Six places in India where the Ramayana is believed to have happened, in the order the story moves, from Ayodhya to the start of the Ram Setu. Here's the whole route.
Tap a pin to jump to that stop. Pins are approximate. Imagery: NASA Blue Marble.
The six stops
In story order. If you're doing it in one trip, the plan below swaps stops 4 and 5 to save a day of backtracking.
1
Uttar Pradesh
Ayodhya
Believed to be Shri Ram's birthplace, and the city he returned to after the exile. The new Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir was consecrated in January 2024.
See
Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir
Hanuman Garhi and Kanak Bhawan
Evening Saryu aarti at the ghats
Get there
Ayodhya Dham Junction (train) or Maharishi Valmiki International Airport, Ayodhya Dham. Lucknow is about 135 km away.
Time
1–2 days
Tip: phones and bags aren't allowed inside the Ram Mandir, so use the lockers. Check darshan timings on the temple trust's official website before you go.
2
Uttar Pradesh – Madhya Pradesh border
Chitrakoot
The forest where Ram, Sita and Lakshman are believed to have spent most of their 14-year exile, by the Mandakini river.
See
Ram Ghat on the Mandakini: evening aarti and a boat ride
Kamadgiri parikrama, about 5 km around the sacred hill
Gupt Godavari caves, Sati Anusuya Ashram, Hanuman Dhara
Get there
Chitrakoot Dham (Karwi) station. Prayagraj is the nearest big airport, about 130 km away. From Ayodhya it's roughly 6–7 hours by road.
Time
1–2 days
Tip: skip the peak monsoon (July to September), when the Mandakini can flood the ghats.
3
Nashik, Maharashtra
Panchavati
Named for its "five banyans", this is where Lakshman is said to have cut off Surpanakha's nose, the moment that leads to Sita's abduction. Some say that's how Nashik got its name: nāsika is Sanskrit for nose.
See
Ramkund on the Godavari, with the evening Goda aarti
Kalaram Temple
Sita Gufa, a narrow cave you squeeze into
Tapovan
Get there
Nashik Road station, or Nashik (Ozar) airport. Mumbai is about 170 km away.
Time
1 day
Tip: Sita Gufa is tight and low. Skip it if you're claustrophobic. Nashik is also preparing for the 2027 Simhastha Kumbh, so check dates and expect big crowds if you're going that year.
4
Sri Sathya Sai district, Andhra Pradesh
Lepakshi
Where Jatayu is believed to have fallen after fighting Ravan. Ram is said to have told him "Le Pakshi": rise, O bird.
See
Veerabhadra Temple (16th century), with its famous hanging pillar and painted ceilings
The giant monolithic Nandi, one of the largest in India
The Jatayu sculpture on the rock
Get there
About 120 km from Bengaluru, 2–2.5 hours by road. Hindupur is the nearest station.
Time
Half a day
Tip: it's an easy day trip from Bengaluru. Leave early to beat the heat and the crowds.
5
Hampi, Karnataka
Anjanadri Hill
In the land of Kishkindha, the kingdom of the vanaras. The hill is believed to be Hanuman's birthplace.
See
The Anjaneya temple at the top, about 575 steps up
Sunset over Hampi's boulders and the Tungabhadra
Pampa Sarovar nearby, and Hampi's ruins (a UNESCO World Heritage Site)
Get there
Hosapete Junction is the nearest major station. The hill is across the river from Hampi, near Anegundi.
Time
1–2 days with Hampi
Tip: start climbing about an hour before sunset, carry water, and keep food out of sight. The monkeys are fast.
6
Tamil Nadu
Rameswaram & Dhanushkodi
Where Ram's army is believed to have built the bridge to Lanka. At Dhanushkodi the road ends where the Ram Setu begins, with sea on both sides.
See
Ramanathaswamy Temple, one of the 12 Jyotirlingas, known for its long pillared corridors
Dhanushkodi's ghost town, left in ruins by the 1964 cyclone
Arichal Munai, the very tip, where the Ram Setu shoals start
The Pamban bridge on the way in
Get there
Rameswaram station. Madurai is the nearest airport, about 3.5–4 hours by road. Dhanushkodi is about 20 km from Rameswaram town.
Time
1–2 days
Tip: go to Arichal Munai in the morning. It's open, windy and has almost no shade.
Plan the trip
The route runs about 2,500 km from north to south, so plan travel days between stops.
The full route in 12 days
Day 1–2Ayodhya
Day 3–4Chitrakoot, by road from Ayodhya
Day 5Travel to Nashik (train, or a connecting flight to Nashik or Mumbai)
Day 6Panchavati, Nashik
Day 7Travel to Hampi (via Bengaluru or Hubballi)
Day 8–9Hampi and the Anjanadri sunset
Day 10Lepakshi, on the way to Bengaluru
Day 11Travel to Rameswaram (overnight train, or fly to Madurai)
Day 12Rameswaram and Dhanushkodi
Short on time?
Split it into two trips.
North, 4 days: Ayodhya and Chitrakoot.
South, 5–6 days from Bengaluru: Lepakshi, Hampi, then Rameswaram.
When to go
October to March is the most comfortable.
April to June is very hot across the route. The north gets heavy monsoon rain from July to September. Rameswaram gets most of its rain from October to December.
The story goes on
After the Ram Setu, the Ramayana moves to Sri Lanka: Ashok Vatika near Nuwara Eliya, Ravana Falls near Ella, and more. That's a trip of its own.
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Places are listed as tradition holds them, and beliefs vary by region. Timings, fees and rules change, so check locally before you travel. Map imagery: NASA Blue Marble (public domain).
