A Divine Pilgrimage to Ayodhya Dham: Our Experience at Shri Ram Janmabhoomi

 

I am delighted to share that my wife and I had the profound privilege of visiting the sacred Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra in Ayodhya on Sunday, 27th September 2026. It was a journey filled with deep devotion, peace, and unforgettable moments. (We were in Ayodhya from 26th evening to 29th September afternoon)

Divine Darshans at the Sanctum Sanctorum

Our pilgrimage offered us close and deeply satisfying darshans of Balak Ram (Ram Lalla) as well as the magnificent Ram Darbar - where Lord Rama is seated gracefully on a throne alongside Sita Devi, surrounded by His brothers and Lord Hanuman.

• Morning Darshans: We arrived early in the morning and availed wheelchair assistance for our first darshan. The experience was so surreal that right after stepping out, we walked back a few steps and re-entered the garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum) for a second darshan, before proceeding to pay our respects at the Ram Darbar.
• Night Sayan Aarti: The highlight of our visit came at night. We spent around 30 minutes inside the sanctum sanctorum during the Sayan Aarti. For 16 blissful minutes, the curtains remained open, allowing us to sit right in front of Balak Ram. Surrounded by fellow devotees, we chanted aloud:

“Sri Ram, Jai Ram, Jai Jai Ram”

The spiritual energy in the air was electric and deeply moving.

After the next ten photographs of the temple premises, you will find information about the sacred sites in and around Ayodhya, along with photographs of these revered places. And towards the end of this article, you can read a detailed account of the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple.

Exploring the Sacred Places in and Around Ayodhya

During the rest of our stay, we journeyed across Ayodhya and nearby places to visit several historically and spiritually significant sites:

1. Hanuman Garhi Mandir

Perched atop a hill accessed by 76 steps, this 10th-century temple shrine is dedicated to Lord Hanuman, who is believed to guard Ayodhya. Tradition holds that devotees must visit Hanuman Garhi before seeking the blessings of Lord Rama.

2. Amawa Ram Mandir (Ram Rasoi)

Located very close to the Ram Janmabhoomi complex, this peaceful temple is renowned for its serene ambience, daily distribution of Ram Prasadam, and beautifully maintained shrines.

3. Mani Parvat Mandir

Rising about 65 feet high, Mani Parvat offers panoramic views of Ayodhya. Legend has it that this mound formed when a portion of the Sanjeevani Booti hill fell here while Lord Hanuman was carrying it to Lanka.

4. Surya Kund Mandir

A tranquil solar pond and temple dedicated to the Sun God (Surya Dev). According to belief, Lord Surya rested here during the grand celebrations following Lord Rama's return to Ayodhya.

5. Nandigram – The Land of Bharata’s Devotion

About 20 km from Ayodhya lies Nandigram, one of the most poignant places associated with the Ramayana. It was here that Bharata, refusing to occupy the throne of Ayodhya during Lord Rama’s fourteen-year exile, lived a life of austerity and devotion. When Rama entrusted his Padukas (sacred sandals) to Bharata, Bharata placed them on the throne and ruled the kingdom only as Rama’s representative. Nandigram is traditionally regarded as the place where he spent the years awaiting Rama’s return.

The principal attraction is Bharat Kund, a sacred water body associated with Bharata’s prayers and rituals. Nearby are Bharat Mandir, Charan Paduka Mandir, Bharat Gufa, and the shrine commemorating the meeting of Bharata and Hanuman. The sacred precincts also include an ancient Vat Vriksha (banyan tree), 27 Tirthas / Sacred Well, all traditional places associated with Bharata’s life at Nandigram.

6. Guptar Ghat

Situated along the banks of the sacred Sarayu River, Guptar Ghat is the revered location where Lord Rama is believed to have taken Jal Samadhi to return to His heavenly abode (Vaikuntha).

7. Chhoti Devkali Mandir

An ancient temple dedicated to Goddess Devkali, the clan deity (Kuldevi) of the Ikshvaku dynasty. According to legend, Mata Sita brought an idol of Goddess Kali to Ayodhya after her marriage to Lord Rama and worshipped here regularly.

8. Shri Nageshwar Nath Mandir

Situated near Ram Ki Paidi, this revered Shiva temple is believed to have been established by Lord Rama’s son, Kush, for a Nag Kanya (serpent maiden) who fell in love with him after retrieving his lost armlet from the Sarayu River.

