TL;DR — Varanasi to Ayodhya by taxi:
- Sedan fare → ₹3,820 one way · same-day return ₹5,240
- Included → fuel, Jaunpur toll (₹215), driver — fixed before you book
- Distance → 200 km via NH-31 (Jaunpur bypass), 4–5 hours
- Drop point → 800 m from the Ram Mandir security gate (faster than train + auto)
Travelling as a group? See our Ayodhya tempo traveller price list.
Also searched as: Banaras se Ayodhya taxi kiraya • वाराणसी से अयोध्या टैक्सी बुकिंग • अयोध्या राम मंदिर दर्शन टैक्सी • Kashi to Ayodhya cab booking
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Road distance (NH-31 bypass) | 200 km |
| Road distance (via Jaunpur city) | 219 km |
| Typical drive time | 4 to 5 hours |
| Route | Varanasi → Babatpur → Jaunpur bypass → Sultanpur → Faizabad → Ayodhya |
| Toll plazas | 1 (Jaunpur toll plaza — ₹215 car, ₹345 SUV) |
| Fuel cost estimate | ₹1,400–₹1,600 (one way, petrol car) |
| Taxi fare (sedan one-way) | ₹3,820 |
| Taxi fare (same-day return) | ₹5,240 |
Most Varanasi taxi drivers take this route — it's the fastest and avoids Jaunpur city traffic:
| Km from Varanasi | Landmark | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Varanasi hotel/airport pickup | Our drivers reach 15 min early |
| 18 | Babatpur bypass | Connects airport road to NH-31 |
| 55 | Jaunpur toll plaza | ₹215 (sedan) — included in our fare |
| 58 | Jaunpur bypass junction | Stay on bypass, don't enter city |
| 105 | Mariahu | Good chai/snack halt (Bhagwanpur dhaba) |
| 142 | Sultanpur bypass | Smooth 4-lane past this point |
| 175 | Faizabad bypass | 25 km to Ayodhya from here |
| 195 | Ayodhya outskirts | Traffic slows — police checkpoints |
| 200 | Naya Ghat parking / Lata Mangeshkar Chowk | Taxi drop point, 800 m walk to Ram Mandir gate |
Alternate route via Prayagraj: 280 km, 6-7 hours — only useful if combining Sangam + Ayodhya.
| Vehicle | Capacity | One-way fare | Same-day return | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sedan (Dzire/Etios) | 4 pax | ₹3,820 | ₹5,240 | Couples, solo, small families |
| Ertiga / 6-seater | 6 pax | ₹5,300 | ₹6,600 | Families with luggage |
| Innova | 7 pax | ₹5,900 | ₹7,400 | Larger families, elder comfort |
| Innova Crysta | 7 pax | ₹6,700 | ₹8,600 | Premium comfort on the highway |
| 12-seater Tempo | 12 pax | ₹9,400 | ₹14,500 | Groups, joint family |
| 17-seater Tempo | 17 pax | ₹10,200 | ₹15,500 | Large groups, wedding parties |
What's included: Toll (₹215), fuel, driver meals, pickup/drop.
What's extra: Parking at Ram Mandir (₹100–₹150), night halt charges if overnight (₹300 driver stay), state tax where applicable.
Tempo Traveller same-day return fares are all-inclusive — parking and state tax are already covered.
For exact group pricing, use the Ayodhya tempo traveller fare page.
Planning Ayodhya with Prayagraj in one trip? See the Kashi–Prayag–Ayodhya pilgrimage circuit.
| Factor | Train | Taxi |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ₹150–₹600 (sleeper to AC) | ₹3,820 fixed for the whole car |
| Travel time | 4–5 hrs (often delayed) | 4–5 hrs (door to door) |
| Pickup | You go to station | Picks you up from hotel/airport |
| Drop point | Ayodhya Junction (5 km from Ram Mandir) | 800 m from Ram Mandir gate |
| Return flexibility | Fixed train time | Leave whenever your darshan finishes |
| Luggage | You carry it | Stays safe in car |
| Elderly / kids | Station stairs, crowd | AC, comfortable, no transfers |
| Auto/rickshaw after arrival | ₹200–₹300 each way extra | Not needed |
Bottom line: If you're 2+ people, taxi per-head cost is close to AC train after adding auto transfers — but infinitely more convenient. For solo budget travellers, train wins.
