Gulab Bari (Rose-Garden Tomb)
Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh · monument
- Days OpenOpen daily
- Entry FeeFree Entry
Gulab Bari — literally the "Garden of Roses" — is one of Faizabad's most graceful heritage monuments, a serene Nawabi-era tomb-garden laid out in the classic Charbagh (four-quarters) plan on the older, western side of the Ayodhya district. Commissioned in the mid-18th century by Nawab Shuja-ud-Daula, the third Nawab of Awadh, it enshrines his cenotaph alongside that of his mother within a double-storeyed mausoleum set at the garden's heart. The Nawab is said to have begun the tomb during his own lifetime, and it remains the most enduring reminder of Faizabad's brief but resplendent tenure as the capital of Awadh before the court shifted to Lucknow.
Where to Eat Nearby
- ✦Pure-vegetarian sweet shops in Ayodhya's temple town (about 20–30 minutes away) – dependable for kachori-sabzi, dahi-jalebi and milk-based mithai; confirm pure-veg on arrival.
- ✦Ram Rasoi / community bhandaras near the Ram Path in Ayodhya – simple, sattvic pure-vegetarian meals served to pilgrims; timings vary, so check locally.
- ✦Peda and khurchan counters around the Ayodhya bazaars – traditional pure-veg milk sweets; pick a clearly vegetarian outlet, as the Faizabad side has mixed kitchens.
- ✦Established vegetarian thali restaurants in central Ayodhya – confirm the kitchen is fully pure-veg before ordering.
About
Gulab Bari — literally the "Garden of Roses" — is one of Faizabad's most graceful heritage monuments, a serene Nawabi-era tomb-garden laid out in the classic Charbagh (four-quarters) plan on the older, western side of the Ayodhya district.
- Commissioned in the mid-18th century by Nawab Shuja-ud-Daula, the third Nawab of Awadh, it enshrines his cenotaph alongside that of his mother within a double-storeyed mausoleum set at the garden's heart.
- The Nawab is said to have begun the tomb during his own lifetime, and it remains the most enduring reminder of Faizabad's brief but resplendent tenure as the capital of Awadh before the court shifted to Lucknow.
- The monument takes its name from the rose bushes that once perfumed the quartered lawns, watered by a network of channels and fountains that radiate from the central platform in the Persian-Mughal garden tradition.
- Symmetrical water courses divide the enclosure into four green parterres, and the effect on a cool morning — birdsong, the play of light on still channels, and the low murmur of the fountains — is quietly restorative.
- The tomb itself is a fine study in the "assimilative" Awadhi style: an arched verandah wraps each face of the lower storey, while the upper level presents a three-arched façade flanked by slender minarets, the whole crowned by a broad dome finished with an inverted-lotus motif and a metal finial.
- Triple-arched gateways pierce the boundary walls, framing long axial views back to the mausoleum.
- Protected as a monument of national importance under the Archaeological Survey of India, Gulab Bari rewards unhurried wandering rather than a quick photo stop; heritage-minded travellers pair it easily with Faizabad's other Nawabi landmarks.
- Regarding food, no refreshments are sold inside the walled garden, and travellers keeping to TasteYatra's strictly vegetarian ethos should plan meals in advance: Faizabad's bazaars do include mixed kitchens, so it is safest to head toward Ayodhya's temple town or a verified pure-vegetarian sweet house for kachori-sabzi, dahi-jalebi, or milk-based mithai.
- Carry water, visit early to enjoy the gardens at their coolest, and treat the fountains and lawns with the same quiet respect you would any historic resting place.
Timings & Entry Fee
Verified: August 2026
Location & How to Reach
Address
Gulab Bari Road, Vaidehi Nagar, Faizabad (Ayodhya district), Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, 224001
How to Reach: Gulab Bari Road, Faizabad (Ayodhya district), Uttar Pradesh. From Ayodhya Dham railway station, an auto-rickshaw costs about ₹120–180 (20–30 minutes); from the Faizabad/Ayodhya Cantt side it is a short cycle-rickshaw or auto ride. Autos and cycle-rickshaws are readily available from most parts of the twin city.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the timings of Gulab Bari in Faizabad?
Gulab Bari is reported to be open roughly from 4:00 AM to 7:00 PM daily, year-round. As it is an Archaeological Survey of India monument, hours can shift seasonally, so it is worth confirming locally before you set out — early morning is the most pleasant time to walk the gardens.
Is there an entry fee for Gulab Bari?
Entry is generally free; no admission ticket is typically charged to walk the Charbagh garden and view the tomb. Fees at protected monuments can be introduced or revised, so please check at the gate. Photography is usually fine, but treat the site respectfully as a historic resting place.
How do I reach Gulab Bari?
Gulab Bari lies on Gulab Bari Road in Faizabad, within the Ayodhya district of Uttar Pradesh. From Ayodhya Dham railway station an auto-rickshaw takes about 20–30 minutes (roughly ₹120–180); from the Faizabad/Ayodhya Cantt side it is a short cycle-rickshaw or auto ride. Autos and cycle-rickshaws are easy to find across the twin city.
What is special about Gulab Bari and what can you see there?
Gulab Bari, the "Garden of Roses," is an 18th-century Nawabi tomb-garden built for Shuja-ud-Daula, the third Nawab of Awadh, who is buried here alongside his mother. You can see a classic Charbagh layout — four green quarters divided by water channels and fountains — surrounding a double-storeyed mausoleum with arched verandahs, a three-arched upper façade with minarets, and a dome topped by an inverted-lotus finial. Triple-arched gateways frame the axial views.
When is the best time to visit Gulab Bari?
October to March offers the most comfortable weather, and early morning is ideal — the gardens are coolest and quietest then, and you can enjoy the fountains and lawns before the day warms up. Carry water, and allow unhurried time to appreciate the garden layout and the tomb's architecture rather than rushing through.
Where can I eat vegetarian food near Gulab Bari?
No food is sold inside the walled garden. Because the Faizabad side has mixed kitchens, vegetarian travellers should head toward Ayodhya's temple town (about 20–30 minutes away), where pure-vegetarian sweet shops serve kachori-sabzi, dahi-jalebi and milk-based mithai, and community kitchens such as the Ram Rasoi and bhandaras near the Ram Path offer simple sattvic meals. Always confirm an outlet is fully pure-veg before ordering.
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