Varanasi Ayodhya Tour Packages from Ahmedabad
Fly SVPI to Kashi, drive the Ganga and Saryu country with your own car, and fly home from Ayodhya – a private yatra paced for parents and grandparents.
For a family in Ahmedabad, Kashi and Ayodhya used to mean two days on a train. That has changed. As of October 2026 there are non-stop flights from SVPI Airport to both Varanasi and Ayodhya's Maharishi Valmiki International Airport, so a Varanasi Ayodhya tour from Ahmedabad can begin with Ganga aarti on the first evening and end with Ram Lalla darshan on the last morning, without any backtracking. Between the two cities sits Prayagraj, where most of our yatris want a dip at the Triveni Sangam, and the whole triangle is covered by road in a private car.
This page is written from what Gujarati families actually ask us before booking: which way round to do the circuit, how early to queue at Ram Mandir now that winter timings apply, whether Ba and Bapuji can manage the ghat steps, where to get Jain food in the gali, and which dates to avoid because the whole of India will be there. You will find a price guide, flight and train choices from Ahmedabad, three day-wise plans, a darshan rule-book for both temples, a festival calendar for the next six months and a short list of what to pack. The packages shown on this page carry live prices.
Updated October 2026 by the Vibrant Holidays team, Ahmedabad.
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What a Varanasi Ayodhya trip from Ahmedabad costs
Our live Uttar Pradesh packages start at ₹15,000 per person. The table below is an indicative guide so you can judge any quote. Figures are per person on twin sharing and include hotels with breakfast, a private AC car with driver from Varanasi airport to Ayodhya airport, airport transfers and the sightseeing listed. Flights from Ahmedabad are not included.
| Plan | Standard (clean 3-star) | Deluxe (4-star / ghat-view) | Premium (heritage ghat palace / 5-star) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 nights: Kashi 2 + Ayodhya 1 | ₹10,500 – 14,500 | ₹17,000 – 24,000 | ₹34,000 – 52,000 |
| 4 nights: Kashi 2 + Prayagraj stop + Ayodhya 2 | ₹14,000 – 19,000 | ₹22,500 – 31,000 | ₹44,000 – 66,000 |
| 5 nights: senior pace, Prayagraj overnight | ₹17,500 – 23,500 | ₹27,500 – 38,000 | ₹54,000 – 80,000 |
| 6 nights: adds Gaya–Bodh Gaya or Naimisharanya | ₹21,000 – 28,500 | ₹33,000 – 46,000 | ₹63,000 – 95,000 |
Flights from Ahmedabad: booked four to six weeks ahead, the Ahmedabad–Varanasi and Ayodhya–Ahmedabad legs together usually come to ₹9,000 – 17,000 per person. Dev Deepawali week, Diwali, the January Pran Pratishtha anniversary and Ram Navami cost far more, sometimes double.
Paid separately on the ground: Kashi Vishwanath Sugam darshan and Mangala aarti tickets if you want them, a private boat for the evening aarti or the sunrise ride, the Sangam boat and puja samagri, e-rickshaws inside the old lanes, wheelchair attendants, dakshina and donations, and meals other than breakfast. We list each one on the quote with a realistic amount so the family knows the full budget before leaving home.
Where the money goes: the biggest variable is the Varanasi hotel. A room on the ghats in a restored haveli costs three to five times a good hotel near Cantonment, but it turns the aarti and the morning boat into a five-minute walk. For seniors that walk matters more than the star rating.
Getting to Varanasi and Ayodhya from Ahmedabad
By air – the open-jaw plan
- Ahmedabad – Varanasi (VNS): IndiGo operates non-stop, about 2 hours, as of October 2026. Lal Bahadur Shastri airport is at Babatpur, 25 km and about an hour from the ghats in traffic.
- Ahmedabad – Ayodhya (AYJ): IndiGo's non-stop to Maharishi Valmiki International Airport runs about six days a week, roughly 1 hour 45 minutes. The airport is about 10 km from Ram Mandir.
- Our usual routing: fly into Varanasi, drive Varanasi – Prayagraj – Ayodhya, and fly home from Ayodhya. If the Ayodhya flight does not run on your return day, Lucknow (about 135 km, 2½–3 hours) has frequent flights to Ahmedabad.
- Reverse direction: some families prefer to start with Ram Lalla and end with Kashi, especially when the return falls on a Monday in Shravan or during Dev Deepawali. Both work; we pick the direction that matches the flight days.
