Visiting the Ram Mandir, Ayodhya: free passes, aarti timings and official channels
The temple trust says it charges no fee for darshan or aarti passes. Its published free darshan slots, the three aarti times, where to reserve a pass, and how to avoid anyone selling 'VIP' entry.
About 5 min read
Checked by an AI-assisted fact-check on 18 October 2026. Human review by Abhishek Kumar: pending.
How do darshan and aarti passes work at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya? The temple's trust, Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra, says plainly on its website: "Trust does not charge any fee for aarti & darshan passes." Free passes are reserved through the trust's own booking portal, linked from its homepage. The trust publishes free darshan slots from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. in blocks of one to two hours, with a break around midday. It lists three aartis you can attend free with a pass: Mangal Aarti at 4:00 a.m., Shringar Aarti at 6:00 a.m. and Shayan Aarti at 10:00 p.m. The trust notes that these timings are reflected in booking receipts from 18 April 2026 (all checked on the trust's website, 18 Oct 2026). Anyone asking you to pay for a pass or "VIP entry" is not the trust.
The published timings
The trust's website lists these under "Latest Notifications" (checked 18 Oct 2026):
| Free darshan slots | Free aarti darshan |
|---|---|
| 7:00 – 9:00 a.m. | Mangal Aarti: 4:00 a.m. |
| 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. | Shringar Aarti: 6:00 a.m. |
| 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon | Shayan Aarti: 10:00 p.m. |
| 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. | |
| 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. | |
| 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. | |
| 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. |
Two things to notice:
- There is no slot between noon and 1:00 p.m. in the published list. Plan around that hour.
- Timings can change. The trust attached an "Important Notification" that these timings apply in booking receipts from 18 April 2026. It may revise them again, especially around festivals. Check the homepage close to your visit, and go by the time printed on your own pass.
Reserving a free pass
- Start from the trust's site, srjbtkshetra.org. The homepage has a link to "Reserve your Free Passes for experiencing Aarti & Darshan of Ramlalla". It leads to online.srjbtkshetra.org, which describes itself as the trust's "Official Booking Portal".
- Choose a darshan slot or an aarti. Passes are tied to a time, so pick one you can realistically reach.
- Read the instructions on the pass. The trust's own reminder is to "carefully follow the instructions provided on the pass". Those instructions, not general advice online, are what the gate staff will apply.
We have not described the portal's screens or the details it asks for, because they can change. If you have trouble, use the trust's helpdesk below rather than a third party.
Avoiding paid-pass scams
Because the trust charges nothing for darshan and aarti passes, any request for money for a pass is a warning sign. This includes "VIP darshan", "fast-track" or "special entry" offers on WhatsApp, social media or websites that look official.
- Documented warnings. Around the temple's consecration in January 2024, the Government of India's Cyber Dost handle warned that fraudsters might offer fake VIP entry passes. It told people not to click suspicious links or pay unknown numbers or websites, as WION reported.
- Check the address. The trust's addresses are srjbtkshetra.org and online.srjbtkshetra.org. A lookalike name or a link from a stranger is not good enough. Our guide to fake temple booking sites has a short checklist.
- Donations are separate from passes. The trust accepts voluntary donations through its site, but no donation is needed to reserve a free darshan or aarti pass.
- If you have been cheated, call the national cybercrime helpline 1930 or report at cybercrime.gov.in.
Contacting the trust
The trust's website lists these channels (checked 18 Oct 2026):
- Devotee Helpdesk: open daily, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Helpdesk numbers and toll-free number: listed at the foot of the trust's homepage.
- Office: Mandir Nirman Karyashala, Ramghat Chauraha, near Manas Bhawan, Ayodhya. Office hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., all days.
We have not copied the phone numbers here. Take them from the trust's own page, so that you always have the current ones.
Getting there
The trust's "How to reach" page says Ayodhya is served by two railway stations, Ayodhya Junction and Faizabad Junction, and by Uttar Pradesh state transport buses. It gives road distances of about 130 km from Lucknow, 200 km from Varanasi and 636 km from Delhi. It names Lucknow and Gorakhpur as nearby airports. Check flight and train options separately, as the trust's page may not list every current service.
About the temple
The trust's "Main Temple" page gives these figures:
- Size: 360 feet long and 235 feet wide.
- Height: 161 feet including the spire.
- Floors: three, each 20 feet high.
- Gates: 12.
Nearby temples the trust lists
The trust's "Places to see" page includes several of Ayodhya's older shrines, among them Hanumangarhi, Kanak Bhawan and the Nageshwarnath temple. Many visitors combine the Ram Mandir with these. Each has its own timings and customs, so check locally.
A short checklist
- Reserve a free pass on the trust's own portal, for a slot you can reach.
- Re-check the timings on the trust's homepage a day or two before you travel.
- Read and follow the instructions printed on your pass.
- Pay no one for a pass. Report anyone who asks.
- Keep the trust's helpdesk details from its homepage handy.
About this article: it is for general information only, researched from the public sources listed above. It may contain errors or leave out local customs, and it is not religious, medical, legal or financial advice. Practices vary by family, region and tradition, so please follow your family pandit's guidance. Spotted a mistake? Tell us on WhatsApp and we'll correct it.