Ayodhya Varanasi local sightseeing covers Ram Janmabhoomi + Hanuman Garhi + Saryu Aarti in Ayodhya and Kashi Vishwanath + Kaal Bhairav + Ganga Aarti + Sarnath in Varanasi. The two cities are 200 km apart – 3.5-4.5 hours by road. Experience My India arranges guided 3-day Ayodhya Varanasi tours from ₹8,999 per person including AC cab, hotel, guide and all temple logistics. WhatsApp +91-7302265809 for same-day booking.
Ayodhya and Varanasi are the two most important cities in the Ramayana pilgrimage tradition and among the most significant in all of Hinduism. Ayodhya is where Lord Ram was born. Varanasi is where Lord Shiva resides as the Lord of Kashi – and according to tradition, where every soul that dies within the city’s bounds receives moksha directly from Shiva himself. Covering both in a single trip is the most complete form of North India’s Vaishnav and Shaiv pilgrimage.
I am Gurudutt, founder of Experience My India, born and raised in Braj Bhoomi, guiding pilgrims through both cities since 2018. Our team has walked 50,000+ pilgrims through Ram Mandir, Kashi Vishwanath, the Saryu Aarti and the Ganga Aarti – through busy festival days and quiet weekday mornings. This guide is built from that on-ground experience.
By the end of this guide you will know the exact sightseeing places in both cities with 2026 timings, the 200 km route between them, how many days you need, what the combined trip costs and how to sequence both cities without losing time to closed temples or wrong queues.
Ayodhya vs Varanasi – Which to Visit First?
Most pilgrims arriving from Delhi or Lucknow by road or train have a natural routing question: start with Ayodhya or Varanasi?
The traditional answer: Start with Varanasi. The pilgrimage tradition holds that you seek Kashi Vishwanath’s blessings in the city of moksha first, then travel to Ayodhya to complete the Ram circuit.
The practical answer: Start with whichever city you’re arriving closest to, or whichever is higher priority. If coming from Delhi or Lucknow, Ayodhya is closer (135 km from Lucknow; 550 km from Delhi). If arriving at Varanasi airport or station, start there.
Experience My India’s standard Ayodhya Varanasi combined tour starts with Varanasi (Day 1-2: Kashi Vishwanath, Ganga Aarti, Sarnath), then drives to Ayodhya (Day 3: Ram Mandir, Hanuman Garhi, Saryu Aarti). This keeps Varanasi’s early-morning boat ride on a fresh day and ends the trip at Ayodhya’s emotional centrepiece. WhatsApp +91-7302265809 to customise the sequence for your arrival point.
Top Sightseeing Places in Ayodhya
| # | Place | Why Visit | Distance from Ram Mandir | Entry |
| 1 | Hanuman Garhi | Visit FIRST – guardian of Ayodhya; 76 stone steps | 1 km | Free |
| 2 | Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir | Birthplace of Lord Ram; Surya Tilak on Ram Navami | 0 km | Free |
| 3 | Kanak Bhawan | Gold-adorned palace gifted to Sita by Kaikeyi | 300 m | Free |
| 4 | Nageshwarnath Temple | Oldest Shiva temple in Ayodhya; built by Kush, Ram’s son | 500 m | Free |
| 5 | Sita Ki Rasoi | Sacred kitchen associated with Goddess Sita | 400 m | Free |
| 6 | Dashrath Bhavan | Palace site of King Dashrath; continuous chanting | 1 km | Free |
| 7 | Treta Ke Thakur | Black stone idols of Ram’s Ashwamedha Yajna court | 2 km | Free |
| 8 | Ram Ki Paidi (Saryu Ghats) | Series of ghats on Sarayu River; Aarti at 7:00 PM daily | 1.5 km | Free |
| 9 | Guptar Ghat | Where Ram is believed to have taken Jal Samadhi | 5 km from city | Free |
| 10 | Gulab Bari | 18th-century Nawabi rose garden mausoleum | 3 km | Free |
Ram Mandir darshan timings 2026: Opens 7:00 AM; best window 7:00-9:00 AM; Bhog closure 12:00 PM-2:00 PM; closes 11:00 PM. Free Sugam E-Pass: book at online.srjbtkshetra.org – reduces wait from several hours to 15-30 minutes.