9. Shri Kale Ram Mandir

A unique and historic temple located near the Sarayu River, housing rare idols of Lord Rama, Sita Devi, Lakshmana, Bharata, Shatrughna, and Lord Hanuman carved out of a single black basalt stone (Shaligram).

10. Ram Ki Paidi

A majestic series of interconnected ghats along the Sarayu River, beautifully illuminated in the evenings. It serves as a major focal point for pilgrims, cultural gatherings, and the grand annual Deepotsav celebrations.

11. Sarayu Ghat

The primary sacred riverfront along the Sarayu River where devotees gather to take a holy dip (snan), perform religious rituals, and soak in the divine tranquility of Ayodhya Dham.

12. Lata Mangeshkar Chowk

A grand modern landmark at a key intersection in Ayodhya, dedicated to the legendary singer Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar. It features an impressive 40-foot, 14-tonne bronze Veena set within a beautifully landscaped square accompanied by her devotional chants.

13. Kanak Bhawan

Popularly known as the "House of Gold," this magnificent palace-temple was gifted to Mata Sita by Queen Kaikeyi following her marriage to Lord Rama. The temple inner sanctum houses beautifully adorned deities wearing ornate gold crowns.

14. Dashrath Mahal

Located in the heart of Ayodhya, this historic royal palace marks the residence of King Dasharatha where Lord Rama and his brothers spent their childhood days.

15. Sarayu Aarti

A soul-stirring devotional ceremony held every evening along the banks of the Sarayu River, where priests perform grand synchronized lamp offerings accompanied by Vedic chants, ringing bells, and floating diyas.

16. Laser Show at Surya Kund

A captivating evening light-and-sound spectacle held over the waters of Surya Kund, utilizing water-screen projections and vibrant lasers to illustrate the epic life journey of Lord Rama and the glorious history of Ayodhya.

Dearest Sister, May Your Birthday Be Filled with Joy!

Dearest Sister, 🌹

On your special day, I wish you a very Happy Birthday! 🎂🎉

May your life always shine bright and beautiful like gold ✨💛, and may every day bring you reasons to smile. 😊🌸

Wishing you good health, happiness, peace and countless wonderful moments in the year ahead. 🌷🌟

And many happy returns of the day! 🎁🥳❤️

 

Happy Engineers Day!

🛠️ Happy Engineer’s Day! ⚙️

​To all the brilliant engineers in the family! 🎓✨

🇮🇳 8 in India

🇺🇸 2 in the USA

👨‍🎓 2 upcoming engineering graduates

💯 12 in total! (Hope I’m not wrong! 😉)

​Now, if I ask you to name all 12... I wonder if it would be easy for you?! 🤔 Challenge accepted? 🧠⚡

(This is my WhatsApp post in our Family Group yesterday, on the occasion of Engineers Day)

Good Morning from the Heart of the Twin Cities!

 

As dawn awakens over Necklace Road,
And golden rays gently light the way,
The bustling city seems to pause,
And welcome softly a brand-new day.

The roads lie quiet, the traffic is still,
Green trees whisper in the morning breeze,
Flowers bloom in colours bright,
As though nature herself is at ease.

Beside us, Hussain Sagar glistens and shines,
Reflecting the warmth of the rising sun,
And for a while, in this peaceful place,
The worries of the world seem gone.

Here, in the heart of the Twin Cities,
Where Hyderabad and Secunderabad meet,
Amidst the bustle of everyday life,
Serenity makes its retreat.

So let the morning fill your heart
With peace, with hope, with light anew.
May every moment of this beautiful day,
Bring happiness and blessings to you.

Happy Sri Krishna Janmashtami/Krishnashtami/ Gokulashtami – 2026!

 

Wishing my wonderful family and friends a very blessed day. May Lord Krishna fill your life with happiness, peace, prosperity and countless beautiful moments. Happy Sri Krishna Janmashtami/Krishnashtami/Gokulashtami! 🙏🪈🦚🪷👣

- N. Raghu

శ్రీకృష్ణుడు చల్లని దీవెనలతో మీకు సకల శుభాలు జరగాలని ఆశిస్తూ మీకు మీ కుటుంబ సభ్యులకు జన్మాష్టమి శుభాకాంక్షలు! 🙏🪈🦚🪷

Happy Sri Krishna Janmashtami! 🙏🪈🦚🪷

- N. Lalitha Raghu

Onam Celebration 2026!

