Every Diwali, Ayodhya does something no other city does. Lakhs of earthen diyas are lit simultaneously along the Saryu river, the ghats are lit end to end, and the city holds a Guinness World Record for the largest display of oil lamps on earth. It is the biggest week of Ayodhya’s year — and by some distance the hardest week to find a room.
Deepotsav • Saryu Ghats, Ayodhya
The Saryu, lit end to end — this is what you are travelling for.
Before you book flights: dates and diya counts for a future Deepotsav are announced and revised by the organisers. Treat 7–9 November 2026 as the expected window rather than a confirmed schedule — the main diya-lighting evening is expected on Chhoti Diwali, Saturday 7 November 2026, with Diwali itself falling on 8 November 2026. Confirm with us or the official tourism sources closer to the time.
Deepotsav recreates the return of Ram, Sita and Lakshman to Ayodhya after fourteen years of exile, when the city is said to have lit lamps to welcome them home. The modern festival runs over several days and centres on the Saryu.
Ayodhya holds the Guinness World Record for the largest display of oil lamps, and the count has been raised repeatedly over successive editions — from a few lakh lamps in the first years to more than twenty lakh in recent festivals. Each year the target set for 28 lakh is a fresh record attempt rather than a repeat of the last one.
We are deliberately not listing a year-by-year count here. Figures circulate widely and are often attributed to the wrong year, and a travel page is not where you want a number that might be wrong. If the record matters to your trip, the organisers publish the verified figure after each edition.
There is no ticket for the public diya lighting or the ghats. Some areas are regulated with free e-passes issued through official tourism channels — the same principle as the free Sugam Darshan pass at the temple. Do not pay anyone for a viewing pass.
Lakhs of visitors arrive for the main evening. Ram Ki Paidi is the busiest point and movement is managed in one direction. Plan to walk a fair distance and to be on your feet for several hours.
This is the one week where rooms genuinely sell out. Mid-range properties near Ram Path are typically gone two to three months in advance, and late rates are high. See where to stay in Ayodhya.
Slots for Ram Mandir open roughly 15 days ahead and vanish quickly around Deepotsav. The process is explained in our Sugam Darshan pass guide. We can secure it for you.
Ayodhya is reachable by air, rail and road — but festival week changes all three. Trains run full days ahead, flights into Ayodhya sell out first, and road closures near the ghats affect the whole city on the main evening. Whichever way you come, plan to arrive a day before the lighting.
Direct services reach Ayodhya Dham and Ayodhya Cantt from Delhi, Lucknow, Varanasi and most metros. Book 60+ days out — festival-week sleeper and 3A fill first. Route details in our Delhi and Lucknow guides.
Maharishi Valmiki International Airport (AYJ) connects Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and more; Lucknow (LKO) is the reliable fallback, about 2.5 hours by road. Pre-book transfers — see our Ayodhya taxi service. Flying in from Dubai or the Gulf? The same gateways work — see our Dubai & UAE yatra planning.
Lucknow is about 135 km, Prayagraj about 165 km and Varanasi roughly 200 km. Parking near Ram Path is restricted on the main evening, so a driver who knows the festival diversions saves you hours.
Deepotsav is the week where local arrangements matter most — rooms, darshan slots and transport all tighten at once. This is what our Ayodhya desk handles for festival visitors:
Give the festival a full day, and give yourself a buffer either side — road closures and crowd management affect movement across the whole city on the main evening. A two-day visit works if your only aim is the diya lighting; three days is calmer and lets you see the temples properly.
Ram Mandir VIP Darshan Tour
3 days / 2 nights from ₹4,999 — hotels, darshan coordination, transfers.
Family Darshan Package
3 days / 2 nights from ₹6,499 — roomier stays for families and groups.
Best time to visit Ayodhya
What each season and festival week is actually like.
Ayodhya destination guide
Temples, ghats, food and how to get around.
Deepotsav is expected in the window of 7–9 November 2026, with the main diya-lighting evening on Chhoti Diwali, Saturday 7 November 2026, and Diwali itself on 8 November. The final schedule is announced by the district administration closer to the festival, so treat those dates as the expected window and confirm with us before booking flights.
Yes. The public diya lighting and the ghats are free to visit. Some regulated zones are managed with free e-passes issued through official channels — the same principle as the free Sugam Darshan pass at Ram Mandir. Nobody legitimate charges for a viewing pass; do not pay for one.
Ram Ki Paidi is the centre of the main evening, where the record attempt is staged — arrive hours early and expect one-way crowd movement and long walks. Many visitors watch from the longer Saryu ghat stretch, or from a hotel rooftop near Ram Path, which is much gentler with children and seniors.
Two to three months ahead for anything near Ram Path or the ghats. This is the one week where mid-range rooms genuinely sell out and late rates climb. Rooms further out stay available longer, but you will need transport each evening — we can hold either option for you.
Yes — Deepotsav is our busiest week of the year. We arrange verified stays, Ram Mandir darshan slots, airport and station pickups, AC cabs for the lighting evening with drivers who know the festival diversions, and local guide support in the crowds. Tell us your dates, group size and whether seniors are travelling, and we will tell you honestly what is still available.
Yes, and most visitors do. Book slots early: Sugam Darshan opens roughly 15 days ahead and vanishes quickly in festival week. Our Sugam Darshan guide explains the process end to end, and we can secure slots for your group along with the stay and transport.
Want the darshan side in detail? Read our Sugam Darshan pass guide and the best time to visit Ayodhya.
It is the busiest week of the year and the one where planning ahead genuinely changes the trip. Tell us your dates and group size and we will tell you honestly what is still available — rooms, darshan slots and transport. Our office is at NH 28, Deokali Bypass, Ayodhya.
Plan my Deepotsav trip