How to Reach Ayodhya: Train, Flight and Road
Ayodhya is better connected than it was a few years ago, and the connection you choose will shape the whole trip. Here is the honest comparison.
By air
Maharishi Valmiki International Airport (AYJ) is in Ayodhya itself, about 10 km from the temple. Flights connect to Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and a growing list of other cities, though schedules change with the season — check the airline directly rather than trusting an old blog post.
If there is no convenient flight to AYJ, the two practical alternatives are:
- Lucknow (LKO) — around 140 km, roughly 3 hours by car on a good day. The widest choice of flights.
- Varanasi (VNS) — around 200 km, 4 to 5 hours. Worth it if you are combining Ayodhya with Varanasi anyway.
We do airport pickups from all three. See our taxi service for the vehicle options, or read the Lucknow to Ayodhya guide if that is your route.
By train
Three stations serve the city, and which one you want depends on where you are staying:
- Ayodhya Dham Junction — the main station, rebuilt and renamed from Faizabad Junction. Most long-distance trains stop here. It is the closest to the temple area.
- Ayodhya Cantt — smaller, useful for some services.
- Darshan Nagar — a small halt, convenient for a few properties on that side.
Trains run direct from Delhi, Lucknow, Varanasi, Prayagraj and Kolkata. The Vande Bharat service from Delhi is the fastest rail option and the one people ask about most; the seats sell out well in advance during festival weeks.
Practical note: book your onward train at the same time as your inbound one. People arrive, enjoy the trip, then discover there is nothing available back for two days.
By road
From Lucknow: about 140 km, roughly 2.5 to 3 hours. The route runs via the Lucknow–Ayodhya road and is the easiest drive of the lot.
From Delhi: 600–700 km depending on the route, 9 to 11 hours. Two sensible options:
- The Purvanchal Expressway to the Lucknow region, then across to Ayodhya. Fast, but a long day.
- The older NH 27 / NH 330 route via Lucknow, slower but with more places to stop.
From Varanasi: about 200 km, 4 to 5 hours. A common extension of a Varanasi trip — our Ayodhya, Prayagraj and Varanasi package does exactly this.
From Prayagraj: about 160 km, 3 hours.
Arriving by road, look for NH 28. Our office is on NH 28, Deokali Bypass, opposite Hotel Panchsheel, Ayodhya Dham — if you are driving in, that is the stretch to aim for, and there is parking.
The last few kilometres
Once you are in Ayodhya, cars cannot get close to the Ram Mandir. The roads around the temple complex are pedestrianised for a fair distance, and the final approach is on foot.
- E-rickshaws are the workhorse of the city and cheap. Agree the fare first.
- Autos are available but less common near the temple.
- Cabs will drop you at the nearest permitted point, which is what our drivers do.
Expect to walk 1 to 2 km from the drop-off to the temple entrance. Slip-on footwear makes this easier, since you will remove your shoes several times.
Which route to pick
| Coming from | Best option | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Delhi | Vande Bharat if you can get seats, otherwise fly to AYJ | 4–6 h |
| Lucknow | Car or train | 2.5–3 h |
| Mumbai | Fly to AYJ, or Lucknow and drive | 4–7 h |
| Bengaluru | Fly via Lucknow or Delhi | 6–9 h |
| Varanasi | Car, and pair the two cities | 4–5 h |
If you would rather not plan any of this, tell us your city and dates on WhatsApp at +91 84008 08200 and we will tell you which route actually has availability.
Where to go next
- Ayodhya taxi service and airport pickup — fixed rates from AYJ, LKO and VNS.
- Ayodhya in two days — what to do once you have arrived.
- Where to stay in Ayodhya — which area suits your arrival station.
Planning this trip and want someone local to handle it? Our office is on NH 28, Deokali Bypass, opposite Hotel Panchsheel, Ayodhya Dham. Message the desk on WhatsApp at +91 84008 08200 and we will put together an itinerary for your dates.
Planning this trip?
Talk to our Ayodhya desk before you book anything.
We are a local Ayodhya agency — hotels, darshan passes, AC cabs and guides arranged by the same team that meets you at the airport. Rated 4.9 on Google by pilgrims who travelled with us.
Written by the Go Ayodhya desk
A local team on Deokali Bypass, Ayodhya — we run the ground ourselves, not through sub-contractors. Anything in this guide we can also arrange for your dates: about us or talk to us.