By train
The Sabarmati Express (19167) leaves Ahmedabad Junction four nights a week and runs via Vadodara, Ujjain, Lucknow and Ayodhya Cantt (the former Faizabad Junction) to Varanasi, about 35 hours end to end. It is popular with senior groups who dislike flying, and it allows a stop at Ujjain for Mahakaleshwar on the way. Check the current days and timings on IRCTC before planning, as railway schedules change. A common plan is train to Ayodhya, car through Prayagraj to Kashi, and a flight home from Varanasi.
Distances inside the triangle
| Stretch | Distance | Driving time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Varanasi – Ayodhya (direct) | About 200–220 km | 4–5 hours | Via Jaunpur and Sultanpur; good highway most of the way |
| Varanasi – Prayagraj | About 125 km | 2½–3 hours | Six-lane highway; leave after breakfast |
| Prayagraj – Ayodhya | About 170 km | 3½–4 hours | Reach Ayodhya by late afternoon for the Saryu aarti |
| Varanasi – Sarnath | About 10 km | 30–40 minutes | Half-day outing |
| Ayodhya – Lucknow airport | About 135 km | 2½–3 hours | Backup exit if the Ayodhya flight is not suitable |
Three ways to plan the circuit
3 nights / 4 days – Kashi and Ayodhya for a long weekend
- Day 1: Morning flight Ahmedabad–Varanasi. Check in, rest, and walk or take an e-rickshaw to Dashashwamedh ghat for the evening Ganga aarti from a booked boat.
- Day 2: Sunrise boat from Assi to Manikarnika, then Kashi Vishwanath darshan through the corridor, Annapurna and Kal Bhairav. Sarnath after lunch.
- Day 3: Drive directly to Ayodhya (4–5 hours). Evening Saryu aarti at Ram ki Paidi.
- Day 4: Hanuman Garhi at dawn, Ram Mandir darshan, Kanak Bhawan; afternoon flight Ayodhya–Ahmedabad.
4 nights / 5 days – the full triangle with Prayagraj
- Days 1–2: Varanasi as above, with an extra hour for Sankat Mochan and Tulsi Manas Mandir.
- Day 3: Drive to Prayagraj. Boat to the Triveni Sangam for snan or achaman, Bade Hanuman (Lete Hanuman) temple and Akshayavat; continue to Ayodhya by evening.
- Day 4: Ram Mandir in the early slot, then Kanak Bhawan, Dashrath Mahal and Nageshwarnath. Rest after lunch. Saryu aarti at sunset.
- Day 5: Optional second darshan at Ram Mandir, Guptar Ghat, flight home.
5 nights / 6 days – senior yatri pace
Same route, but Prayagraj becomes an overnight so no day has more than one long drive and one major darshan. We choose hotels with lifts, book a wheelchair at Ram Mandir in advance, use a private boat so nobody climbs down crowded steps at aarti time, and keep afternoons free for rest. Many families add a sixth night for Bodh Gaya and Gaya's Vishnupad temple for pind daan, or for Naimisharanya near Lucknow.
Every plan is private and built around your own dates: your car and driver stay with you from the first airport to the last, and the order of temples changes if a darshan slot or a festival crowd demands it.
Ram Mandir and Kashi Vishwanath: darshan rules to know before you go
Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir, Ayodhya
- Winter timings from 1 November 2026 (as reported in late October 2026): gates open at 4 am and close at 10 pm. Mangala aarti is about 4:30 am and Shringar aarti about 6:30 am; general darshan begins around 7 am. There is a short closure for Raj Bhog around noon and an afternoon rest of about an hour (roughly 12:30 to 1:30 pm). Shayan aarti is about 9:30 pm. The Trust revises these by season, so we reconfirm the week before you travel.
- Aarti passes: passes for the aartis are issued free by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust against photo ID, online and at the counter, in small numbers. We apply as soon as your dates are fixed, but a pass is never guaranteed, so plan the trip around general darshan and treat an aarti pass as a bonus.
- What you cannot carry: mobile phones, smart watches, cameras, bags, purses with electronics and leather items are not allowed past security. Free locker and footwear counters are near the entry. Bring only ID, a little cash and prasad money.
- For seniors: the walk from the drop-off point to the sanctum is long. Wheelchairs with attendants are available; ask at the facility centre or let us pre-arrange. Arriving at the 7 am opening on a weekday usually means the shortest queue.
Shri Kashi Vishwanath, Varanasi
- The corridor: since Kashi Vishwanath Dham opened, you can approach from the Ganga side through Lalita ghat or from the city side near Godowlia and Maidagin. The lanes are narrow; cars stop outside the old city, so the last stretch is on foot or by e-rickshaw.
