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Ahead of the Ram Mandir consecration in Ayodhya on January 22, 2024, the city has become the centre of attraction for devotees, politicians, and even Bollywood celebrities. The grand inauguration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya has caused the price of flights and accommodations to skyrocket. People across India are sending sweets, food grains, ornaments, metals, ghee, and more to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra so that they can contribute to this grand event.
Video Credit: Your Food Lab/ YouTube
Amid this, 45 community kitchens are also set to be launched to feed devotees for free from January 23, 2024, a day after pran pratishta, till March 2024. However, if you want to taste the authentic flavours and explore gems in the bustling streets of the city, here is a guide for every foodie.
Khurchan Pede
Chandra Mishthan Bhandar is a sweet shop that has been making khurchan pede in Ayodhya for three decades. In an interview, Sumit Gupta, the owner of the shop, said that the delight is made using cow’s milk. Cardamom and sugar are added to khoya and roasted until it turns light golden brown.
Since the khoya is scrapped from the container, the delicacy is referred to as khurchan peda. People in the city have been eating it for years, and it is a must-try sweet if you are planning to visit Ayodhya. A kilogram of this delight can cost more than Rs 350.
Chaat
Ayodhya is a part of Uttar Pradesh, where every city has a special street for people to gorge on street food. This city is no different than others in this matter. By the evening, the bustling streets around the city get lightened up as vendors open their stalls to sell chaat.
From fried snacks to a variety of chaat, including gol gappe, papdi chaat, samosa, and aloo tikki, there is no dearth of what a foodie can enjoy here. Topped with green chilli and coriander chutney, curd, roughly chopped onions and tomatoes, and sev, the lip-smacking varieties of chaat can satiate your hunger pangs.
Laddoo
Laddoo is a famous sweet around India. A variety of this sweet exists across the country in which a sweet mixture is given a spherical shape. It is also offered to God around several temples in India.
Ayodhya is famous for besan laddoo, motichoor laddoo, and other varieties. Though you will find a difference in taste from shop to shop, you won’t be able to decide which is more delicious. They are a crucial part of any festive celebration so much so that if you order Ram Mandir prasad online, you will get laddoo in the box.
Rabri
Rabri is another sweet delicacy that Ayodhya is known for. Similar to Mathura in Uttar Pradesh, also referred to as Lord Krishna’s Janmabhoomi, people here also like to indulge in this delicacy.
The process of making rabri involves thickening milk by boiling it. The liquid decreases in volume, almost one-third of what you put in the container before. It is garnished with seeds, nuts, and saffron that add to its richness.
Sweets
Across the streets of Ayodhya, you will witness many sweet shops selling a variety of delicacies. From milk cake to gajar ka halwa, there is no end to what you can find in sweet shops here.
Among these sweets, dahi-jalebi is famous among locals. In Uttar Pradesh, it is often eaten for breakfast. Deep-fried maid mixture is soaked in sugar syrup to make jalebi, and it is later served with curd. This unique combination is so delicious that you will forget the count of jalebi you have eaten.
Kesar Chai (Saffron Tea)
Tea is among the staple beverages in India. Some people have a habit of drinking tea in the morning and evening. During winter, some households will swear that a pot of tea is always brewing in their kitchens.
However, if you are in Ayodhya, you should not miss out on drinking saffron tea. Tourists can witness tea stalls set up near shops, temples, and other places. You can order other varieties available from the vendor and enjoy your tea served in an earthen pot with some snacks.
Pakoda
If you ask any chai lover (tea enthusiast) about one dish that pairs well with tea, they will tell you that it is pakoda. The fried snack is often paired with ketchup or green chilli-coriander chutney.
In Ayodhya, you can find a variety of pakodas in various stalls. Paneer pakoda, pyaaz pakoda, or any other variation that you like, you can find in the city and enjoy with a hot piping cup of coffee for breakfast or tea time snack.
