Since its consecration on 22 January 2024, the Ram Mandir has become India's single most-visited religious site — over 135 million visitors by late 2024, averaging about 1.5 lakh people a day. That's more than the Taj Mahal. The practical upshot: you need to plan your darshan a bit, or you'll spend your day in a queue. Here's how.
Timings (2026)
| Session | Timing | Notes |
| Temple opens | 6:30 AM | Shringar Jagaran aarti |
| Morning darshan | 7:00 – 11:30 AM | Main window |
| Midday break | 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM | Deity rest — temple closed |
| Evening darshan | 2:00 – 7:00 PM | Second window |
| Sandhya aarti | 7:30 PM | Open to all |
| Shayan aarti | ~10:00 PM | Special pass required |
Don't show up in the midday break — the doors literally close. The least crowded slots are early morning (6:30–8:30 AM) and Tuesday–Thursday. Weekends, Diwali and Ram Navami (27 March 2026, with the Surya Tilak at noon) are shoulder-to-shoulder.
Entry & passes
- General darshan: free.
- Sugam Darshan pass: also free, booked online up to 15 days ahead (8 passes per mobile number) — faster entry, worth doing.
- Mangala (4 AM) and Shayan (10 PM) aartis need special passes.
How to reach
- Train: Ayodhya Dham Junction is the new main station, well connected to Delhi, Lucknow, Varanasi and Mumbai.
- Air: Maharishi Valmiki International Airport (Ayodhya), with flights from Delhi, Mumbai and Ahmedabad.
- Road: Lucknow is ~135 km (2.5 hrs); Varanasi ~200 km (4 hrs). Most pilgrims combine the two.
The 1-day plan (works)
Morning darshan at Ram Mandir → Hanuman Garhi (the other essential stop) → Kanak Bhawan → lunch → Saryu river ghat for the evening aarti. That's a full, satisfying day. With two days, add Nageshwarnath temple, the Ayodhya heritage walk, and a more relaxed pace.
The smart move: combine it
Ayodhya sits in the middle of India's hottest spiritual corridor. The classic combos:
- Ayodhya + Varanasi (4D/3N, from ₹6,280)
- Ayodhya + Varanasi + Prayagraj (6D/5N, from ₹13,053)
- Ayodhya from Lucknow (3D/2N, from ₹5,721) — quickest if you fly into Lucknow
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Book it: Ayodhya Darshan Express (1-day, from ₹1,850) or the Weekend Retreat (2D/1N from ₹3,182), with satvik meals and pass assistance. See Ayodhya packages → or WhatsApp +91 88497 20561.
*Read next: Varanasi travel guide · Prayagraj Triveni Sangam*
