Ayodhya (Deepotsav)
Ayodhya → Ayodhya
2 days 1 nights
year-round
Starting from
Price on request
per pilgrim · 2 days / 1 Night
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Experience My India's 2 Days Deepotsav Ayodhya Tour takes you to Ayodhya's great night of lights - over 25 lakh diyas lit along the Saryu at Ram Ki Paidi, a laser show, Ram Leela and the Saryu Aarti - plus Day 2 darshan at the Ram Janmabhoomi, Hanuman Garhi and Kanak Bhawan. AC car, hotel, a guide and meals. Rated 4.9 out of 5 · 760+ reviews. Deepotsav falls on the eve of Diwali (early November in 2026) and hotels sell out early - WhatsApp +91-7302265809 to book. Jai Shri Ram 🙏
Experience My India's two-day Deepotsav Ayodhya Tour is built around one of the truly breathtaking sights in India - the festival of Deepotsav, when the ghats of Ram Ki Paidi on the Saryu river are lit with more than twenty-five lakh earthen lamps on the eve of Diwali, setting a new Guinness World Record almost every year.
Day 1 eases you into the city with the peaceful Guptar Ghat and a walk along the Saryu riverfront, then Ram Ki Paidi as the ghats are being decorated, and in the evening the grand Deepotsav itself - the diyas, a laser and light show on the river, cultural tableaux, Ram Leela and the Saryu Aarti. Day 2 turns to darshan: the magnificent Shri Ram Janmabhoomi, the hilltop Hanuman Garhi, and the jewel-like Kanak Bhawan and Dashrath Mahal, before your departure.
A private AC car, one night in an Ayodhya hotel booked ahead of the rush, a local guide and meals are included. Because Deepotsav is the city's single busiest night and hotels sell out early, the one rule is to book well in advance. For your dates' price, WhatsApp +91-7302265809.
Route overview
Ayodhya → Ayodhya
Departure
Ayodhya
Stop 1
Guptar Ghat → A calm riverside start on the Saryu
Stop 2
Ram Ki Paidi → The ghats being readied, then the Deepotsav lighting and Saryu Aarti
Stop 3
Ram Janmabhoomi & Hanuman Garhi → Early darshan on the morning after
Stop 4
Kanak Bhawan & Dashrath Mahal → The palaces of the Ramayana
Final arrival
Ayodhya
2 days / 1 night in Ayodhya, built around the Deepotsav evening
Over 25 lakh diyas lit along the Saryu at Ram Ki Paidi on the eve of Diwali
Laser and light show, Ram Leela and the grand Saryu Aarti
Guided to the prime accessible viewing area, on foot from a planned point
Early Day-2 darshan at Ram Janmabhoomi, Hanuman Garhi and Kanak Bhawan
Private AC car, hotel booked early for the peak, local guide and meals
You are met on arrival in Ayodhya and driven to your hotel, booked well ahead of the Deepotsav rush, to check in and freshen up before the afternoon.
Day 1 - Arrival, Riverside Ayodhya and the Grand Deepotsav
An easy afternoon by the Saryu, then the night you came for - lakhs of lamps turning Ayodhya into a river of light.
Good to know
On the festival day the city fills quickly; arriving by noon leaves comfortable time before roads around Ram Ki Paidi begin to close.
We begin at the peaceful Guptar Ghat, believed to be where Lord Rama took jal samadhi - his final departure from the earth - with its quiet riverside colonnade, the Chakra Harji Narayan and Rama temples, and a gentle walk along the Saryu away from the festival crowds. It is a deliberately calm start, a moment of stillness by the river before the intensity of the evening.
We head to Ram Ki Paidi to see the long flight of ghats being decorated and the lakhs of earthen diyas laid out in careful patterns across the steps, each waiting to be filled with oil and a wick - the quiet, extraordinary preparation before the lighting, with thousands of volunteers at work along the river.
Good to know
Seeing the ghats before dusk, with the unlit diyas arranged in their lakhs, is a sight in itself and a good way to get our bearings before the crowds peak.
As dusk falls, the diyas are lit together across the ghats - over twenty-five lakh of them, a Guinness World Record - and in a few minutes the whole curve of the Saryu turns to a sheet of gold.
Around it runs a laser and light show on the river, green fireworks, cultural tableaux from across the states, a symbolic arrival of Lord Rama in a recreated Pushpak Viman, Ram Leela performances, and then the grand Saryu Aarti, lamps and conches rising over the water. The temple spires and, in recent years, the new Ram Mandir stand lit above it all. It is Ayodhya's great night of lights.
Good to know
The core lighting zone is administration-managed with passes; Experience My India positions you at the prime accessible viewing area and guides you through the crowd management.
We return you to your hotel after the celebrations.
Stay
Ayodhya
Insider tip
Roads around Ram Ki Paidi close to traffic well before the evening, and the area is managed by heavy security and crowd control - going on foot from a planned point, with our guide, is the only calm way to do it, and exactly how Experience My India arranges it.
An unhurried breakfast before the morning's darshan.