 

🙏 HAPPY ONAM 🌸🌼

As the aroma of Onam Sadhya 🍲🍛🍌 fills the air 🌿,

may your life be filled with the fragrance 🌸 of success ✨ and contentment 🪔🎉🚣‍♂️ - LaRa ❤️

Enjoyed a sumptuous Onam Sadhya at home, ordered from Dakshin Restaurant, ITC Kakatiya Hotel. Though many of the names were new to me, I relished every bite. The spread included:

Sambaram (spiced buttermilk)

Payaru Thoran (stir‑fried green gram with coconut)

Kootu Curry (vegetable and legume curry)

Avial (mixed vegetables in coconut‑yogurt sauce)

Olan (ash gourd and cowpeas in coconut milk)

Kalan (yam and raw banana in yogurt‑coconut gravy)

Erissery (pumpkin and beans with coconut)

Murungakkai Sambar (drumstick lentil stew)

Thakkali Rasam (tomato rasam)

Kaithachakka Pachadi (pineapple yogurt relish)

Kuthari Choru (red rice)

Parippu Pradhaman (dal‑jaggery dessert)

Pal Ada Payasam (milk‑rice flakes pudding)

With accompaniments that completed the feast:

Kaya Varuthathu (banana chips)

Sharkara Upperi (jaggery‑coated banana chips)

Puli Inji (ginger‑tamarind chutney)

Naranga Achar (lemon pickle)

Pappadam

And a few other items like Beetroot chutney, boiled rice, red rice, etc.

KAVACH – The Armour That Protects Our Trains

 

KAVACH - Indian Railways' Automatic Train Protection System

During my morning walks on Necklace Road (Hyderabad), I often see several trains passing along the adjacent railway tracks in either direction. At times, one train comes to a halt while another is allowed to pass. The tracks run remarkably close to the road, and because of this, I can often read the signboards on the coaches and even identify the type and number of the locomotives as they pass.

Having travelled by different trains on this route, and living not far from this track area (< 800 m, aerial distance), I have always been curious about this important railway junction that I pass by during my walks - Hussain Sagar Junction.

The accompanying photograph gives an aerial view of this fascinating piece of railway infrastructure.

Hussain Sagar Junction is situated between Sanjeevaiah Park and Necklace Road railway stations, close to the northern end of Hussain Sagar Lake. It is not a conventional passenger station with platforms; it is essentially a junction cabin and railway operating point, where train movements are regulated through a complicated arrangement of tracks, points and signals.

Looking at the topmost aerial photograph, one can understand why this is such an important location. You can clearly see the layout of train tracks in three different directions and the Hussain Sagar Junction Cabin.

The tracks form something like a triangle, allowing trains to move between Secunderabad, Hyderabad, and Begumpet/Lingampally in different directions.

A train travelling from Secunderabad towards Hyderabad proceeds through Sanjeevaiah Park and Necklace Road. Another movement from Secunderabad towards Begumpet takes a different route after Sanjeevaiah Park, while trains travelling from Hyderabad towards Begumpet take another route after Necklace Road.

Thus, what may appear to a casual observer to be merely a collection of parallel railway lines is actually a carefully interconnected railway network. Trains can be diverted from one line to another through points and crossings, while signals and interlocking equipment ensure that conflicting routes are not simultaneously authorised.

The traffic here is substantial. Every day, numerous passenger, suburban and long-distance trains move through these tracks, connecting Hyderabad and Secunderabad with destinations across Telangana and with cities and towns throughout India. With so many trains moving through a relatively confined area, the safe regulation of every movement becomes extremely important.

That brings me to a fascinating piece of technology which is present at this location - KAVACH.

The above photograph shows the marking - Kavach Equipment, Hussain Sagar, close to the Hussain Sagar Junction Cabin.

The word Kavach means “armour” in several Indian languages. It is a very appropriate name for India's indigenous Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system.

KAVACH was developed by the Research Designs & Standards Organisation (RDSO) of Indian Railways in collaboration with Indian industry. It was adopted as India's National Automatic Train Protection system in July 2020. Its purpose is simple to describe, although the technology behind it is highly sophisticated:

If a train is moving towards danger, KAVACH is designed to help prevent an accident by warning the locomotive pilot and, when necessary, automatically applying the brakes.

It provides an additional layer of protection to the normal railway signalling and operating procedures. The locomotive pilot continues to remain responsible for operating the train safely; KAVACH acts as an additional safety guardian.

To understand KAVACH, imagine that the railway track itself is continuously communicating with the train.

