Ram Mandir Ayodhya: what you need in 2026

• Your darshan of Ram Lalla is free, during the daily darshan hours.
• No ticket or pass is needed for the ordinary darshan; you simply join it in the open hours.
• On weekends, on Ram Navami, and on the temple anniversary the crowds are enormous, so reach early.

Because darshan and the passes are free, never pay a site for a Ram Mandir darshan.

To sit for one of the special aartis, you need a free aarti pass, because the seats are limited. The main aartis you can book a pass for are the Mangala Aarti early in the morning, the Shringar Aarti, and the Shayan Aarti at night. The pass is free, but limited, so book it in advance for the aarti and date you want, and carry the identity named on it.

Open the official site, online.srjbtkshetra.org, and open the free pass booking for aarti and darshan of Ram Lalla. Choose the aarti and the date from what is open. Add each devotee with the details asked for, and carry the identity as the pass instructs. Download the pass, and read the instructions printed on it carefully, because they tell you the reporting time and the gate.

It is free. The Trust clearly states that it charges no fee for aarti or darshan passes. If any website asks you to pay for a Ram Mandir darshan or aarti pass, it is not the official one. Your only costs are your own travel, stay, and any donation you choose to give at the temple's own counters.

• A government photo identity for each devotee. Indians can use Aadhaar. Visitors from abroad use a passport.
• The details asked for at booking, and a working mobile number.
• Follow the exact identity instruction printed on your pass. [The precise identity rule for entry is set by the Trust and can change, so follow the live instruction on the official pass. Last checked 14 September 2026.]

• Mangala Aarti: about four in the morning.
• Shringar Aarti: about six in the morning.
• Shayan Aarti: about ten at night.
• Darshan runs in several periods through the day, roughly from seven in the morning to nine at night.

Timings can shift with the season and on festival days, so check the official site before you travel. [Timings can change on festival days. Confirm on the official site. Last checked 14 September 2026.]

You can visit all year, and the cooler months from about October to March suit the trip. The greatest day is Ram Navami, in spring, the birth of Lord Rama, when a special sun ray is made to fall on the deity at noon, and enormous crowds come. The temple anniversary and Diwali, when Ayodhya lights lakhs of lamps on the Saryu, are also grand and packed. If you visit at these peaks, book your aarti pass and stay far ahead and reach very early.

Ayodhya is in Uttar Pradesh, on the Saryu river. It has a new airport, the Maharishi Valmiki International Airport, and the Ayodhya Dham railway station, both close to the temple. You reach the temple by road within the town. Many pilgrims pair Ayodhya with Varanasi and Prayagraj on a wider Uttar Pradesh pilgrimage.

Ayodhya has a growing range of hotels, dharamshalas and guest houses, and more are opening as the town grows, with nearby Faizabad another base. Book ahead for Ram Navami, Diwali and the temple anniversary, when the town fills completely. Give yourself time, because the crowds and the security around the temple make the approach slow on big days.

Carry your aarti pass and the identity named on it, and a passport if you come from abroad. Carry as little as possible, because phones, bags and many items are not allowed near the temple, and there are few cloakrooms, so travel very light. Follow the security checks and the marked route. Dress modestly, carry water, and keep children close in the crowd.