Day 2 - Ram Janmabhoomi Darshan and Departure
The morning after the lights - darshan at the heart of Ayodhya, taken early and calm before the festival crowds return.
We take you early for darshan at the magnificent Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir, the birthplace temple of Lord Rama and the heart of the city, timed before the heaviest festival-weekend crowds build up.
Good to know
Security is strict - phones, bags and most belongings are not allowed inside - so Experience My India builds in time for lockers and guides you through calmly.
We climb to the hilltop Hanuman Garhi to seek the blessings of the city's guardian deity, whose darshan tradition places before Rama's own.
Good to know
Hanuman Garhi has about 76 steps to the shrine; we take it at your pace.
We visit the beautiful Kanak Bhawan, said to have been gifted to Sita by Queen Kaikeyi as a wedding present, its inner sanctum glowing with gold-decked idols of Ram and Sita, and the historic Dashrath Mahal, the ancestral home of Lord Rama's father, King Dashrath, where kirtans fill the courtyard through the day.
After the darshan, a comfortable transfer to Ayodhya Dham Junction, or to Lucknow or Varanasi airport, for your return journey.
Good to know
Tell Experience My India your exit when booking so the departure transfer is timed around the festival-day traffic.
Quick enquiry
Usually within minutes on WhatsApp.
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Based on 760 reviews
Everything you need to know about your pilgrimage with Experience My India.
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What travel guides don't tell you before you arrive.
Deepotsav is not a stop you can simply add to any Ayodhya trip. It is a single, fixed evening, in a city that was not built for the numbers it draws, and getting it right is almost entirely about planning ahead. Here is what you actually need to know.
First, the date. Deepotsav is held every year on the eve of Diwali - Chhoti Diwali - so it moves with the Hindu lunar calendar; in 2026 it falls in early November. The Uttar Pradesh government, which organises the event, confirms the exact date a few weeks in advance. It is one grand evening at Ram Ki Paidi, not a multi-day fair, so your trip has to be built precisely around that night - there is no second chance a day later.
Second, the crowds and the hotels, which is where most trips fail before they begin. Deepotsav and Diwali together are Ayodhya's single busiest period, drawing lakhs of visitors, dignitaries and heavy security into a city with a limited number of quality rooms. Hotels sell out months ahead and prices rise sharply. The travellers who have a smooth Deepotsav are, almost without exception, the ones who booked two to three months early. This is the one trip where leaving it late does not mean paying more - it means not going at all.
Third, the viewing, told honestly. The core lighting zone on the Ram Ki Paidi ghats, where volunteers light the record-setting lakhs of diyas, is managed by the administration with passes and is often closed to the general public. Most visitors watch the spectacle from designated ghats and open areas and on large screens placed around the river - and it is still staggering from there. Roads around the ghats close to traffic well before dusk, so the whole evening is done on foot from a planned point. Experience My India positions you at the prime accessible viewing area, moves you on foot with a guide through the crowd management, and makes sure you see the heart of the night rather than a traffic jam.
And one practical word on the night itself. Arrive at the ghats with daylight to spare - the lamps are lit at dusk and the walk in takes time through the crowds, so late arrivals miss the moment of lighting, which is the whole point. Carry little: a phone, water, a light shawl for the river breeze, and comfortable shoes you can walk a fair distance in. Keep your group together and fix a meeting point, because mobile networks struggle under the load of lakhs of people. Done this way - early, light, and guided from a planned point - Deepotsav is the sight of a lifetime rather than a long evening in a crowd. Book early, and the rest follows.
To understand why Ayodhya does this - why a whole city turns its riverbank into a field of twenty-five lakh flames on one night a year - you have to go back to the very first Diwali, which, the Ramayana tells us, happened here.
When Lord Rama returned to Ayodhya after fourteen years of exile - after the forests of Chitrakoot, the years of waiting, the war in Lanka and the rescue of Sita - the people of the city, overjoyed at the homecoming of their rightful king, lit rows upon rows of earthen lamps along every street and ghat to guide him home and to celebrate. That night of lamps, deepavali, the row of lights, is the origin of Diwali itself. Every lamp lit in every Indian home on Diwali is, in a sense, an echo of the ones the people of Ayodhya lit for Rama. Deepotsav is Ayodhya lighting them again, at the source.
That is what makes this night different from Diwali anywhere else. In your own home, you light a few diyas in memory of a story. Here, you stand on the banks of the Saryu, in the city the story is about, and watch that first welcome recreated on a scale that stops the breath - the ghats, the water, the temple spires all gold with flame, and in recent years the newly built Ram Mandir rising above it all. For many pilgrims it is the most moving Diwali of their lives, because it is not a commemoration of the homecoming; it feels like standing in it.
The Deepotsav you see today is a modern revival of that ancient welcome. Since 2017 the Uttar Pradesh government has organised it on a grand civic scale, and each year the number of diyas has climbed - past twenty-two lakh, past twenty-five lakh - with Ayodhya claiming a fresh Guinness World Record almost every festival. And since the consecration of the new Ram Mandir, the night has taken on an extra charge of meaning: the homecoming is no longer only remembered but, for many, finally completed, the lamps now burning in the shadow of the temple that so many waited a lifetime to see.