- Sugam darshan: a paid quick-darshan ticket (about ₹300 per person as of October 2026) booked on the temple's official website, with a fixed time slot. Mangala aarti before dawn is a separate, costlier ticket with very limited seats. Fees and slot rules change, especially on Mondays and in Shravan.
- Phones and bags: mobile phones, pens, bags and leather goods are not allowed inside; use the lockers at the gates or leave them in the car.
- Ganga aarti: the Dashashwamedh aarti at dusk is free. A booked boat gives a clear view and avoids the crush on the steps. Assi ghat has a quieter morning aarti, Subah-e-Banaras, around sunrise.
- Sarnath: the Dhamek Stupa, the Mulagandha Kuti Vihar and the museum (closed on Fridays) make a calm half-day; children and grandparents both enjoy the deer park.
We book what can be booked and plan around what cannot. We never promise a specific darshan slot or aarti pass, because both temples allocate them on their own systems and can change rules at short notice for festivals or VIP movement.
Festival calendar and crowd days, November 2026 to April 2027
| When | Where | What it means for your trip |
|---|---|---|
| Eve of Diwali, early November 2026 | Ayodhya Deepotsav | Lakhs of diyas on the Saryu ghats; heavy security, roads closed near Ram ki Paidi, hotels sold out. Spectacular for the young, tiring for seniors. |
| 24 November 2026 (Kartik Purnima) | Dev Deepawali, Varanasi | Every ghat lit with diyas. Boats and ghat-view rooms are booked weeks ahead and cost two to four times normal. Book now if you want this date. |
| December 2026 – January 2027 | Both cities | Cold mornings (5–10°C) and fog that can delay early flights; we avoid tight same-day connections. The Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha anniversary in January brings large crowds. |
| January – February 2027 | Magh Mela, Prayagraj | Tent city at the Sangam with bathing days drawing huge numbers; plan the Sangam visit away from the main snan dates. |
| 6 March 2027 | Maha Shivratri, Kashi | Very long queues at Kashi Vishwanath; Sugam slots sell out. Wonderful atmosphere, poor choice for seniors. |
| 15 April 2027 | Ram Navami, Ayodhya | The busiest day of the year at Ram Mandir, already hot (35°C plus). Arrive two days before, stay near the temple, expect restrictions on vehicles. |
For a comfortable family trip, the sweet spots are the weeks after Dev Deepawali until mid-December, and February to mid-March outside Shivratri. Gujarat's Diwali vacation and Uttarayan weekend are popular with our clients but fill up early; for those dates book flights six to eight weeks ahead.
Food, ghat steps and other practical notes for Gujarati yatris
Pure-veg and Jain food
- Varanasi: the easiest city in North India for vegetarians. Gujarati and Marwari bhojanalayas around Godowlia and Bengali Tola serve thali, and Jain meals are available at several restaurants and dharamshalas near the ghats. Try kachori-sabzi, tamatar chaat and, in winter, malaiyo.
- Ayodhya: the town is vegetarian by custom, and new hotels on the Ram Path and near the airport serve North Indian and Gujarati-style food. Jain meals need a day's notice; we send it in writing to the hotel.
- Prayagraj: simple pure-veg restaurants in Civil Lines; on drive days we suggest a packed lunch or a known highway stop.
Walking, steps and getting around
- Most Varanasi ghats have 30 to 80 steep stone steps, often wet near the water. We use boats that board at ghats with gentler steps and send a helper with seniors.
- Battery e-rickshaws are the practical transport in Kashi's old city and on Ayodhya's Ram Path; your driver waits at the car point.
- Keep slip-on footwear: you will remove shoes many times a day.
- Carry original photo ID for every member, plus photocopies. Darshan bookings, hotel check-in and aarti passes all ask for it.
What to pack from Ahmedabad
- A warm shawl or jacket from November to February; dawn boat rides on the Ganga are cold.
- Modest clothes for temples, a small cloth bag for prasad and a refillable bottle.
- Regular medicines for the full trip, and theplas or khakhra for the drive days if the family likes home food.
Why plan your Kashi–Ayodhya yatra with Vibrant Holidays
- 11 years in Ahmedabad: sit with our team at C G Road, above Liberty Showroom at Swastik Cross Roads, Monday to Saturday, and see the route on a map before you pay.
- Flights in, flights out: we sequence the Varanasi arrival and the Ayodhya or Lucknow departure so nobody drives back the same road.
- Honest darshan help: we apply for passes and Sugam slots where they exist, and tell you plainly what cannot be pre-booked.
- Meals in writing: pure-veg or Jain requirements go on every hotel voucher.
