324. Day 2 – Ayodhya

From today, there was a new driver and an Ertiga a/c car with carriage at the top for the luggage.  The new driver said today we will be visiting Ayodhya.  I showed him the itinerary that I had received from the vendor and said today is Prayagraj and then the drive to Ayodhya for overnight stay.  He called someone from his office and the person did not respond.  So, he went ahead with my itinerary.  We checked out of the hotel after having breakfast and proceeded to Prayagraj. 

After driving for about 60 kms, he got the call from the number he had called earlier.  That guy started getting angry over him as to why he was not going to Ayodhya.  Due to some miscommunication, they did not inform me that today was Ayodhya and Prayagraj was some days later. Anyways, we then proceeded to Ayodhya.  Reached there in the afternoon. Had lunch, at our own expense, at the hotel and then went to see the Ram mandir.

It being a Sunday, there was a heavy rush with all kinds of vehicles involved in a massive traffic jam at the road to the entrance to the temple complex. Someone approached me when I was in the car and offered to take us to 3-4 different places and then drop us near the temple. He was a licensed guide and said for Rs 500 he would take us and show us around. Seeing the crowd, I said yes to him. He asked our driver to follow his motorcycle. 

He first took us to the factory where the Ram temple was being built for the past so many years.  Still work is going on here for completing the 2^nd floor of the temple.  Fully-formed pillars are kept here to be transported to the main temple once they are required at the main site.  There is also a big iron bell sitting here, donated from someone from Tamil Nadu.  Once the temple is fully constructed, the bell will be installed in the temple.

I was told by the guide that it was told to locals ‘at that time’ that the army was going to come to Ayodhya in 24 hours.  In effect, they had 24 hours to do what they want to do😊!!

Then we went to Sita’s Rasoi which used to be the kitchen where Sita used to prepare food in Ayodhya.  Now, every day, lunch is prepared here and served free to everyone who comes during that time. Next was Bade Hanuman, where literally a big Hanuman statue is at the entrance of the temple.  You can see the pictures in the attached file.

After this we were left near the main street of the Ayodhya, from where the way to the temple was nearby. 

Since it was a Sunday, it was very crowded.  The security was no match for the crowd and there was heavy pushing from all sides.  First you have to deposit your shoes for which there are 15-20 places assigned.  Then you stand in another line to deposit your bags and mobiles.  There were only 2 lines for ladies and 4 lines for gents. And there are hundreds of people pushing to get in the line.  It will take some 30-45 minutes of your strength and time to deposit your belongings😊!  Then you proceed to the temple.  Here again, being a Sunday (I was told by someone who went the next day that there was no crowd at all), it was very crowded.  The ladies’ line was going smoothly.  In the gents’ “line” (or a different geometric pattern😊) the crowd will take you forward by 3-4 steps and you will come backward also by 2-3 steps.  After spending some 30 minutes here, I was able to cross this metal detector.  There was a heavy crowd and they opened the VIP gates too. We went through the VIP gates and entered the temple through a side gate. The front side gate was full with crowd.  From the side gate to the main temple courtyard, it was another 15-20 minutes standing in a haphazard line.  In the courtyard there are 8-9 different lanes demarcated by iron railings.  We were on the rightmost side as we entered from the side gate. 

When our turn came to select from the 2-3 railings on the right side, the security opened the middle-most railing and asked me to enter from there.  I had worn a normal veshti (dhoti) and my brother-in-law was in panchakacham attire with thiruman on his forehead. Maybe by seeing our attire, we were asked to enter that line😊!  Anyways, if someone up there wants us to have a VIP darshan, so be it😊!

I lifted my dhoti and jumped over the rope and asked my family members to join me.  Right in front of us was Ram lalla and we could get a good darshan.  Looked like it was the real VIP-slot darshan.  Imagine when you reach the Tirupati Balaji deity line from where you can see the deity.  And now imagine if all the crowd is gone and you keep on walking towards the deity seeing it completely, while walking towards it, alone! That was the scenario.  Had a good darshan while walking towards the deity for some 15-20 seconds as well as spending some 5-10 more seconds in front of it.  As they say, it was well worth the time spent in the crowd for the past 1-1.5 hours!!  Towards our right and the left side, there were crowds in the other 7-8 lines all straining to see the deity.  In our line, literally we were the only 5 people!  Don’t know if the others were allowed in this line or not, later.

We them came out of the temple. Luckily no crowd for getting back the mobile as well as the slippers.  We then went to Dashrath Mahal.  It is believed that this is actually the place where the great, noble and benevolent king Dasharath who was also the father of Lord Rama from the masterpiece Indian epic Ramayana lived.

We then went to Hanuman Garhi.  Hanuman Garhi was the place where Hanuman was told to stay by Lord Ram when Lord Ram left the world. Legend has it that Lord Hanuman used to live here to protect Ayodhya.

Hanuman Garhi Temple is shaped like a four-sided fort with circular ramparts at each corner, housing shrines dedicated to the primary deity Hanuman. There are 76 stairs to reach the main temple, where the garbha griha, adorned with silver carvings, awaits. The central has three intricately designed doors leading to the inner chamber. Within, a 6-inch deity of Hanuman, depicted in his youthful (Bal) form, is positioned on the lap of his mother Anjani. A silver tulsi garland, inscribed with the name of Rama is adorned by Hanuman. The verses of the Hanuman Chalisa are inscribed on the temple walls. The temple features a Victory Pillar, known as Vijay Stambh. (source – Wikipedia)

We then proceeded to the hotel, had dinner and slept. Thus, ended the day 2 of our tour!

Cheers till next time😊!!