat
This ghat is traditionally believed to provide spiritual cleansing, making it a meaningful stop for devotees.

Nageshwar Nath Mandir
Among the oldest Shiva temples in Ayodhya, it continues to attract a steady flow of worshippers.

Tretanath Mandir
Linked to Rama’s presence in the Treta Yuga, this ancient temple opens exclusively on Ekadashi days.

Day 3 – Ayodhya

Hanuman Garhi
Perched on a hill, Hanuman Garhi offers a sweeping view of the city. It is customary to visit this temple before Ram Mandir. The day we visited, the crowd was particularly heavy.

Kanak Bhavan
This temple is believed to have been presented by Queen Kaushalya to Sita at the time of her wedding with Rama.

Dasarath Mahal
Regarded as the former royal residence of King Dasaratha, this palace-temple is where Rama and his brothers spent their early years. Its active worship and traditional ambience preserve Ayodhya’s regal heritage.

Ram Mandir (Second Visit)
We revisited the temple using the Senior Citizen pass (for those aged 70+), which made the darshan easier and quicker.

Valmiki Bhavan
Dedicated to Sage Valmiki, the entire structure features marble slabs engraved with all 24,000 verses of the Ramayana, making it a remarkable place for reflection.

Mani Parvat
This small hill is believed to be a fragment of the Sanjeevani mountain. The summit provides a peaceful vantage point overlooking parts of Ayodhya.

Vashisht Kund
Associated with Sage Vashishta, this sacred tank is believed to be the site where he performed his daily rituals.

Stay

We stayed at Hotel Krinoscco, and below is my review in Google:

Overpriced for the quality offered. The accommodation is average, with small rooms and overly soft, sinking bedding. Service is mediocre, and the corridor carpet could use a thorough cleaning. The on-site restaurant was underwhelming, so we opted for the nearby Curry Leaf, which turned out to be a saving grace. The hotel is about 5 km from Ram Mandir, but finding an auto-rickshaw was relatively easy.