Travel Guide

Akshaya Navami 2026: Ayodhya 14 Kosi Parikrama Date, Route

Akshaya Navami 2026 is on Wed 18 Nov. See Navami tithi times, the Ayodhya 14 Kosi Parikrama length, past start times, route points, traffic plan and tips.

Ayush Pandey November 6, 2026 · 16 min read

Akshaya Navami 2026: Ayodhya 14 Kosi Parikrama Date, Route

Akshaya Navami, also called Amla Navami, falls on the ninth day of the bright half of Kartik. In Ayodhya it is the day of the 14 Kosi Parikrama, a walk of about 42 km around the city that draws lakhs of pilgrims each year. In 2026 Akshaya Navami is on Wednesday 18 November. This guide gives the Navami tithi times in India and abroad, how the parikrama window has been set in earlier years, the route points that news reports name, the traffic and crowd pattern, the Panchkosi walk that follows, and how to plan the trip. We checked panchang sites, news reports and the route-upgrade reports up to 6 November 2026, and we mark every figure that is unconfirmed for this year.

Quick Answer: Akshaya Navami 2026 and the 14 Kosi Parikrama

Akshaya Navami 2026 is on Wednesday 18 November. Navami runs from 6:04 AM on 18 November to 7:05 AM on 19 November (Drik Panchang, New Delhi). Ayodhya's 14 Kosi Parikrama is about 42 km. The 2026 start time is not yet announced. In 2024 and 2025 the walk opened the day before Akshaya Navami day.

Item	2026	Status
Akshaya Navami	Wednesday 18 November 2026	Drik Panchang, HinduTone and our calculation agree
Navami tithi (IST)	18 Nov 6:04 AM to 19 Nov 7:05 AM	Drik, New Delhi. We calculated 6:07 AM to 7:08 AM
Amla puja window	Sunrise to about midday on 18 Nov	Drik gives 6:46 AM to 12:06 PM for New Delhi
14 Kosi Parikrama length	About 42 km	IANS, Deccan Herald, Dynamite News
14 Kosi start and end time	Not announced	Check official notices and local panchang
Panchkosi Parikrama	About 15 km, around Dev Uthani Ekadashi	Ekadashi is 20 Nov (Smarta) or 21 Nov (Vaishnava)
Pass or entry fee	None reported	We found no official pass for the parikrama

Akshaya Navami 2026 Date and Tithi Times

Drik Panchang lists Akshaya Navami on Wednesday 18 November 2026, with Navami starting at 6:04 AM on 18 November and ending at 7:05 AM on 19 November for New Delhi. We calculated the tithi with an astronomical library using the Lahiri ayanamsa and got 6:07 AM and 7:08 AM IST, which is within three minutes. Sunrise in Ayodhya on 18 November is about 6:22 AM by our calculation, and Navami is already in force at that moment. By sunrise on 19 November Navami is still running, but it ends at about 7:05 AM, so the forenoon puja belongs to 18 November.

Drik gives the puja window (purvahna) as 6:46 AM to 12:06 PM for New Delhi. Ayodhya's sunrise is earlier than Delhi's, so local panchang times shift by a few minutes. HinduTone adds that Gopashtami falls on 17 November and that the same day is observed as Jagaddhatri Puja in West Bengal. Drik also lists it as Satya Yugadi.

City	Navami begins	Navami ends	Observe on
Ayodhya, Delhi (IST)	Wed 18 Nov, 6:04 AM	Thu 19 Nov, 7:05 AM	18 Nov
London	Wed 18 Nov, 12:34 AM	Thu 19 Nov, 1:35 AM	18 Nov
New York, Toronto	Tue 17 Nov, 7:34 PM	Wed 18 Nov, 8:35 PM	18 Nov
Dubai	Wed 18 Nov, 4:34 AM	Thu 19 Nov, 5:35 AM	18 Nov
Singapore	Wed 18 Nov, 8:34 AM	Thu 19 Nov, 9:35 AM	19 Nov, at sunrise
Sydney, Melbourne	Wed 18 Nov, 11:34 AM	Thu 19 Nov, 12:35 PM	19 Nov, at sunrise

The times for other cities are our conversion from the Delhi values. The last column applies the usual rule that the festival day is the one on which Navami is in force at the forenoon. HinduTone also lists 19 November for Singapore. Many mandirs abroad hold the programme on the nearest weekend, so check with your local mandir.

