Queen Heo Hwang-ok Memorial (Suriratna Park)
Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh · monument
- Days OpenOpen daily
- Entry FeeFree Entry
The Queen Heo Hwang-ok Memorial, set on the tranquil Saryu (Sarayu) riverfront near Ram Ki Paidi, honours one of the most remarkable threads binding Ayodhya to the wider world. According to a long-cherished Korean tradition preserved in the Samguk Yusa chronicle, a princess of Ayuta — widely identified with ancient Ayodhya — sailed east around 48 CE and married King Kim Suro, founder of the Gaya (Karak) kingdom in the Korean peninsula. She became Queen Heo Hwang-ok, and today several million Koreans of the Gimhae Kim and Heo lineages trace their ancestry to her. In modern Indian retellings she is affectionately called Princess Suriratna, a name popularised in recent literature. The memorial gives this shared heritage a quiet, dignified home on the banks of the river where the story is said to have begun.
Where to Eat Nearby
- ✦Stalls and mithai counters around Ram Ki Paidi – pure-vegetarian kachori-sabzi, dahi-jalebi and peda; entirely meat-free pilgrim quarter, though hygiene and exact stalls vary, so choose a busy counter and confirm on arrival.
- ✦Pure-veg bhojanalayas along the temple-town lanes (Ramkot / Naya Ghat side) – simple satvik thalis for pilgrims; verify the outlet is pure-vegetarian at the door before ordering.
- ✦Ram Rasoi / bhandara-style pilgrim kitchens near the temple precinct – free or nominal pure-vegetarian meals when operating; timings are irregular, so check locally.
- ✦Khurchan and peda shops in the old-town bazaar – Ayodhya's traditional pure-vegetarian sweets; a short rickshaw ride from the riverfront.
About
The Queen Heo Hwang-ok Memorial, set on the tranquil Saryu (Sarayu) riverfront near Ram Ki Paidi, honours one of the most remarkable threads binding Ayodhya to the wider world.
- According to a long-cherished Korean tradition preserved in the Samguk Yusa chronicle, a princess of Ayuta — widely identified with ancient Ayodhya — sailed east around 48 CE and married King Kim Suro, founder of the Gaya (Karak) kingdom in the Korean peninsula.
- She became Queen Heo Hwang-ok, and today several million Koreans of the Gimhae Kim and Heo lineages trace their ancestry to her.
- In modern Indian retellings she is affectionately called Princess Suriratna, a name popularised in recent literature.
- The memorial gives this shared heritage a quiet, dignified home on the banks of the river where the story is said to have begun.
- The site began as a modest monument inaugurated in 2001 by a visiting Korean delegation of historians and officials, and was later expanded into a landscaped riverside park.
- In November 2018, a foundation stone for its beautification was laid during a state cultural visit, and the memorial has since grown into a graceful garden precinct blending Korean and Indian design cues — pavilions, stone plaques narrating the legend, ornamental planting, and viewing points that open onto the slow-moving Saryu.
- It stands as a living emblem of cultural diplomacy, drawing Korean visitors who arrive each year to pay their respects to the queen they regard as a founding matriarch.
- For the traveller, this is a peaceful, reflective stop rather than a temple — a place to sit by the river, read the story panels, and absorb how deep and how old India's connections to East Asia run.
- It pairs naturally with an evening at nearby Ram Ki Paidi, where the ghats glow at dusk.
- Entry is free and the grounds are open air, so early morning or the golden hour before sunset are the loveliest times, when the light softens over the water and the crowds thin.
- Ayodhya is a strictly vegetarian holy city, and the lanes leading back toward Ram Ki Paidi and the temple quarter are lined with pure-vegetarian fare — hot kachori-sabzi, dahi-jalebi, creamy khurchan and peda, and the simple, satvik meals served to pilgrims.
- No food is sold within the memorial grounds, so plan to eat a short rickshaw ride away in the town, where the pilgrim kitchens and mithai counters keep everything meat-free and alcohol-free.
Timings & Entry Fee
Verified: August 2026
Location & How to Reach
Address
Saryu (Sarayu) riverfront near Ram Ki Paidi, Ayodhya, Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, 224123
How to Reach: On the Saryu (Sarayu) riverfront near Ram Ki Paidi, central Ayodhya. From Ayodhya Dham Junction railway station, an auto-rickshaw costs about ₹50–80 (10–15 minutes). From the Ram Janmabhoomi temple area it is a short 5–10 minute rickshaw ride or a pleasant riverside walk. E-rickshaws ply the temple-town circuit and can drop you near the Ram Ki Paidi ghats, from where the memorial is a brief stroll.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Queen Heo Hwang-ok and what is her connection to Ayodhya?
Korean tradition, recorded in the Samguk Yusa chronicle, holds that a princess of Ayuta — widely identified with ancient Ayodhya — travelled east around 48 CE and married King Kim Suro, founder of the Gaya (Karak) kingdom. She became Queen Heo Hwang-ok, and millions of Koreans of the Gimhae Kim and Heo lineages trace their ancestry to her. In India she is fondly called Princess Suriratna. The memorial marks this shared heritage on the Saryu riverfront where the story is said to have begun.
Is there an entry fee for the Queen Heo Hwang-ok Memorial?
No, entry is free. It is an open-air riverside memorial park near Ram Ki Paidi, accessible to all visitors with no admission ticket.
What are the timings of the memorial park?
As an open-air riverside park it is generally accessible during daylight hours — reported roughly 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM — but timings are informal rather than strictly ticketed, so it is best to confirm locally. Early morning and the golden hour before sunset are the most pleasant times to visit.
How do I reach the Queen Heo Hwang-ok Memorial in Ayodhya?
It sits on the Saryu (Sarayu) riverfront near Ram Ki Paidi in central Ayodhya. From Ayodhya Dham Junction railway station an auto-rickshaw costs about ₹50–80 and takes 10–15 minutes. From the Ram Janmabhoomi temple area it is a short 5–10 minute rickshaw ride or a riverside walk. E-rickshaws serving the temple-town circuit can drop you near the ghats.
What is there to see at the memorial and how long should I spend?
Expect a landscaped garden precinct blending Korean and Indian design — pavilions, stone plaques narrating the legend of the princess and King Kim Suro, ornamental planting, and viewing points over the slow-moving Saryu. It is a quiet, reflective stop rather than a temple; about 30 minutes is enough, and it pairs beautifully with a dusk visit to the nearby Ram Ki Paidi ghats.
Where can I eat vegetarian food near the memorial?
Ayodhya is a strictly vegetarian holy city, so the temple-town lanes around Ram Ki Paidi are entirely meat-free. Look for pure-vegetarian kachori-sabzi, dahi-jalebi, khurchan and peda at the bazaar counters, or a simple satvik thali at a pilgrim bhojanalaya. No food is sold inside the memorial grounds, so eat a short rickshaw ride away in town, and confirm an outlet is pure-vegetarian before ordering.
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