Ayodhya, an ancient city on the banks of the Saryu River in Uttar Pradesh, India, holds immense historical and spiritual significance. It is renowned as the birthplace of Lord Ram and has been a major pilgrimage destination for centuries. Ayodhya's rich heritage and cultural importance are deeply rooted in Hindu mythology and Indian history. It is home to numerous ancient temples and monuments that attract millions of devotees and tourists each year.
According to Ramayana, Ayodhya was founded by Manu. This Nagri was situated on the banks of Saryu, twelve yojanas (about 144 km) in length and three yojanas (about 36 km) in width. This city remained the capital of Suryavanshi kings for many centuries. According to Skandapuran, on the banks of Saryu, there is another city of Ayodhya with divine beauty, similar to Amravati. Ayodhya is basically a city of Hindu temples. Relics related to Hindu religion can be seen here even today. Ayodhya is one of the Saptapuris.
Ayodhya Mathura Maya Kashi Kanchi Avantika.
Puri Dwaravati Chaiva Saptaita Mokshadayika:||
(Meaning: Ayodhya, Mathura, Haridwar, Kashi, Kanchipuram, Ujjain, and Dwarka - these seven cities provide salvation.)
Ayodhya has been described as the city of God in the Vedas, "Ashtachakra Navdwara Devanam Purayodhya" and its prosperity has been compared to heaven. Ayodhya is mentioned as a compound symbol in Atharvaveda.
Ashtachakra Navdwara Devanam Puryodhya.
Tasyan Hiranmayah Koshah Swargo Jyotishavrutah:||
That is, Ayodhya with eight chakras and nine gates is the abode of gods, (Tasyan Hiranyah Kosh:) it has a sheath of light, (Swarga: Jyotisha Avrutah) which is full of joy and light.
According to Jainism, five of the twenty-four Tirthankaras were born here. In order, first Tirthankar Rishabhnath ji, second Tirthankar Ajitnath ji, fourth Tirthankar Abhinandan Nath ji, fifth Tirthankar Sumatinath ji and fourteenth Tirthankar Anantnath ji. Apart from this, according to both Jain and Vedic beliefs, Lord Ramchandra ji was also born on this land. All the above Tirthankaras and Lord Ramchandra ji were from the Ikshvaku dynasty. Its importance lies in its ancient history because this city was the capital of the famous and glorious Kshatriyas (Suryavanshi) of India. Among the said Kshatriyas, Dasharathi is worshiped as Ramchandra Avatar. Earlier it was the capital of Kosala district. According to ancient mentions, its area at that time was 96 square miles. Chinese traveler Hiuen Tsang came here in the seventh century. According to him, there were 20 Buddhist temples and 3000 monks lived here.
The cultural heritage here is the identity of this place. Many famous kings like Ikshvaku, Prithu, Mandhata, Harishchandra, Sagar, Bhagiratha, Raghu, Dilip, Dasharatha and Rama ruled Ayodhya, the capital of Kosala country. During his rule, the glory of the state reached its peak and Ram became the symbol of the state.
The city of Ayodhya, situated on the eastern bank of the Saryu River, is full of remains of ancient times. The famous epic Ramayana and Shri Ramcharitmanas showcase the opulence of Ayodhya. An episode of Ramayana, a page of ancient history and a set of tourist attractions, this city has been a major center for pilgrims, historians, archaeologists and students.
There are many tourist places in Ayodhya, which are a must see for the tourists coming to Ayodhya. The centers of attraction for these tourists include museums, temples, parks etc. which add to the beauty of the city. The architecture of the buildings of Ayodhya city reflects the rich heritage and royal tradition of this city. The city attracts the attention of pilgrims and heritage lovers from all over the world due to its mythological and spiritual wonders. Ayodhya is a blend of sacredness, religion, traditions, history and architecture that offers a variety of experiences from historical to religious. Ayodhya is the confluence center of purity, religion, tradition and architecture. Ayodhya is a major site of cultural heritage. Ayodhya being the birthplace of Lord Shri Ram, is one of the major pilgrimage sites. Ayodhya is an important center for various religious sects.