According to the ancient history, Ayodhya was the capital of the powerful kingdom of ancient Kosala Pradesh ruled by the ikshvaku dynasty, where Lord Ram was born. The present day Ayodhya is situated on the bank of the holy river Saryu in Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The city of Ayodhya is an important pilgrim place for Hindus in India. Fa-hien and Xuan Zhang (Hiuen Tsang), the Chinese monks, recorded spotting many Hindu temples and several Buddhist monasteries that they saw during their visits of Ayodhya. Ayodhya has a historical significance for the Jain community too. This is the birth place of two important Jain tirthankaras who were born in the early centuries AD. The main tourist attraction of Ayodhya is the Ram Janmabhumi (birthplace of Lord Ram) shrine.

It is said that Ayodhya has 7000 temples, but there are some 100 temples of relative significance. It is believed that Lord Ram spent much of his childhood here. Other places to visit in Ayodhya are Lakshman Ghat, Kala Ram temple and the Kanak Bhavan temple, which was built in the 19th century. There are several Jain shrines in Ayodhya. One kilometer east of the Ram Janmabhumi shrine is Hanumangadhi (Fortress of Hanuman, the revered monkey god and friend/devotee of Lord Ram). It is said that Lord Hanuman lived in a cave nearby to protect the Ram Janmabhumi.

Varanasi, or Benaras, (also known as Kashi) is one of the oldest living cities in the world. Abode of Lord Shiva and Parvati, the origins of Varanasi are yet unknown. The land of Varanasi has been the ultimate pilgrimage spot for Hindus for ages situated on the banks of the River Ganges in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Hindus believe that one who is graced to die on the land of Varanasi would attain salvation and freedom from the cycle of birth and re-birth. Being a center of religious, educational, cultural and artistic activities, Kashi drew many learned men from around the world. 

The city went into a destructive phase for three centuries under the Muslim rule. Assi Ghat, Dashashwamedh Ghat, Manikarnika Ghat, Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Tulsi Manas Temple, Durga Temple, Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple, Chinese Temple Of Lord Buddha, Sita Samahit Sthal, Tibetan Temple, Batuk Bhairav Mandir, Bharat Mata Mandir, Gyan Vapi Well, Ramnagar Fort & Museum, Chunar Fort, Sarnath, Bharat Kala Bhavan Museum, Man Mandir Observatory, Alamgir Mosque, Banaras Hindu University, Boat ride at Ganges and The Banaras Silk Emporium.