Visiting Ayodhya first? Experience My India’s Same Day Ayodhya Tour covers Hanuman Garhi, Ram Mandir, Kanak Bhawan and Saryu Aarti in one guided day from ₹2,999 per person.
Top Sightseeing Places in Varanasi
| # | Place | Why Visit | Distance from Kashi Vishwanath | Entry |
| 1 | Kaal Bhairav Temple | Guardian of Varanasi – visit before Kashi Vishwanath | 1.5 km | Free |
| 2 | Kashi Vishwanath Temple (Jyotirlinga) | Most sacred Shiva temple in India | 0 km | Free (Sugam ₹250) |
| 3 | Annapurna Devi Mandir | Goddess of nourishment; 200 m from Kashi Vishwanath | 200 m | Free |
| 4 | Dashashwamedh Ghat | Ganga Aarti at 7:00 PM by 7 priests | 0.5 km | Free (boat ₹200-₹500) |
| 5 | Manikarnika Ghat | Varanasi’s main cremation ghat; never ceases activity | 0.8 km | Free |
| 6 | Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple | Founded by Tulsidas; removes troubles; near Tulsi Ghat | 3 km | Free |
| 7 | Durga Temple (Durga Kund) | 18th-century red sandstone Shakti temple | 4 km | Free |
| 8 | Sarnath | Where Buddha gave his first sermon; Dhamek Stupa | 10-13 km | ₹25 (Indians) |
| 9 | Nepali Temple (Lalita Ghat) | Nepalese pagoda architecture on the Ganga bank | 0.8 km (ghat walk) | Free |
| 10 | Assi Ghat | Sunrise yoga, boats; start of the ghat walk | 2 km | Free |
Kashi Vishwanath timings 2026: Opens 2:30 AM; closes 11:00 PM; midday closure 11:00 AM-12:30 PM. Sugam VIP Darshan ₹250 – book at shrikashivishwanath.org. General queue: 1-8 hours (worst on Mondays). Electronics strictly prohibited inside.
Varanasi temple circuit sorted? Experience My India’s Same Day Varanasi Temple Tour covers Kashi Vishwanath, Kaal Bhairav, Sankat Mochan and Ganga Aarti from ₹2,999 per person.
Ayodhya Varanasi Timings Table 2026
| Site | City | Opens | Key Closure | Highlight Timing |
| Hanuman Garhi | Ayodhya | 5:00 AM | 12:00-4:00 PM | 6:00-8:00 AM (calmest) |
| Ram Janmabhoomi | Ayodhya | 7:00 AM | 12:00-2:00 PM | 7:00-9:00 AM |
| Kanak Bhawan | Ayodhya | 8:00 AM | 12:00-4:00 PM | Morning |
| Ram Ki Paidi / Saryu Aarti | Ayodhya | All day | – | Aarti at 7:00 PM |
| Kaal Bhairav Temple | Varanasi | 6:00 AM | 12:00-3:00 PM | 6:00-9:00 AM |
| Kashi Vishwanath | Varanasi | 2:30 AM | 11:00 AM-12:30 PM | 7:00-9:00 AM |
| Sankat Mochan | Varanasi | 5:00 AM | No break | 6:00-8:00 AM |
| Dashashwamedh Ghat / Ganga Aarti | Varanasi | All day | – | Aarti at 7:00 PM |
| Sarnath Dhamek Stupa | Varanasi | 6:00 AM | 6:00 PM closes | 6:00-9:00 AM |
| Sarnath Museum | Varanasi | 9:00 AM | Closed Fridays | 9:00-11:00 AM |
How to Travel Between Ayodhya and Varanasi
| Mode | Distance | Travel Time | Cost (approx.) |
| Road (car/cab) | 200 km | 3.5-4.5 hours | ₹2,000-₹3,500 (one-way, private cab) |
| Train (direct) | 280 km (rail route) | 3.5-5 hours | ₹200-₹800 (Sleeper/AC) |
| Via Lucknow (road) | 135 km + 300 km | 2 hrs + 5 hrs | ₹3,000-₹5,000 (cab, full day) |
The direct road route (NH27) covers approximately 200 km and takes 3.5 to 4.5 hours depending on traffic, with a standard pit stop at a highway dhaba around Sultanpur.
