Kanak Bhawan & Dashrath Mahal, Ayodhya: A Visitor Guide
These two sit a short walk from each other and a short walk from Hanuman Garhi, which makes them the natural second stop after it. Together they take about an hour, and they fill in the human side of a city that visitors otherwise experience only through the temple queue.
Kanak Bhawan
Traditionally the palace given to Sita at her marriage to Ram. The building you see is far later than the story — it has been rebuilt more than once — but the temple inside holds a celebrated pair of Ram and Sita idols, and it is one of the most visited sites in the city after the Ram Mandir itself.
Why go: it is a genuinely beautiful temple, and it is where the Ramayana becomes domestic rather than monumental. Ram and Sita here are a married couple, not an icon.
Allow 30 minutes.
Best time: early morning. It is at its calmest before the day's crowds build, and the light in the inner courtyard is lovely.
Dashrath Mahal
Believed to be the palace of Dashrath, Ram's father, and therefore where Ram is said to have grown up. There is a small museum of sculptures inside, and the atmosphere is quieter than Kanak Bhawan.
Why go: it is the closest thing in Ayodhya to a childhood home, and it is largely empty even in peak season. Few visitors stop, which is exactly why it is worth stopping.
Allow 20 to 30 minutes.
Doing both
Walk from Hanuman Garhi, do Kanak Bhawan, then Dashrath Mahal. That sequence keeps you in one small area, minimises shoe removal, and takes under two hours including time to look around.
If you only have time for one, choose Kanak Bhawan — it is the more significant of the two and has the better-known idols.
Practical notes
- Entry to both is free. Donations are voluntary. Be sceptical of anyone selling you a ticket.
- Photography is restricted inside many temples in Ayodhya. Ask before you raise a camera.
- Traditional dress is expected, though not enforced. Carry a scarf.
- Slip-on footwear — you will remove shoes at each.
- Timings shift with the season. We deliberately do not put fixed hours here; ask us for current hours for your dates, or check locally on the day.
Where it fits
Kanak Bhawan and Dashrath Mahal are part of the old-city cluster with Hanuman Garhi. Our complete list of places to visit in Ayodhya shows how the whole city fits together, and the two-day itinerary sequences them properly.
Both are included in the Ram Mandir VIP Darshan tour, and on a slower pace in the senior citizen yatra.
Where to go next
- Places to visit in Ayodhya — the full list with timings per site.
- Hanuman Garhi guide — the stop before these two.
- Ayodhya in two days — how this cluster fits a short trip.
Planning a visit and want someone local to handle it? Our office is on NH 28, Deokali Bypass, Ayodhya. Message the desk on WhatsApp at +91 84008 08200.
Darshan timings, entry arrangements and aarti schedules at Ayodhya's temples change with the season and with temple administration. Confirm current details with us before you travel rather than relying on any page, including this one.
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.