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Faizabad and Ayodhya Travel Guide
Nestled by the banks of the Ghaghara River, the dusty and bustling town of Faizabad actually served as the capital of the ancient Avadh Kingdom. However, it is today almost an afterthought for many tourists in the area, opting instead to use it as a travel base for heading to its more popular sister city, Ayodhya. It does have a rich cultural heritage to offer, though, and passing travelers who have time to kill should try to check out the sights.
Probably its most arresting attraction is the grandiose Mausoleum of Bahu Begum that many consider to be the finest piece of architecture in the area. Built in 1816 by Nawab Suja-ud-Daula, it houses the remains of his wife and drew its inspiration from the famous Taj Mahal in Agra. Standing 42 meters high, it is made almost entirely out of marble and its construction cost around 300,000 rupees, a sum unheard of in those days.
There is also to be found the imposing Fort Calcutta which embellishes massive clay ramparts and a distinct Mughal-style architecture. Tourists can't go wrong heading to the Gulap Bari, a sprawling rose garden that contains the tomb of Suja-ud-Daula.
Ayodhya, on the other hand, is celebrated as the birthplace of the legendary figure Lord Rama, and thus is one of the seven holy cities in the Hindu belief. Found near the banks of the Sarya River, it brandishes a rich cultural heritage that makes it a popular destination for devotees and tourists alike.
The highlight in Ayodhya is Ramkot, which serves as the city's foremost place of worship. This ancient citadel truly comes alive during the Ram Navami, which is the day of the Lord's birth for the Hindus. Another is the Nageshwarnath Temple that is believed to have been erected by the Lord Rama's son himself, Khush. One can see inside a sculpture of Nagas worshipping the god Shiva. Visitors can also see the Treta ke Thakur, a temple said to contain idols of some Ramayana figures that had been carved out from a single massive block of sandstone.
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