Tulsi Chaura
Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh · monument
- Days OpenOpen daily
- Entry FeeFree Entry
Tulsi Chaura is one of Ayodhya's gentlest and most contemplative landmarks — a modest raised plinth (chaura) venerated by pilgrims and lovers of devotional literature as the spot where Goswami Tulsidas is traditionally believed to have begun composing the Ramcharitmanas. Tradition holds that on Ram Navami — the ninth day of the bright fortnight of Chaitra, celebrated as the birthday of Lord Rama — in Vikram Samvat 1631 (1574 CE), the poet-saint set down the opening verses of his Awadhi retelling of the Ramayana here in Rama's birth-city. The word chaura denotes a low platform or terrace, and the site's very plainness is part of its appeal: there are no soaring spires here, only a quietly sanctified patch of ground where one of the most influential works of Indian devotional literature is said to have taken its first breath.
Where to Eat Nearby
- ✦Stalls around Ram Ki Paidi and Naya Ghat - kachori-sabzi, dahi-jalebi and hot samosas in an entirely vegetarian pilgrim quarter; pick a busy, freshly-cooked stall and confirm on arrival.
- ✦Sweet shops near Naya Ghat - traditional peda, khurchan and laddoo prasad sweets; pure-vegetarian by the norms of this temple town.
- ✦Ram Rasoi and bhandaras near Hanuman Garhi - free community kitchens serving simple pure-vegetarian meals to pilgrims; timings vary, so ask locally.
- ✦Small pure-veg thali eateries along the Ram Ki Paidi approach roads - dependable for a simple North Indian vegetarian meal; verify the menu is fully vegetarian when you sit down.
About
Tulsi Chaura is one of Ayodhya's gentlest and most contemplative landmarks — a modest raised plinth (chaura) venerated by pilgrims and lovers of devotional literature as the spot where Goswami Tulsidas is traditionally believed to have begun composing the Ramcharitmanas.
- Tradition holds that on Ram Navami — the ninth day of the bright fortnight of Chaitra, celebrated as the birthday of Lord Rama — in Vikram Samvat 1631 (1574 CE), the poet-saint set down the opening verses of his Awadhi retelling of the Ramayana here in Rama's birth-city.
- The word chaura denotes a low platform or terrace, and the site's very plainness is part of its appeal: there are no soaring spires here, only a quietly sanctified patch of ground where one of the most influential works of Indian devotional literature is said to have taken its first breath.
- The Ramcharitmanas — "the sacred lake of the deeds of Rama" — is beloved across northern India, its couplets and chaupais recited in homes, temples, and Ramlila grounds for more than four centuries.
- Tulsidas composed it in Awadhi rather than Sanskrit so that ordinary devotees could read and sing the story of Rama themselves.
- Structured in seven kands (Bala, Ayodhya, Aranya, Kishkindha, Sundara, Lanka and Uttara), the epic was, by tradition, begun in Ayodhya and continued at Varanasi and Chitrakoot.
- Standing at Tulsi Chaura, pilgrims connect that vast, familiar text to a single, humble, tangible place.
- The chaura sits within easy walking distance of Ram Ki Paidi's stepped ghats and close to the Tulsi Smarak Bhawan — a memorial institute established in 1969 that houses a research library devoted to the epic and hosts evening Manas recitation and Ramlila performances.
- Most visitors fold a short, reflective stop here into a wider old-Ayodhya circuit that takes in Nageshwarnath Temple, Kanak Bhawan and the Saryu ghats, pausing to remember the poet whose verses still echo through the city.
- For vegetarian travellers, Ayodhya is a strictly vegetarian and alcohol-free holy city, so the lanes around the site are entirely veg-friendly.
- Simple pilgrim fare — kachori-sabzi, dahi-jalebi, and local milk sweets such as peda and khurchan — is sold near the Naya Ghat and Ram Ki Paidi approaches, and free community kitchens (Ram Rasoi and bhandaras) serve pure-vegetarian meals to devotees.
- There is no food or ticket counter at the chaura itself; carry water and visit in the cooler morning or evening hours.
Timings & Entry Fee
Verified: August 2026
Location & How to Reach
Address
Near Ram Ki Paidi and the Tulsi Smarak Bhawan precinct, old Ayodhya (Naya Ghat side), Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, 224123
How to Reach: In old Ayodhya near Ram Ki Paidi and the Tulsi Smarak Bhawan, on the Naya Ghat side. From Ayodhya Dham Junction railway station it is about 2-3 km — an auto-rickshaw costs roughly 40-60 rupees (10 minutes). From Hanuman Garhi and the Ram Janmabhoomi area it is a short 1-2 km auto or e-rickshaw ride, easily combined with a Ram Ki Paidi and Nageshwarnath visit on foot. Ask locally for 'Tulsi Chaura' or 'Tulsi Smarak Bhawan', as the platform itself is unassuming.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Tulsi Chaura in Ayodhya?
Tulsi Chaura is a modest, revered platform (chaura) in old Ayodhya, near Ram Ki Paidi, that tradition associates with Goswami Tulsidas beginning the composition of the Ramcharitmanas. It is a quiet literary-heritage landmark rather than a large temple, and it connects the beloved Awadhi epic to a single tangible spot in Rama's birth-city.
When did Tulsidas begin writing the Ramcharitmanas here?
By tradition, Goswami Tulsidas began composing the Ramcharitmanas in Ayodhya on Ram Navami - the ninth day of the bright fortnight of Chaitra - in Vikram Samvat 1631, which corresponds to 1574 CE. The full epic was later continued at Varanasi and Chitrakoot, but its opening is remembered here.
Is there an entry fee for Tulsi Chaura?
No, there is no entry fee. Tulsi Chaura is an open, freely accessible site, and the nearby Tulsi Smarak Bhawan memorial institute is also generally free to visit. As always in Ayodhya, dress modestly and observe any local customs respectfully.
How do I reach Tulsi Chaura?
It lies in old Ayodhya near Ram Ki Paidi and the Tulsi Smarak Bhawan, on the Naya Ghat side. From Ayodhya Dham Junction railway station it is about 2-3 km (an auto-rickshaw is roughly 40-60 rupees), and it is a short ride or walk from Hanuman Garhi and the Saryu ghats. Ask locally for 'Tulsi Chaura' or 'Tulsi Smarak Bhawan', as the platform itself is small and easy to miss.
What can I combine with a visit to Tulsi Chaura?
It fits naturally into a walking circuit of old Ayodhya. Ram Ki Paidi's stepped ghats along the Saryu are a few minutes away, along with Nageshwarnath Temple and Kanak Bhawan. The adjacent Tulsi Smarak Bhawan hosts a research library on the Ramcharitmanas and evening Manas recitation or Ramlila - a fitting complement to the chaura.
Where can I eat vegetarian food near Tulsi Chaura?
Ayodhya is a strictly vegetarian holy city, so the whole area is veg-friendly. Stalls near Ram Ki Paidi and Naya Ghat serve kachori-sabzi, dahi-jalebi and fresh samosas, and local sweet shops offer peda, khurchan and laddoo. Free community kitchens (Ram Rasoi and bhandaras) near Hanuman Garhi serve simple pure-vegetarian meals; choose busy, freshly-cooked stalls and confirm on arrival.