Just a few more days to go until the monumental event of the inauguration of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. The devotees from all over the country are waiting for January 22, the auspicious day on which the temple’s consecration will happen. Known to be the birthplace of Lord Rama, Ayodhya is regarded as one of the seven holy cities of the Hindus.
Besides Ram Mandir, this ancient city is also famous for Ram Katha Park, Mani Parvat, the Tulsi Smarak Bhawan Museum and many other famous destinations. Located on the bank of the river Saryu, this city in Uttar Pradesh has some delicious vegetarian dishes that every tourist must try. So, if you are planning to visit Ayodhya and Ram Mandir recently with your family, here are six local food items you must try:
Veg Biryani
Since Ayodhya is a major religious place for Hindus, vegetarian dishes like vegetarian biryani are very popular in the city. Made with aromatic long-grain rice, spices, and various colourful vegetables, this delicious food is a great option for a filling lunch as well as dinner. Veg biryani is commonly served with a bowl of raita.
Rabri
Rabri is a thick and creamy milk-based dessert that is perfect to relish at any time of the day. Served with the garnishing of chopped dry fruits like cashews and almonds, this dessert can be found in every nook and corner of Ayodhya. Some shops also serve it with a pinch of saffron for an extra flavour.
Laddoos
Laddoos are a quintessential sweet treat that is loved all over the country. Be it a festival or any other celebratory occasion, these mithais are always our first preference. So, do try the mouth-watering laddoos in Ayodhya. Loaded with dry fruits and ghee, the city has a wide variety of these round delights to offer, such as besan laddoo, motichoor laddoo, and so on.
Dahi Vada
This scrumptious dish is a well-known street food in Ayodhya. Made with deep-fried lentil vadas dipped in a delicious curd mix, you can find it everywhere in the city. Dahi vada is flavoured with mint, chutneys, cumin powder, black salt, and chaat masala. The vendors also top it with some pomegranate seeds to ramp up its texture and taste.
Chaat
This is another popular delight of Ayodhya that both locals and tourists enjoy. The streets of the city are filled with vendors selling colourful chaats prepared with a lot of yummy and flavourful ingredients. The chaats are a perfect balance of sweet, sour, tangy, and spicy flavours that are served with various delicious chutneys.
Malpua
This is a delicious Indian sweet treat that is widely relished as a breakfast, snack and dessert. Malpua is specially made during festivals like Holi and Diwali. Prepared with flour, fennel seeds and sugar syrup, it is flavoured with khoya, nuts, curd and spices. Do try Malpua in Ayodhya on your next visit.