Dashrath Mahal (Bada Asthan)
Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh · temple
- Days OpenOpen daily
- Entry FeeFree Entry
Dashrath Mahal, also called Dashrath Bhawan and — in the living vocabulary of Ayodhya's pilgrim lanes — Bada Asthan (the "great seat"), is cherished as the spot where King Dashrath of Kosala held his royal court and where Lord Ram spent his childhood with his brothers Lakshman, Bharat and Shatrughan. First-time visitors sometimes expect a sprawling palace; what they find instead is an intimate, warmly ornamented temple complex threaded into the heart of the Ramkot neighbourhood, a short walk from Hanuman Garhi and Kanak Bhavan. Its bright saffron-and-cream façade, painted with images from the Ramayana, opens into a courtyard and a central sanctum where the deities of Shri Ram, Sita, Lakshman, Bharat and Shatrughan are enshrined and lovingly adorned each day.
Where to Eat Nearby
- ✦Ram Rasoi / temple bhandaras around Ramkot – free, freshly cooked pure-vegetarian meals for pilgrims; timings vary, so confirm on arrival.
- ✦Sweet and kachori stalls along the Hanuman Garhi lanes (5-minute walk) – hot kachori-sabzi, jalebi with dahi, and fresh peda; this is an entirely vegetarian bazaar, but confirm freshness at the stall.
- ✦Kanak Bhavan area eateries (nearby) – simple pure-vegetarian thalis and chaat catering to pilgrims; verify pure-veg status on arrival.
- ✦Local peda and khurchan shops near Chowk – Ayodhya's signature milk sweets; a dependable pure-vegetarian option, best bought fresh.
About
Dashrath Mahal, also called Dashrath Bhawan and — in the living vocabulary of Ayodhya's pilgrim lanes — Bada Asthan (the "great seat"), is cherished as the spot where King Dashrath of Kosala held his royal court and where Lord Ram spent his childhood with his brothers Lakshman, Bharat and Shatrughan.
- First-time visitors sometimes expect a sprawling palace; what they find instead is an intimate, warmly ornamented temple complex threaded into the heart of the Ramkot neighbourhood, a short walk from Hanuman Garhi and Kanak Bhavan.
- Its bright saffron-and-cream façade, painted with images from the Ramayana, opens into a courtyard and a central sanctum where the deities of Shri Ram, Sita, Lakshman, Bharat and Shatrughan are enshrined and lovingly adorned each day.
- The temple is one of the principal seats of the Ramanandi Sampradaya, the great Vaishnava devotional order that shapes so much of Ayodhya's spiritual life, and it functions as a Bada Asthan — a senior monastic establishment whose resident sadhus sustain an unbroken cycle of worship.
- This inheritance gives the shrine its most distinctive quality: an almost continuous current of bhajan and kirtan.
- Through much of the day the courtyard resonates with the names of Ram sung to harmonium, dholak and jhika (cymbals), and pilgrims often linger simply to sit within that sound.
- The morning and evening aartis, with their swaying lamps and ringing bells, are the emotional high points of a visit.
- Dashrath Mahal sits squarely on the Ayodhya Parikrama circuit, and its central location makes it an easy, unhurried stop between the town's better-known shrines.
- Darshan is open to all, and the atmosphere is gentle and unpretentious rather than grand.
- As at every Ayodhya temple, simple courtesies apply: remove your shoes at the entrance, dress modestly with shoulders and knees covered, keep phones silent during aarti, and ask before photographing the sanctum.
- For vegetarian travellers, Dashrath Mahal sits in the purest of settings — Ayodhya is a strictly vegetarian, alcohol-free holy town, and the surrounding Ramkot lanes are entirely meat-free.
- Devotees receive tulsi-scented charanamrit and simple prasad, while just outside, stalls sell kachori-sabzi, hot jalebi with dahi, and Ayodhya's beloved milk pedas.
- Combined with the temple's devotional music, it makes for one of the town's most quietly nourishing pilgrim experiences.
Timings & Entry Fee
Verified: August 2026
Location & How to Reach
Address
Ramkot mohalla, Chowk–Ayodhya Road, near Hanuman Garhi, Ayodhya, Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, 224123
How to Reach: In Ramkot mohalla, a 5-minute walk from Hanuman Garhi and close to Kanak Bhavan and the Ram Janmabhoomi temple — easily done on foot within the temple cluster. From Ayodhya Dham Junction railway station (about 2 km), an auto-rickshaw or e-rickshaw costs roughly ₹40–70; the Chowk area is the nearest drop point, from where it is a short walk through the bazaar lanes. Ayodhya Airport is about 12–15 km away by taxi.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the timings of Dashrath Mahal (Bada Asthan) in Ayodhya?
Dashrath Mahal is generally open in two sessions — reported around 8:00 AM to 12:00 noon and 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM daily — with aarti in the morning and evening. Timings can shift on festival days such as Ram Navami, so it is best to confirm locally. Early morning, around 8:00–10:00 AM, is the calmest time for darshan.
Is there an entry fee for Dashrath Mahal?
No, entry is free. Dashrath Mahal is an active Ramanandi temple open to all devotees and visitors, with no admission ticket. As with other Ayodhya temples, you may leave a voluntary offering if you wish, but nothing is required.
Why is it called Dashrath Mahal and Bada Asthan?
It is revered as the site of King Dashrath's royal residence, where Lord Ram spent his childhood with his brothers — hence 'Dashrath Mahal.' It is also known as 'Bada Asthan,' meaning the 'great seat,' because it is one of the principal establishments of the Ramanandi Sampradaya, whose resident sadhus maintain continuous worship here.
What can you see and experience at Dashrath Mahal?
The central sanctum enshrines Shri Ram, Sita, Lakshman, Bharat and Shatrughan, set within a warmly painted courtyard temple decorated with scenes from the Ramayana. Its most distinctive feature is the almost continuous bhajan and kirtan sung by the resident Ramanandi devotees, which fills the courtyard through much of the day. The morning and evening aartis, with lamps and bells, are the highlights.
How do I reach Dashrath Mahal and what else is nearby?
It sits in the Ramkot neighbourhood, a five-minute walk from Hanuman Garhi and close to Kanak Bhavan and the Ram Janmabhoomi temple, so it is easily combined with them on foot. From Ayodhya Dham Junction railway station (about 2 km) an auto or e-rickshaw is roughly ₹40–70 to the Chowk area, from where you walk in through the bazaar lanes.
Where can I eat vegetarian food near Dashrath Mahal?
Ayodhya is a strictly vegetarian, alcohol-free town, so the whole Ramkot area is meat-free. Pilgrims can look for the free Ram Rasoi and temple bhandaras nearby (timings vary, confirm on arrival), while the Hanuman Garhi lanes have pure-vegetarian stalls serving kachori-sabzi, jalebi with dahi, and fresh peda and khurchan. Confirm freshness at each stall as you go.
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