Ram Ki Paidi and Saryu Ghat
Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh
Ram Ki Paidi is the main stretch of ghats on the Saryu in Ayodhya, about 3 km from Ayodhya Junction, and the heart of the city's river life. Pilgrims bathe here at dawn, and as the sun goes down, the evening aarti brings the ghat to life, with lamps floated on the river. Each year, on Deepotsav, lakhs of lamps are lit along these ghats.
What to see and do
- Watch the evening Saryu aarti and the lamps floated on the river
- Bathe or sprinkle the water in the morning
- Walk along the ghats and see the temples on the bank
- Visit the Ram Janmabhoomi, Hanuman Garhi and Kanak Bhawan on the same trip
Ideal for
- Pilgrims on the Ayodhya trail
- Families and devotees who enjoy river aartis
- Photographers and visitors in the evening hours
Good to know
- The aarti has no fixed time in the sources: it is held around sunset, so ask your guide or hotel on the day
- The ghats are busiest at Ram Navami, Kartik Purnima and Deepotsav (around Diwali)
- Keep belongings safe in the crowd, and do not bathe when the river is high
- It is easy to reach by road from the temples in Ayodhya
Spiritual significance
The Saryu is the river of Ayodhya, linked in the Ramayana with the city and with Rama. Its ghats are the setting for Ayodhya's biggest festivals.
Why it matters
- The river of Rama's city: bathing in the Saryu is part of every Ayodhya pilgrimage
- Evening aarti: a lamp-lit end to a day of temple visits
- Deepotsav: the festival of lakhs of lamps on the ghats