| Train | Departs | Arrives | Duration | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Varanasi–Lucknow Intercity | 06:15 | 10:30 | 4h 15m | Express |
| Kashi Vishwanath Express | 17:10 | 21:00 | 3h 50m | Superfast |
| Sealdah–Lucknow Express | 08:25 | 12:40 | 4h 15m | Express |
Note: These run from Varanasi Junction. If you're near the airport, a taxi to the station itself takes 30–45 min.
| Day type | Expected queue | Best arrival time |
|---|---|---|
| Weekday (Mon-Thu) | 1–2 hours | 9:30–10:00 AM |
| Friday | 2–3 hours | 9:00 AM |
| Saturday/Sunday | 3–5 hours | 8:00 AM or earlier |
| Ram Navami / Festivals | 5–8 hours | Consider overnight stay |
| Long weekends | 4–6 hours | Avoid if possible |
Most same-day visitors also cover:
Yes — it's the most popular same-day trip from Kashi. Here's the optimised plan:
| Time | Plan |
|---|---|
| 5:30 AM | Leave Varanasi |
| 9:30–10:00 AM | Reach Ayodhya |
| 10:00 AM–12:00 PM | Ram Mandir darshan |
| 12:15–12:45 PM | Hanuman Garhi |
| 1:00–1:45 PM | Lunch |
| 2:00–2:45 PM | Kanak Bhavan |
| 3:00–3:30 PM | Dashrath Mahal (optional) |
| 3:30–4:00 PM | Leave Ayodhya |
| 8:00–9:00 PM | Reach Varanasi |
Tip: If your group includes elders or you want a relaxed pace, consider an overnight stay in Ayodhya. We can arrange pickup the next morning.
Your fare does not change based on where in Varanasi we collect you — the same fixed ₹3,820 applies whether you are at a ghat, a hotel, the airport or Sarnath:
| Pickup point | Sedan one-way | Same-day return | Pickup charge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Varanasi (Cantonment / Junction) | ₹3,820 | ₹5,240 | Included |
| Varanasi (Lanka / BHU area) | ₹3,820 | ₹5,240 | Included |
| Varanasi Airport (VNS) | ₹3,820 | ₹5,240 | Included |
| Varanasi (Assi Ghat) | ₹3,820 | ₹5,240 | Included |
| Sarnath | ₹3,820 | ₹5,240 | Included |
बनारस से अयोध्या का किराया सेडान में ₹3,820 एक तरफ और ₹5,240 सेम-डे रिटर्न है — इसमें पेट्रोल, टोल और ड्राइवर शामिल हैं, और वाराणसी में कहीं से भी पिकअप मुफ़्त है।
All fares are for the NH-31 Jaunpur bypass route and include the ₹215 toll.
Tell us your travel date and group size and we will confirm your fixed fare in writing:
| Season | Months | Temperature | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter (best) | Nov–Feb | 8–22°C | Most comfortable for travel and darshan |
| Spring | Mar–Apr | 22–35°C | Good, mornings pleasant |
| Monsoon | Jul–Sep | 25–35°C + rain | Road ok, but Saryu floods — check before going |
| Summer | May–Jun | 35–45°C | Hot — start very early, carry water |
Avoid: Ram Navami week (queue 5-8 hours), Independence Day & Republic Day weekends.
Some travellers want to combine Sangam at Prayagraj with Ram Mandir at Ayodhya. This is a 2-day plan, not same-day:
| Leg | Distance | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Varanasi → Prayagraj | 121 km | 2.5–3 hrs |
| Prayagraj → Ayodhya | 170 km | 3.5–4 hrs |
| Ayodhya → Varanasi (direct) | 200 km | 4–5 hrs |
| Total circuit | 491 km | 2 days minimum |
Fare for circuit: Sedan ₹9,500–₹11,000 (including overnight driver halt charges).
See our Varanasi-Ayodhya-Prayagraj pilgrimage package for curated itineraries.
Stay overnight if:
Budget stays near Ram Mandir: ₹800–₹1,500/night (dharamshalas and guesthouses near Naya Ghat).
No hidden charges. No surge pricing. Fixed fare confirmed at booking.
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