¤ Ayodhya - Lord Rama's Janam Bhumi (Birth Place)

Though a thinly-populated town now, Ayodhya ranked amongst the six most important Indian cities in the 6th century b.c. Sacred to the Hindus because it was Rama’s birthplace, it continues to hog the limelightfor the same reason.
It caught global attention in 1992, when the Babri Masjid (it was, as claimed by some people, built on the same spot where Rama was born) was demolished. The demolition was followed by large-scale communal violence in most parts of the country. The place is now a high-security zone.

Amongst the places of interest in the town are some Hindu temples and bathing ghats (steps leading down to the river). Lakshman Ghat, and Swarga Dwara (Rama Ghat) are important ghats. Besides these, there are some kunds (wells) which serve as bathing spots. ¤ Historic Prespective

Also known as Saketa in ancient times, Ayodhya is really centuries old. It was the capital of the kingdom of Kosala, of which Rama (the seventh incarnation of Vishnu, the Hindu Preserver of the Universe), the hero of the Ramayana, was the most important king. His story forms the kernel of the Ramayana (for more details see ancient scriptures).

Kosala was one of the sixteen great Janpadas (great nations) that ruled the area from the Kabul valley to the banks of the Godavari on the eve of the rise of Buddhism in the 6 th century b.c. Prasenajit was the ruler of the kingdom at that time. Later the Kosala kingdom was swallowed up by the powerful kingdom of Magadha which corresponds to the districts of Patna and Gaya in Southern Bihar.


¤ Places of Interest