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Ayodhya Deepotsav 2026 is set for 6-8 November 2026, with the main diya-lighting and Saryu Maha Aarti on 7 November, per current tourism sources. Coming from Delhi, two things decide how smooth this trip is: booking your Ayodhya hotel early, and locking your Ram Mandir Sugam Darshan slot before it fills.
Deepotsav 2026 is the 10th edition of UP Tourism's Festival of Lamps, and it consistently shows up across sources as 6-8 November 2026. Diwali falls on 8 November this year, and the record diya-lighting traditionally lands a day or two earlier.
Organizers target over 28 lakh (2.8 million) diyas across 51 ghats, chasing a fresh Guinness World Record after last year's 26.11 lakh.
| Date (2026) | What Happens |
|---|---|
| 6 November | Cultural processions and performances begin; Ayodhya lights up early |
| 7 November | Main event — record diya-lighting at Ram Ki Paidi, Saryu Maha Aarti, 500-drone show, 3D hologram projection |
| 8 November | Diwali day; temple lighting and crowds continue city-wide |
Treat this as the best current evidence, not gospel — exact day-by-day assignments can shift, so recheck UP Tourism's official page closer to your travel dates.
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust runs the only official Sugam Darshan portal, and darshan itself is free — the pass only skips the queue. Anyone charging for a "VIP darshan ticket" is running a scam.
Slots typically open about 15 days before your visit date, at midnight
One mobile number can book up to 8 Yatris
Children under 10 need no separate pass
Book the instant your window opens during Deepotsav
Last Deepotsav, main-temple slots were reserved almost a month ahead. Don't assume you can register on arrival.
Ayodhya has its own railway station, Ayodhya Dham Junction, and airport, Maharishi Valmiki International Airport (AYJ). The fastest train is the Vande Bharat Express (22426), leaving Anand Vihar at 6:10 AM, covering 628 km in 8 hours 20 minutes. IndiGo flies Delhi-Ayodhya in roughly 1 hour 15 minutes, landing 10 km from Ram Ki Paidi.
| Mode | Duration | Approx. Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vande Bharat Express (22426) | ~8h20m | ₹1,570 (Chair Car) – ₹2,915 (Executive) | Fastest train; same-day travel possible |
| Regular Express (14205/14206) | ~11h | ₹500-1,200 | Overnight sleeper option |
| Flight (Delhi–AYJ) | ~1h15m | ₹3,500-9,000+ in festival week | Book 6-8 weeks ahead for Deepotsav |
| Private taxi / self-drive | ~10-12h | Varies with vehicle | Door-to-door, flexible stops |
If pilgrimage detours interest you, see our Delhi to Mathura-Vrindavan darshan guide for a route that pairs well with this trip.
Flying in for one night: early IndiGo flight, pre-booked airport taxi, straight to Ram Ki Paidi
Taking the train: the Vande Bharat Express can get you there and back the same day
Family or elders: a private taxi avoids station crowds and lets everyone rest before darshan
Budget travelers: regular express trains cost far less than festival-week flights
Avoid arriving without a hotel booked — rooms vanish fast during Deepotsav week. Also avoid assuming you can register for Sugam Darshan after landing; festival-period slots close early.
Ayodhya's hotel inventory is still catching up with demand, and Deepotsav is the year's biggest crowd spike. Dharamshalas like Shri Janaki Mahal Trust offer budget beds near Ram Ki Paidi, but fill first. If Ayodhya is sold out, Faizabad — 10 km away — is the practical backup.
Ram Ki Paidi's ghats run along the Saryu right behind Ram Mandir, and this is where the record diya count happens. The ghat area fills by around 4:30 PM, so arrive by 2:30 PM for a central view. Volunteers light diyas in synchronized patterns, then the Saryu Maha Aarti, drone show and hologram projection follow after dark.
Public viewing points line both banks of the Saryu near Ram Ki Paidi
Carry a torch or phone light — walkways get dim once diyas are lit
November evenings are cool; carry a light jacket
Keep your Sugam Darshan pass and photo ID on you
Police run pedestrian-only zones and one-way diversions near Ram Path and Ram Ki Paidi, so private vehicles stop well short of the ghats. Networks get congested at peak hours — screenshot your darshan pass and hotel booking instead of relying on live data. Keep children and elders in sight, and fix a meeting point.
Staying within walking distance of Ram Path or Ram Ki Paidi saves you the worst traffic diversions, even at a higher price. Dharamshalas suit budget Yatris comfortable with shared rooms. Prefer staging from Delhi instead? Our guide to basing yourself in Delhi before a yatra covers that, and our Delhi yatra planner helps decide if this fits a weekend.
Deepotsav 2026 rewards planning more than any other Ayodhya trip on the calendar. Lock your darshan pass and hotel first, and let the diyas do the rest. Jai Shri Ram.
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