By train: Ayodhya Dham Junction to Varanasi Junction has several daily connections – check the IRCTC app for current schedules. Booking 2 weeks ahead secures 2A/3A berths.
Experience My India pre-arranges the intercity transfer as part of every combined Ayodhya Varanasi package – no separate cab booking, no station confusion. Call +91-7302265809 to confirm your preferred intercity mode.
Recommended 3-Day Ayodhya Varanasi Itinerary
Day 1 – Varanasi
| Time | Activity |
| 5:30 AM | Sunrise boat ride on Ganga from Assi Ghat |
| 7:00-9:30 AM | Kashi Vishwanath darshan (Sugam ₹250 pre-booked) |
| 9:45 AM | Annapurna Devi Mandir (200 m from Kashi Vishwanath) |
| 10:30 AM | Kaal Bhairav Temple (1.5 km) |
| 11:30 AM-2:00 PM | Lunch + rest (Kashi Vishwanath closure 11 AM-12:30 PM) |
| 2:30 PM | Sarnath – Dhamek Stupa, Museum (10-13 km, 30 min drive) |
| 5:30 PM | Return to Varanasi hotel |
| 6:15 PM | Board Ganga Aarti boat at Dashashwamedh Ghat |
| 7:00-8:00 PM | Ganga Aarti |
Day 2 – Varanasi (Morning) + Drive to Ayodhya
| Time | Activity |
| 6:00-8:30 AM | Sankat Mochan + Durga Temple + ghat walk (Assi to Manikarnika) |
| 9:00 AM | Check out; depart Varanasi |
| 1:00-2:00 PM | Arrive Ayodhya; lunch |
| 3:00-4:30 PM | Gulab Bari + Ram Katha Museum |
| 6:30 PM | Ram Ki Paidi – reach before Saryu Aarti |
| 7:00-7:45 PM | Saryu Aarti |
Day 3 – Ayodhya
| Time | Activity |
| 6:00-7:00 AM | Hanuman Garhi darshan |
| 7:15-9:30 AM | Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir (Sugam E-Pass) |
| 9:45-10:30 AM | Kanak Bhawan + Sita Ki Rasoi |
| 11:00 AM | Nageshwarnath Temple + Dashrath Bhavan |
| 12:00-2:00 PM | Lunch + rest (Ram Mandir Bhog closure) |
| 2:30 PM | Treta Ke Thakur + Tulsi Smarak Bhawan |
| 4:00 PM | Guptar Ghat (5 km by cab) |
| Return | Depart Ayodhya for home |
Ayodhya Varanasi Tour Cost Guide
| Category | Budget (per person / 3 days) | Mid-Range | In Package |
| Hotels (2 nights) | ₹1,500-₹3,000 | ₹4,000-₹8,000 | Included |
| Intercity cab (Varanasi-Ayodhya) | ₹1,000-₹1,500 (shared) | ₹2,000-₹3,500 (private) | Included |
| Local transport (3 days) | ₹600-₹900 | ₹1,200-₹2,000 | Included |
| Kashi Vishwanath Sugam Darshan | ₹250/person | ₹250/person | Arranged |
| Ram Mandir Sugam E-Pass | Free | Free | Arranged |
| Ganga Aarti boat | ₹200-₹400 | ₹400-₹700 | Included |
| Saryu Aarti (ghat steps) | Free | Free | Included |
| Sarnath entry | ₹25/person | ₹25/person | Included |
| Food (3 days) | ₹1,200-₹2,000 | ₹2,500-₹4,000 | – |
| 3-day total (excluding intercity travel) | ₹5,000-₹9,000 | ₹12,000-₹20,000 | From ₹8,999/person |
Experience My India’s 3-day Ayodhya Varanasi guided tour starts from ₹8,999 per person – two cities, AC cab throughout, hotel near temples in both cities, both Sugam Darshan bookings managed, Ganga and Saryu Aarti both included. WhatsApp +91-7302265809 for a personalised quote for your group size.
