Growing up my mother used to write Raam Raam and Durga Durga on my pillow while going to bed at night. That helped us get rid of night terrors and grow stronger even while we slept. The tradition is continued even now by me with my daughter and I can’t stop doing the same for myself either. It’s faith pure and simple and that’s that.

So December last year with fourteen of our friends and family we went to Kashi Benaras . The trip was supposed to be Kashi-Prayagraj-Ayodhya-Lucknow. We took an Indigo flight from Kolkata to Kashi. It was the 24th of December and our morning flight got delayed by almost four and a half hours. We were offered refreshments and the enthusiasm of the company and the books I carry everywhere kept us sane. Ayodhya was but a must.

Ayodhya Visit

We were in a tempo traveler(twenty-two) seater traveling from Varanasi to Ayodhya (220km) by road, then onwards to Lucknow(another 136 Km). Direct Kashi to Lucknow is 312 Km. Now the Ayodhya airport is inaugurated and there’s also a Kolkata-Ayodhya airplane has started, so travel is getting easier.We started from Kashi at 9.30 am and reached Ayodhya around 2.30 pm and after touring Ayodhya reached Lucknow at 7.30 pm. The Tempo traveller was hired from Varanasi Yatra Travels, our driver Gopal was very helpful, well behaved and drove excellently.

We reached Ayodhya listening to the popular Raam bhajan and finally reached by 1.30 pm, we stopped at the Surya Palace for a quick, simple vegetarian lunch and a visit to the washroom. Then it was time for a tour if Ayodhya. The Raam Mandir, even though not completely ready the festivities and fervor throughout the city is to be seen to be believed. There are building activities everywhere and our guide helped us zero in on visiting 3 places. We didn’t have much time and with three kids in tow, an extensive tour was out of the question. Since bags, phones, cameras, leather belts, etc are not allowed inside Raam Mandir, most of us left our belongings in the tempo. The tempo would also not be a good idea inside the main city and we hired local autos, which seat 4 to 6 people for the local tour.

We visited-

• Sarju River
• Raam Mandir and Raam Lalla
• Raam Darba

Sarju River Experience

Sarju River is also called the Sarayu River. It’s the lower part of Ghaghara River flowing through Ayodhya. The River is witness to the birth of Lord Raam, his exile, his return, and now the Raam Mandir. As the guide told us there are only three things left from the age of Lord Raam. The Sarju River, the land of Ayodhya on which we stand, and the Lord Raam Lalla have been prayed to , since time immemorial.

Sarju River is a beauty. It flows serenely through the city of Ayodhya, witnessing love, life, laughter, war, bloodshed, tears, unbreakable faith, and prayers. The monkeys are everywhere. But they won’t bother you if you don’t carry food or buy peanuts. A few teenage boys roam about with snakes, trying to scare visitors for a quick buck or God knows what. But the reverence I felt while standing on the bank took me by surprise.

We saw the Raam ki paudi being cleaned. We saw the lovely golden lights and murals being painted everywhere. Men and women, old and young, were busy building, polishing, painting, cleaning, and decorating the roads, temples, and buildings for all the visitors .

Finally the Raam Mandir

After that, we visited the Raam Mandir .The mandir is under construction but the garbh griha or sanctum sanctorium where the Ram Lalla bigraho(Moola murti) is going to be formally consecrated on the 22nd of January this year . We visited the Raam Lalla(Utsav murti) which is being prayed to currently in a makeshift shelter, received his blessings, and say where the original Sita ki Rasoi stood. There was extensive security everywhere a security center for depositing your phone etc, a wheelchair for the elderly and those who need it, and help by volunteers who told us the stories that made the place come alive. It was surreal and the fervor with which people were visiting showed the extent of the love people have for Lord Raam.A word about the security. It is armed and extensive.

The roadside houses were painted saffron and orange and the wide road saw people from all over the country.Finally we visited the Raam Darbar where there is an idol of Shri Raam, Laxman,Mata Sita and Hanumanji and we offered prayers and left for our next leg of the visit. Since it’s a no-camera zone in most places only a few snaps can be shared here.