Gateway to the Ram Mandir
Ayodhya railway station, officially renamed Ayodhya Dham Junction on 27 December 2023, is the main station for pilgrims to the city of Lord Ram. Its code remains AY. The station stands at Dharmakata, about 1.5 km south-west of the city centre and about 1.2 km from the Ram Mandir. It belongs to the Northern Railway's Lucknow division and is among the top hundred booking stations of Indian Railways.
An old station, reborn
The station first opened in 1874 and is counted among the oldest railway stations in India. Its original building covered about 940 square metres. To prepare for the crowds expected after the temple's consecration, it was completely rebuilt:
- Design: inspired by the Ram Mandir and traditional Hindu temple architecture.
- 30 December 2023: the first phase is inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
- Cost: about ₹131.97 crore for phase one and ₹307 crore for phase two.
- Size: a new building of about 100,000 sq ft, with the second phase planned to include India's biggest station concourse, about 78,000 sq ft.
- Capacity: raised from 50,000–60,000 to more than 100,000 passengers a day.
- Rating: GRIHA 3-star for green building design.
Trains to Ayodhya
About 64 trains pass through. Ayodhya Dham is served by several Vande Bharat Express routes, including Anand Vihar Terminal–Ayodhya, Gorakhpur–Prayagraj and Meerut City–Varanasi. It also saw the launch of the first Amrit Bharat Express, Darbhanga–Anand Vihar Terminal. The station currently has 3 platforms, being expanded to 5.
Frequently asked questions
What is the new name of Ayodhya railway station?
Ayodhya Dham Junction, adopted on 27 December 2023. The code is still AY.
How far is the station from the Ram Mandir?
About 1.2 km.
Which Vande Bharat trains stop at Ayodhya?
Services include Anand Vihar Terminal–Ayodhya, Gorakhpur–Prayagraj and Meerut City–Varanasi.
Timings for AY are on our train schedule page; Lucknow is the nearest big rail hub.