Rajeev Sharma and the Experience My India team have shared this night with pilgrims who grew up hearing the story and never imagined they would see it made real. There is a laser show and a Ram Leela and fireworks, yes - but the thing people carry home is simpler: the sight of Ayodhya, Rama's own city, lit from end to end to welcome him, just as it was the first time. Jai Shri Ram.
Pro tip: Our local guides know these nuances intimately. They navigate crowds, time the darshan, handle protocols and share the stories textbooks miss.
Watch before you go
Watch the real Ganga Aarti, the Ram Mandir darshan flow and the ghat atmosphere, curated by our local experts so you arrive prepared.
Live aarti atmosphere
The evening ceremony at Dashashwamedh Ghat
Temple flow guide
The darshan process before you reach
Ganga boat experience
Sunrise rides over the holy river
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The practical details that make the difference on the day.
Deepotsav is a single evening on the eve of Diwali (early November in 2026) - the date shifts each year and is confirmed by the UP government a few weeks ahead, so the whole trip is built around that one night.
Hotels in Ayodhya sell out months in advance at premium rates for Deepotsav and Diwali - booking two to three months early is strongly advised; leaving it late often means no rooms at all.
The core diya-lighting zone at Ram Ki Paidi is administration-managed with passes and often closed to the public; most visitors view from designated ghats, open areas and large screens, which is still spectacular.
Roads around Ram Ki Paidi close to traffic well before dusk - the evening is done on foot from a planned point, with heavy security and crowd control.
Ram Janmabhoomi darshan is taken early on Day 2 to avoid the festival crowds; phones, bags and most belongings are not allowed inside, so plan for lockers.
Hanuman Garhi has about 76 steps to the shrine - take it at your pace; the other temples involve only short, level walks.
Expect large, joyful crowds throughout - keep valuables secure, stay with your guide, and agree a meeting point in case the group separates.
Carry a light shawl for the November evening by the river, wear comfortable slip-on shoes for the temples, and dress modestly for darshan.
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Experience My India's 2 Days Deepotsav Ayodhya Tour takes you to Ayodhya's great night of lights - over 25 lakh diyas lit along the Saryu at Ram Ki Paidi, a laser show, Ram Leela and the Saryu Aarti - plus Day 2 darshan at the Ram Janmabhoomi, Hanuman Garhi and Kanak Bhawan. AC car, hotel, a guide and meals. Rated 4.9 out of 5 · 760+ reviews. Deepotsav falls on the eve of Diwali (early November in 2026) and hotels sell out early - WhatsApp +91-7302265809 to book. Jai Shri Ram 🙏
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Local guide, Experience My India
Born and raised in Varanasi, among its ghats, temples and pandits. I have been guiding pilgrims for more than 40 years, across Ayodhya, Kashi and Prayagraj, in Hindi, Telugu and Kannada. Experience My India was built on one belief: a well-planned yatra is a deeply felt one.
More about RajeevPlease review these policies before confirming your yatra.
Processing Time: Approved refunds will be processed within 7 to 10 working days via the original payment method. Force Majeure: If a tour is cancelled by Ayodhya Varanasi Guide due to unforeseen circumstances (extreme weather, government restrictions, or vehicle breakdown), a 100% refund or an alternative date will be offered. Unused Services: No refunds will be provided for any part of the sightseeing missed by the guest due to late arrival or personal choice during the tour.
We understand that travel plans can change. Our cancellation slabs are as follows: 48 Hours or More before the tour: Full Refund of the advance amount (minus a small 5% processing fee/bank charges). 24 to 48 Hours before the tour: 50% of the advance amount will be refunded. Less than 24 Hours or No Show: No refund will be provided as the vehicle and driver are already blocked for your service. Peak Dates: For bookings during major festivals like Holi, Janmashtami, or Radha Ashtami, all advance payments are Non-Refundable due to extreme demand.
To provide competitive local pricing while maintaining high service standards, we follow a split-payment structure: Advance Deposit: A 50% advance payment of the total package cost is required to process the booking. Balance Amount: The remaining balance must be paid to the coordinator or driver upon arrival or at the start of the tour. Mode of Payment: We accept UPI (Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm), Bank Transfers, and Cash. Exclusions: Please note that E-Rickshaw charges (for narrow lanes near Banke Bihari Temple), Guide fees, and Temple donations are typically not included in the package and should be paid directly in cash.
We want to ensure your spot is secured so you don't miss the divine Darshan timings. Booking Confirmation: A booking is considered "Confirmed" only after the receipt of the initial advance payment. Voucher Issuance: Once the payment is verified, we will issue a Digital Confirmation Voucher via WhatsApp/Email containing your driver details, vehicle number, and reporting time. Reporting Time: For Same Day Tours, guests are expected to report at the designated pickup point (Hotel/Railway Station) at the scheduled time. A maximum waiting period of 30 minutes is allowed, after which the tour may be treated as a "No Show."