- Support on the road: a 24x7 WhatsApp line throughout the trip and the toll-free 1800-313-4262. IATA-accredited; member of TAAI, TAFI, ADTOI and IATO; recognised by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.
See all Uttar Pradesh tour packages, our wider pilgrimage packages, the Char Dham yatra from Ahmedabad, or every tour package from Ahmedabad.
Plan your Varanasi and Ayodhya trip with an Ahmedabad team
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Get a Free Quote WhatsApp 9089090790Varanasi and Ayodhya tour from Ahmedabad: FAQs
How much does a Varanasi and Ayodhya tour package from Ahmedabad cost?
Our Varanasi and Ayodhya packages currently start at ₹15,000 per person for 2 nights. Most of our Varanasi and Ayodhya packages fall between ₹27,500 and ₹34,999 per person. The final cost depends on the travel month, hotel category, number of travellers and whether flights from {$from} are added. Open any package below to see exactly what is included, or ask us for a quote with flights.
Is there a direct flight from Ahmedabad to Ayodhya?
Yes. As of October 2026 IndiGo flies non-stop from Ahmedabad to Ayodhya's Maharishi Valmiki International Airport about six days a week, taking roughly 1 hour 45 minutes. On days it does not operate, we route you through Lucknow, which is about three hours by road from Ayodhya and has frequent flights to Ahmedabad.
Which is better, starting in Varanasi or in Ayodhya?
Both work because Ahmedabad has non-stop flights to each city. We usually start in Varanasi, drive through Prayagraj and fly home from Ayodhya, ending the yatra with Ram Lalla darshan. If your return falls on a Shravan Monday or Dev Deepawali, reversing the order avoids the worst crowds at Kashi.
How far is Ayodhya from Varanasi by road?
About 200 to 220 km, which takes four to five hours in a private car via Jaunpur and Sultanpur. Going through Prayagraj adds roughly 100 km but lets you visit the Triveni Sangam on the way. For senior travellers we split that longer route with a night in Prayagraj.
Can we travel from Ahmedabad to Ayodhya by train?
Yes. The Sabarmati Express from Ahmedabad Junction runs four days a week via Ujjain and Lucknow to Ayodhya Cantt and on to Varanasi, about 35 hours in total. Check current days and timings on IRCTC. Many families take the train one way and fly back to save a day.
What are the Ram Mandir darshan timings in winter?
From 1 November 2026 the temple opens at 4 am for Mangala aarti, with general darshan from about 7 am until the gates close at 10 pm, and an afternoon rest of about an hour. Timings are revised by season and for festivals, so we confirm them with the Trust's notices before your travel date.
Can we take mobile phones inside Ram Mandir and Kashi Vishwanath?
No. Both temples prohibit mobile phones, cameras, smart watches and bags inside. Free lockers are available near the entry gates, and many families simply leave phones in the car with the driver. Carry only original photo ID and a little cash for prasad and donations.
Do you guarantee Kashi Vishwanath Sugam darshan or Ram Mandir aarti passes?
No one can guarantee them. Both temples allocate slots on their own systems, in limited numbers, and may suspend them on festival days. We apply as soon as your dates are fixed and attach confirmations to your vouchers, and we always plan the day so that general darshan works if a pass is not issued.
Is this trip suitable for senior citizens?
Yes, with the right pace. We keep one major darshan per half-day, book wheelchairs and lifts where available, use private boats so elders avoid crowded ghat steps, and choose hotels close to the temples. A five-night plan with an overnight in Prayagraj is the most comfortable for parents in their seventies.
When is Dev Deepawali in 2026?
Dev Deepawali falls on Kartik Purnima, 24 November 2026. Every ghat in Varanasi is lit with diyas and the evening aarti becomes a festival. Boats and ghat-view rooms sell out weeks ahead and cost two to four times normal, so book early if you want to be in Kashi that night.
Is Jain food available in Varanasi and Ayodhya?
Yes. Varanasi has several Gujarati, Marwari and Jain bhojanalayas near Godowlia and the ghats, and both cities are largely vegetarian. In Ayodhya, Jain meals are prepared by hotels with a day's notice. We print your meal requirement on every hotel voucher so it is not left to a phone call.
Can we add Ujjain or Bodh Gaya to the same trip?
Yes. Travellers on the Sabarmati Express can break the journey at Ujjain for Mahakaleshwar. By air, Bodh Gaya and Gaya are about five hours by road from Varanasi, and a sixth night covers the Mahabodhi temple and Vishnupad for pind daan. We plan these as private add-ons on your dates.
