Ayodhya also known as Saket, is an ancient city of India, birthplace of Lord Rama and setting of the epic Ramayana. It is adjacent to Faizabad city at the south end in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Ayodhya used to be the capital of the ancient Kosala Kingdom. It has an average elevation of 93 meters (305 feet).
Temples and mosques exist side by side in all architectural splendor in the twin cities of Faizabad and Ayodhya.
It is an important pilgrimage centre about 110 km from Lucknow
Ayodhya has been regarded as one of the seven most important pilgrimage sites (Saptapuri. The birth spot of Rama was marked by a temple, which was demolished by the orders of the Mughal emperor Babur and a mosque erected in its place. The Ayodhya dispute concerns the activism to rebuild a Rama’s temple at the site.
According to one derivation, “Ayodhya” is said to derive from the name of King “Ayudh,” mentioned in scriptures as a forefather of Lord Rama.
In the more accepted etymology, in word “Ayodhya”, ‘A’ is feminine negation of the word Yodhya which comes from the root Yudh (to fight). A (negation) + Yodhya (winnable) + ā (feminine suffix). So, literally, the name translates as “A city that cannot be fought and won over in a war” or “unconquerable citadel”
The city is located at the banks of the Sarayu River and was the capital of the ancient kingdom of Kosala. The city was known to be founded by Manu, father of Mankind. It is one of the most frequently visited pilgrim spots and is famous for its various temples which are visited by people of various Indian religions. Here’s the list of the best places to visit in Ayodhya.
