Ayodhya reaches by rail into Ayodhya Dham Junction (station code AY), by air into Maharishi Valmiki International Airport (AYJ) — direct from Delhi, Mumbai and Ahmedabad — or by road on the Purvanchal Expressway. The station sits a reported 1–1.5 km from the temple. Train times must be re-verified on IRCTC/NTES before booking; figures are labelled by source below. Checked 1 October 2026.
By train
Ayodhya has two working stations: Ayodhya Dham Junction (AY) — the main station, 3 platforms — and Ayodhya Cantt (AYC), which many long-distance trains use. Check which one your train serves before booking a hotel.
| Route | Trains (reported examples) | Time | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delhi ↔ Ayodhya | 22425/226 Vande Bharat (Ayodhya Cantt–Anand Vihar, 6 days/wk); 12226 Kaifiyaat SF (daily); 15558 Amrit Bharat (2 days/wk) | Fastest ~8 h 15 m; regular 13 h+ | Reported |
| Varanasi ↔ Ayodhya | 22489 Vande Bharat halts at Ayodhya (~10 trains daily) | Fastest 2 h 24 m | Reported |
| Prayagraj ↔ Ayodhya | 22549/22550 Gorakhpur–Prayagraj Vande Bharat (6 days/wk) | ~3–4 h typical | Reported |
| Mumbai ↔ Ayodhya | 22103 LTT–Ayodhya Cantt SF (weekly); 22583 Chhapra–LTT Antyodaya (via AY) | Overnight | Reported |
| Kolkata ↔ Ayodhya | 13010 Doon Express; 13151 Kolkata–Jammu Tawi Express (both daily) | Overnight | Reported |
Train numbers and days were verified against rail-information sources on 01 October 2026 — but timetables change; confirm on IRCTC or the National Train Enquiry System before booking.
By air
Maharishi Valmiki International Airport (AYJ) is served by IndiGo, Air India Express, Akasa Air and Alliance Air (as reported). Direct sectors currently include Delhi (the most reliable, near-daily), Mumbai and Ahmedabad; Bengaluru and Hyderabad are mostly one-stop, and frequencies change season by season — re-check when booking. The airport-to-temple distance is the one number we can’t yet pin: sources conflict between ~7–8 km and ~14–15 km depending on route. We’ll verify first-hand and update this page; plan 25–40 minutes by cab as a working assumption, clearly labelled as such.
By road
| From | Distance | Drive time | Route | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lucknow | ~192 km via Purvanchal Expressway (~135 km via NH-27) | 2.5–3.5 h | Purvanchal Exp / NH-27 | Reported |
| Delhi | ~680–714 km | 10–12 h | Yamuna Exp + Agra–Lucknow Exp + NH-27 | Reported |
| Varanasi | ~200–220 km | 4.5–5.5 h | NH-330 direction | Reported |
| Prayagraj | ~160–170 km | 4–5 h | NH-330 | Reported (weaker source) |
Road figures are aggregator-reported · Last checked: 01 October 2026 — re-verify on maps before driving.
Road figures are aggregator-reported · Last checked: 01 October 2026 — re-verify on maps before driving.
Ayodhya’s redeveloped pilgrim paths — Ram Path (12.94 km), Ram Janmabhoomi Path and the Bhakti/Maryada/Dharma paths (PIB, 2024) — channel road arrivals toward the temple core.
Arriving: the last kilometre
- From Ayodhya Dham Junction: the temple core is roughly 1–1.5 km — a 15–20 minute walk or a short e-rickshaw ride (reported). E-rickshaws are the city’s default hop; typical short-hop fares of ₹10–50 circulate in travel reports but are unconfirmed — agree before boarding.
- From the airport: cabs and app-based service (Uber is present) run to the core; a prepaid counter is reported at arrivals.
- Parking: private vehicles park at designated lots outside the core and pilgrims walk the pilgrim paths; exact parking fees were not verifiable — expect signage on site.
Frequently asked questions
Which station should I book — AY or AYC?
Whichever your train serves; Ayodhya Dham (AY) is closer to the temple core, Ayodhya Cantt (AYC) handles many long-distance trains. Both are inside the city.
Is there a direct train from Delhi to Ayodhya?
Yes — the 22425/226 Vande Bharat between Ayodhya Cantt and Anand Vihar (6 days a week, ~8¼ hours) plus daily options like the Kaifiyaat SF. Verify current schedules on IRCTC.
Which flights go to Ayodhya?
Direct flights currently connect Delhi, Mumbai and Ahmedabad to AYJ, with Delhi the most reliable sector. Frequencies shift seasonally.
How do I get from the station to Ram Mandir?
Walk 15–20 minutes or take an e-rickshaw (~1–1.5 km, reported). Agree on the fare before boarding — published fare lists could not be verified.