Best Time to Visit Ayodhya and Varanasi
| Season | Months | Weather | Verdict |
| Winter | October – February | 10-24°C | Best for both cities – all sites walkable, both aartis atmospheric in cool evenings |
| Ram Navami | March-April 2027 | 28-36°C | Grand festival at Ayodhya – Surya Tilak at 12 PM; book 3 months ahead |
| Summer | April – June | 36-45°C | Restrict to 5:00-8:00 AM; both cities are hot; Varanasi ghats unbearable at midday |
| Shravan Month | July-August | Monsoon | Kashi Vishwanath sees year’s largest crowds; Sugam Darshan essential |
| Dev Deepawali | Nov 12, 2026 | 18-24°C | 84 Varanasi ghats lit with lamps – most striking evening in both cities; book 3 months ahead |
| Deepotsav / Diwali | Late Oct 2026 | 22-28°C | Ayodhya’s 20-lakh-diya Saryu event – book now |
Experience My India plans both cities’ itineraries around the seasonal crowd and weather realities – the sequence that works in November is different from the one that works in May. Call +91-7302265809 for a seasonal cost and timing breakdown for your specific dates.
Ground Truth – What Nobody Tells You
Kashi Vishwanath and Ram Mandir both have midday closures on the same day. Kashi Vishwanath closes 11:00 AM-12:30 PM; Ram Mandir closes 12:00 PM-2:00 PM. A combined tour that doesn’t account for both closures loses 1.5 to 3 hours of darshan time at the most important temples of the trip. Experience My India plans every darshan in the morning or evening window – never during the closure hours.
The Varanasi to Ayodhya road drive is 200 km – not 120 km as some online calculators show. The 120 km figure occasionally appears and refers to an older route or straight-line distance. The actual NH27 drive takes 3.5 to 4.5 hours. Plan departure from Varanasi by 8:30-9:00 AM to reach Ayodhya by 1:00 PM and have the afternoon for Gulab Bari and the Saryu Aarti.
Kaal Bhairav Temple in Varanasi is traditionally visited before Kashi Vishwanath – just as Hanuman Garhi is visited before Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. Most independent travelers skip this sequence and go straight to Kashi Vishwanath, missing the guardian-first tradition that both cities share.
Both free Sugam passes need to be booked separately and in advance. Ram Mandir Sugam E-Pass: free at online.srjbtkshetra.org. Kashi Vishwanath Sugam Darshan: ₹250 at shrikashivishwanath.org. Neither can be bought at the gate or through any agent. Experience My India handles both registrations for every pilgrim on its combined tour.
Dev Deepawali (November 12, 2026) and Deepotsav (Ayodhya Diwali, October 2026) happen within 2-3 weeks of each other. Travelers who want both events in one trip need to book hotels in both cities immediately – Varanasi ghat hotels for Dev Deepawali will be sold out by September and Ayodhya’s Ram Ki Paidi hotels for Deepotsav may already be gone.
Frequently Asked Questions
The five must-visit sightseeing places in Varanasi are Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga (the most sacred Shiva temple in India), Kaal Bhairav Temple (guardian of the city – visit before Kashi Vishwanath), Dashashwamedh Ghat (Ganga Aarti at 7:00 PM by 7 priests), Sarnath (where Buddha gave his first sermon, 10-13 km away) and Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple (founded by Tulsidas in the 16th century). Experience My India covers all five in its guided Varanasi tour – WhatsApp +91-7302265809.
