Ayodhya

Our first stop on this incredible journey is Ayodhya, the birth place of Rama. This is where our Epic begins and this too is where our epic travels will begins.

It was a warm and quiet night outside of the palace but within its walls was chaos, anxiety, and impatience. There was a secret ceremony inside the palace for the king. He needed a son, for he was unfortunate enough to not have one yet. The king's three wives had gathered to try and perform this miracle of childbirth to please their king. The night pressed on and on. Every priest, teacher, and those who assisted the king were present. Everyone prayed together and chanted together, hoping that the gods would allow for the king to finally have a son. Without a son the king would be not be able to pass down his throne and he will not have protection in his old age. As the word spread of the news that the king was to have a son that night the city of Ayodhya quickly changed from quiet and calm to loud and crowded.

Every citizen of the city gathered at the palace gates to wait for the news of a possible new king. The night kept on and people were beginning to lose hope, and just as people turned their backs to head home the doors of the palace swung open. Standing in the doorway was the king and in his hands was their future king, Rama, whom without a doubt everyone loved and respected just as they did their king. There were parades, parties, and celebrations for the whole week of the new birth and the city of Ayodhya had faith that their homes would be safe and protected for decades to come.

Ayodhya in present day is located in the north east part of India in the state of Uttar Pradesh, near Nepal. The story of this city lies in its people, architect, and history. It is a common belief that the very location of Rama’s birth was in a temple that was destroyed and a mosque was built in its place. A group of Hindu people become so outraged that in 1992 they attacked the mosque and demolished it. What will be built in replace of the demolished mosque, Babri Masjid, is still being disputed today. Although the temple and mosque no longer exist, the city of Ayodhya still possesses a rich culture and history centered around Rama.

To emphasize the importance of this city due to Rama’s birth is that it is considered one of the most important pilgrimage for the Hindu people. Ayodhya is not only important because of its ties to Rama but it also includes other important sites in the Ramayana. Some of these sites include the fort in which Hanuman guarded the city, the Nageshwarnath Temple, and the Ramkot. Another large attraction the city has is Rama Navami, a spring holiday celebrating Rama’s Birth. If your planing on taking this trip soon the Rama Navami is on April 14 and if your planing ahead for next year the festival will be on April 2, 2020. Not only do they celebrate Rama on this holiday but also the people that helped him. This includes Sita, Hanuman, and Lakshmana.

Now that you have read the story and understand the importance of this city to the Ramayana, let's get there. Plane tickets can be expensive as I am sure you know but if you plan in advance, they are much more inexpensive. An average plane ticket from any major airport in the United States to Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh, is around $1,000 but most of the time you can find one for cheaper. HERE is a good website to book flights and hotels during your trip. Once you arrive in Lucknow you will need to get to Ayodhya. If you want to save money you can take a bus or you can share a taxi with one of your fellow travelers. The ride is about 2.5 hours through the state of Uttar Pradesh where you can see smaller towns and pass by the Ghaghara River.

One you have arrived in the city you will need to check into your hotel. After this take a rest, shower, or unpack a little and find a local place to eat. The fun will begin in the morning when you can see all the sites and enjoy the company of the spirited local people. Take as much time as you would like in Ayodhya. There is no timeline for this trip so continue on to the next page when your ready to see the next marvelous site.

Author's note: The story told in this section is a shortened embellished version of Rama: Avatar of Vishnu by Donald A. Mackenzie. It is important to keep the major details of the story since it is important to the history of Ayodhya. Some embellishments were made in this story to fill in gaps that the original story does not provide. In the original story there are people with the king and his wives chanting and praying for a son to be king after Dasharatha. However, the story did not mention how the citizens of the city felt about the birth of a new king. I purposefully did not mention that Rama was the avatar of Vishnu because I believe it is important that his actions later on in his life prove that not just his birth. A few other things left out from the original story is that Ramas brother was also born that night. Also the gods played a large hand in that night.