BEFORE YOU GO

Ayodhya Travel Tips: What Every First-Timer Should Know

Checklists, packing, temple etiquette, scams to avoid and where to find help. Read this once, and your trip will run smoother.

First-Timer Checklist

Tick these off before you leave home.

Check the latest Ram Mandir timings. They changed on 1 November 2026.
Book a free Sugam Darshan or aarti pass on the official portal, if you want one.
Carry original photo ID (Aadhaar) for every adult, and for elders.
Book your stay, especially for weekends and festival dates.
Plan to leave your phone and bag at the cloakroom. Read the entry rules.
Fix a meeting point with your family, since phones aren’t allowed inside.
Keep some cash for prasad, autos and small shops.

Short, practical, nothing extra.

Simple dos and don’ts for temples and ghats, so your visit stays smooth and respectful.

Do remove footwear where asked and leave it at the stand.
Do keep the queue moving and let elders and children go first where you can.
Do follow photography signs. Many temples don’t allow photos inside.
Don’t carry non-vegetarian food or alcohol near temple areas.
Don’t throw flowers, plastic or offerings into the Saryu. Use the bins provided.
Don’t push near the sanctum. Everyone gets their moment.

Darshan is free. If anyone asks you to pay for “VIP entry”, walk away.

Fake VIP darshan: there is no paid darshan at Ram Mandir. Sugam and aarti passes are free and only on online.srjbtkshetra.org.
Fake websites and agents: don’t pay anyone who promises a “confirmed pass”. Book passes yourself on the official portal.
Pushy guides: you don’t need a guide for darshan. Politely say no.
Auto fares: agree on the fare before you sit, especially from the station or airport.
Crowds: keep cash and ID in a front pocket, and hold children’s hands near the ghats.
Emergency: dial 112 for police and 108 for an ambulance.

Where to turn if you need a pharmacy, cash or a helping hand.

Medical: first-aid points are set up near the temple and ghats on busy days. Pharmacies line Ram Path and the main markets. For anything serious, call 108 for an ambulance.
ATMs: you’ll find ATMs on Ram Path and the main roads, but they can run dry on festival days. Carry some cash, and UPI works almost everywhere.
Help desks and police booths: near Ram Mandir’s entry and the main ghats. Ask them if someone in your group gets separated.
Lost and found: report to the nearest police booth, and keep a recent photo of each family member on your phone.

Where to take your best photos of Ayodhya, and where cameras aren’t allowed.

Ram Ki Paidi at sunset: lamps, steps and the river during the Saryu aarti.
From a boat on the Saryu: the whole line of ghats in one frame. Go at sunrise.
Guptar Ghat in the morning: soft light and very few people.
Ram Path at night: the lit-up road and decorated gateways.
Not allowed: photography inside Ram Mandir, where phones and cameras must stay in the cloakroom. Many other temples also don’t allow photos of the deity. Follow the signs.
Drones: not allowed without official permission.

Share your dates. We’ll plan the stay, car and timings, and help you book your free passes.