An Experience My India guided Ayodhya Varanasi combined tour starts from ₹8,999 per person for a 3-day package – includes AC cab between and within both cities, hotel near temples in each city, Kashi Vishwanath Sugam Darshan (₹250), free Ram Mandir Sugam E-Pass arranged, Ganga Aarti boat and Saryu Aarti. Individual 1-day tours in each city start from ₹2,499 per person. WhatsApp +91-7302265809 for a personalised quote for your group size and dates.
The traditional pilgrimage sequence is Varanasi first (seek Kashi Vishwanath’s blessings in the city of moksha), then Ayodhya (Ram Janmabhoomi darshan). Practically, if arriving from Delhi or Lucknow, Ayodhya is closer – Experience My India can reverse the sequence without loss of meaning. The 200 km Varanasi-Ayodhya road takes 3.5-4.5 hours. Experience My India’s standard combined tour starts in Varanasi and ends in Ayodhya – call +91-7302265809 to confirm the right sequence for your arrival point.
Visit Kaal Bhairav Temple before Kashi Vishwanath – this is Varanasi’s traditional pilgrimage sequence. Kaal Bhairav is the Kotwal (guardian) of the city; seeking his permission before entering Kashi Vishwanath is considered the correct devotional order, just as Hanuman Garhi precedes Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. Kaal Bhairav Temple is 1.5 km from Kashi Vishwanath – 10 minutes by auto. Experience My India sequences every Varanasi darshan in this traditional order – call +91-7302265809.
Three days covers both cities well – Day 1-2 in Varanasi (Kashi Vishwanath, ghats, Sarnath, Ganga Aarti) and Day 3 in Ayodhya (Hanuman Garhi, Ram Mandir, Kanak Bhawan, Saryu Aarti). Two days is possible with a very tight schedule, limiting each city to its primary temple circuit only. Four days allows Prayagraj to be added. Experience My India’s 3-day combined tour from ₹8,999 per person is designed around this split – WhatsApp +91-7302265809.
Yes – the Saryu Aarti at Ram Ki Paidi, Ayodhya follows a similar format to Varanasi’s Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat: priests, lamps, incense and devotional songs, starting at approximately 7:00 PM daily. The Saryu Aarti is newer and somewhat smaller in scale, but the intimate atmosphere along the Sarayu River is distinctive. Both are included in Experience My India’s combined Ayodhya Varanasi tour – call +91-7302265809.
Yes – Sarnath is just 10 to 13 km from Varanasi city, a 25-35 minute drive and fits naturally into a Varanasi sightseeing day. The Dhamek Stupa (6 AM-6 PM) and Archaeological Museum (9 AM-5 PM, closed Fridays) together take 2-3 hours. Experience My India includes Sarnath as part of its Varanasi itinerary within the combined Ayodhya Varanasi package – WhatsApp +91-7302265809 to confirm your preference.
Within Ayodhya, e-rickshaws are the best mode for temple-to-temple movement – ₹20-₹50 per short ride and they navigate the narrow lanes near Ram Mandir. Within Varanasi, autos handle outer-city connections; the gali network near Kashi Vishwanath is foot-only. Between cities, a private AC cab (₹2,000-₹3,500 one-way) is the most comfortable option. Experience My India includes all local and intercity transport in its combined tour package – WhatsApp +91-7302265809.
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Conclusion
Ayodhya and Varanasi together cover both pillars of North India’s sacred landscape – Ram’s birthplace and Shiva’s eternal city. Three days, the right sequence, both Sugam Darshan bookings handled in advance and you have one of the most complete pilgrimage circuits available in India without traveling more than 200 km between cities.
Experience My India has guided 50,000+ pilgrims through this exact combination since 2018. Combined Ayodhya Varanasi tours from ₹8,999 per person – AC cab between and within both cities, hotels near the temples, all darshan logistics managed.
WhatsApp +91-7302265809 – Book Now
Jai Shri Ram 🙏