Several components work together:

1. Trackside equipment

Special RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tags are installed at carefully determined locations along the railway track, including station areas, points, signals, and block sections.

When a KAVACH-equipped locomotive passes over these tags, its onboard equipment reads them. This enables the system to establish the train's precise position and other relevant track information.

2. Station and signalling equipment

At a junction such as Hussain Sagar, the railway signalling and interlocking systems know which tracks are occupied, which points are set, which routes have been established and what aspects the signals are displaying.

The stationary KAVACH system receives this information and communicates the relevant information to KAVACH equipment on the locomotive. In modern KAVACH installations, the system can interface directly with electronic interlocking systems and communicate between stations through optical-fibre networks.

3. Equipment on the locomotive

The locomotive has its own KAVACH equipment, including radio communication and a computerised system that continuously monitors the train's location, speed and movement authority.

The system can determine how far the train is permitted to travel and at what speed. It can then calculate a safe braking profile.

So, while the Loco Pilot is driving the train, KAVACH is effectively keeping a second, electronic watch on the train's movement.

Suppose a train is approaching a signal showing RED – Stop.

Normally, the Loco Pilot sees the signal and applies the brakes appropriately.

But if the train continues towards the danger signal and the system determines that intervention is required, KAVACH can warn the Loco Pilot and ultimately apply the train's brakes automatically.

This is particularly important in preventing Signal Passing At Danger (SPAD) - one of the serious risks in railway operation.

KAVACH also helps enforce speed restrictions. If a train is travelling faster than the permitted speed and the Loco Pilot does not take corrective action, the system can intervene automatically. It can also assist during poor visibility, including situations where line-side signals may be difficult for a driver to see.

In other words, KAVACH does not replace the Loco Pilot. It is an electronic safety net beneath the Loco Pilot.

Why is it particularly important at Hussain Sagar?

This is where my morning observations become more meaningful.

When I stand on Necklace Road and watch one train slow down while another moves through the junction, I am actually watching the result of a very elaborate system of signalling, interlocking, points, track circuits and train-detection technology working together.

At Hussain Sagar, the complicated triangular arrangement of tracks makes the correct setting of routes particularly important. A train cannot simply be allowed to proceed because the track ahead appears clear. The complete route has to be checked so that another train is not authorised to enter a conflicting movement.

KAVACH adds another layer of protection to this process.

The system is designed to know where a train is, what its permitted movement is, what the signals are displaying, and whether the train is complying with the prescribed speed and movement authority.

Thus, the little railway cabin that we can see beside the tracks is part of a much larger technological system – one that combines traditional railway signalling with computers, radio communication, RFID technology, electronic interlocking and sophisticated safety logic.

And KAVACH itself is evolving.

What I find particularly interesting is that KAVACH is not a technology that was installed once and then simply forgotten.

It is being developed, tested, upgraded and expanded.

The experience gained from deployment on the South Central Railway network played an important role in the evolution of the system. KAVACH Version 4.0, with improved capabilities, was approved by RDSO in July 2024. Among its improvements are greater location accuracy, better handling of signal information in large yards, station-to-station communication through optical fibre, and improved interfacing with existing electronic interlocking systems.

The South Central Railway region has therefore been an important part of the development story of KAVACH. In fact, official railway documents record extensive KAVACH deployment experience on South Central Railway, and more recent works and trials have continued to involve the Hyderabad–Hussain Sagar Junction area and other sections of the Secunderabad Division.

This is why the equipment I see near Hussain Sagar Junction is more than just another piece of railway hardware. It represents a continuing process of modernisation in which the railway infrastructure around us is being progressively made more intelligent and safer.

The next time I see a train waiting near Hussain Sagar Junction, I may look at it differently.

What appears to be a simple red signal, a stationary train and a railway line is actually the visible part of an enormous chain of decisions being made by signalling systems, interlocking equipment, trackside devices, radio communication and computers - all working together to ensure that trains move safely.

And somewhere in this network is KAVACH – the “armour” of Indian Railways. It is an appropriate name.

The railway tracks may look quiet and ordinary from Necklace Road, but beneath the apparent simplicity is a sophisticated safety system continuously watching over the trains that carry millions of passengers across the country.

So, on my next morning walk, when I see a locomotive passing Hussain Sagar Lake, I shall perhaps think of it not merely as a train passing by, but as a train being watched over by an invisible electronic guardian.

(Information about KAVACH and the photographs are obtained from various sources - thanks)