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Ayodhya, a city rich in religious meaning and historic greatness, has always drawn pilgrims and tourists. It sits on the Saryu River's banks in Uttar Pradesh. People honour it as Lord Rama's birthplace, a central figure in the ancient Indian epic, the Ramayana. My recent visit to this old city wasn't just a trip through history but also touched my soul.
Day 1:
The trip started at noon with a road trip from Lucknow. As the car moved through the highways, witnessing some beautiful plains full of dense trees I got more excited to explore one of India's holiest cities.
When we arrived after a journey of 2.5 hours, I saw the busy mood of a town that even with its historic importance still feels small and lovely.
As we moved through the streets, old buildings at every nook of the road told their own stories. We checked into a simple but cosy guesthouse close to the Ram Janmabhoomi temple and decided to rest and have lunch before exploring the city.
Around 6 pm, we went out to see the city. We spent the first half of the evening at the Saryu
Ghat, watching the devotees take dips in the holy river of Saryu. A part of the river has many temples adorning its banks, which look breathtaking when colourful lights shine on their stone walls. As night fell, we headed to the other bank of the Saryu River to watch the evening aarti. Devotees packed the ghats, and the sight of the river lit up by countless diyas (lamps) was spellbinding. The aarti, with the steady chanting of hymns and the blast of conch shells, created a mood of spiritual joy.
Since we had time in hand, we headed to Hanuman Garhi and the Ram Janmabhoomi temple, where Lord Rama was born. This place has drawn religious devotion and sparked political debates for centuries.
Hanuman Garhi sits on a hill giving you a bird's-eye view of the city, hence we had to climb a
flight of stairs to reach there. Before that, we made sure to buy some sweets to offer as prasad to Lord Hanuman. The temple stands out as a work of art, with its walls covered in detailed carvings and a lively feel. It was not long before we became a part of the huge crowd waiting to join hands before the deity, who sat on his throne dressed in silver and white, looking as heavenly as ever. We could sense how devoted the people praying were, and taking part in the daily ceremonies left us feeling both small and inspired.
Next up, when we visited the Ram Janmabhoomi temple, workers were still building the temple complex, which is a strong symbol of faith for millions of Hindus. As I walked through the area, I felt respectful and at peace, with pilgrims all around me saying prayers and paying their respects.
It is not easy to enter the temple, with at least three checkpoints before we even get to see the main temple. Not to forget the huge temple premises which we have to cover bare feet since it is mandatory to take off our shoes before entering the temple, along with our belongings and our phones. That’s right, you would not get a chance to capture the beautiful sight of the Ram Lalla idol placed in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple. But we will place a photograph of the sculpture right here for you to see!
The idol of Balak Ram (child Ram) was sculpted by Arun Yogiraj, a renowned sculptor from Karnataka, using 2.5 billion-year-old black granite. It was evident that all the time and effort put into the sculpture had paid off. His face radiates kindness, and his posture embodies calm and courage. Devotees admired his unwavering righteousness and gentle compassion.
With this we called it a day and returned to the guesthouse, hoping that the following day would be even more exciting and fun-filled.
Day 2:
Since this was the final day of our visit, we made sure to check out of the guesthouse before heading out to explore. Our first destination of the day was Guptar Ghat, which is 8.3 km away from the main city of Ayodhya. During our drive, we crossed some beautiful green fields on the outskirts of the city.
Guptar Ghat boasts the sight of the Saryu River, which looks massive in the eyes of devotees. There are plenty of benches and shades installed on the ghat so that one can sit and admire the beauty of the river. This is the place where Lord Ram took his last dip (jal samadhi) into the Saryu River before leaving for his original abode, "Vaikunta". Devotees believe that taking a dip here will wash away all their sins. The ghat's peaceful atmosphere, with its old temples and calm waters, offered a great chance to think.
After that for our last destination, we checked out Suryakund, which is a big tank surrounded by ghats that presents an exclusively beautiful sight to visitors. People believe the Suryavanshi rulers of Ayodhya built the kund to show respect to the Sun god. In the past, this site also went by the name Ghoshark Tirtha. Legend has it that long ago, a king named Ghosh spotted sages bathing in the pool as he passed by. He then decided to bathe in the pool himself. After his bath, the king's body became divine. Learning about the site's importance from the sages, he paid homage to Lord Bhaskar. The story goes that Suryadev appeared to him and created his vivid image. King Ghosh then placed the statue at the site. King Ghosh's construction led to this place being called Ghoshark Tirtha in ancient times. Raja Darshan Singh later built the Kund and temple here hoping to secure Suryadev's blessings for himself, his descendants, and the people of Ayodhya. The area got the name Darshannagar after him. Every year in the month of Bhadra, a fair takes place here drawing thousands of devotees.
Reflections on Ayodhya
As we drove out of Ayodhya heading to Lucknow, I couldn't stop thinking about how much the city had affected me. Ayodhya blends history and faith giving visitors a chance to learn and grow. This place isn't just a spot on the map; it's a trip that touches your heart where old and new mix to create something that will last forever.
If you want to connect more with India's spiritual roots, you should check out Ayodhya. No matter if you're a devoted believer or just someone who likes to explore, this old city will stick in your mind for years to come.
Would you like to visit Ayodhya?
Definitely!
Not of my interest
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