What Akshaya Navami Is

Akshaya Navami is the Shukla Navami of Kartik, and Drik Panchang says it is also known as Amla Navami and Satya Yugadi. Devotees worship the amla (gooseberry) tree, give charity and do devotional acts that, in the tradition, bring lasting merit. HinduTone describes the usual puja: water, raw milk, turmeric, kumkum, flowers and a lamp at the tree, a thread tied round the trunk, a Vishnu mantra, and a simple vegetarian meal under the tree. The same page notes that customs vary by region and family, and it presents the stories about Lakshmi and Vishnu in the tree as lore, which is how we report them too.

Drik also notes that the day falls two days before Dev Uthani Ekadashi and that circumambulating Mathura and Vrindavan is considered significant on this day. In Ayodhya the circumambulation is the 14 Kosi Parikrama.

Ayodhya 14 Kosi Parikrama: The Basics

The Chaudah Kosi (14 Kosi) Parikrama is a walk of about 42 km around Ayodhya, according to IANS, Deccan Herald and Dynamite News. Devotees usually bathe in the Saryu before starting, and IANS reported that the 2024 walkers began at Hanumangarhi and the Ramlala temple. A kosi is a traditional unit of distance, and the 14 Kosi path is the outer circuit of the city. The inner circuit, Panchkosi, is about 15 km, according to Patrika.

Parikrama	Length	When
14 Kosi (Chaudah Kosi)	About 42 km	Akshaya Navami, Kartik Shukla Navami
Panchkosi (5 Kosi)	About 15 km	Dev Uthani Ekadashi, Kartik Shukla Ekadashi

14 Kosi Parikrama 2026: Start and End Time

The 2026 timing is not announced as of 6 November. Do not rely on a panchang site for the start, because the window is fixed locally. What past reports show:

Year	Reported start	Akshaya Navami day	Source
2024	Crowds built from the evening of Saturday 9 Nov, with the start muhurat reported as 6:32 PM and the walk starting at Saryu	Sunday 10 Nov	Deccan Herald, ETV Bharat
2025	Thursday 30 Oct, about 4:50 AM, ending Friday 31 Oct, about 4:41 AM	Friday 31 Oct	Amar Ujala, 24 Oct 2025
2026	Not announced	Wednesday 18 Nov	Check Ayodhya administration notices

In both years the walk opened on the day before the Akshaya Navami day, and the 2025 window was just under 24 hours. If that pattern holds, the walk would open in the night or very early morning of 17 and 18 November 2026, but this is our inference, not an announcement. Patrika's 2025 preview gave dates one day earlier than Amar Ujala, so reports can disagree, and the official notice is the one to follow.

The Route: Places Named in Reports

The reports we checked name places on or near the path but do not agree on an order, so we list them without a sequence. Walk with the marked path and the volunteers, and do not depend on this list as a map.

Saryu ghats, Hanumangarhi and the Ramlala temple are where IANS and ETV Bharat say the 2024 walkers started.
Saket Sadan, Nirmali Kund, Chakratirth, the Guptarghat turn, Prahladghat and Janaura are named in Amar Ujala's 2025 report on the condition of the path.
Achari Sagra and Modaha are named in Dynamite News in 2026, where lighting work began near Achari Sagra and a four-lane rail overbridge near Modaha is complete.
Sugriv Qila and Ramkot are listed by Patrika as key sites in the 2025 preview.
Surya Kund, Girija Kund, Panchmukhi Mahadev, Guptar Ghat, Jhunkhi Ghat, Lakshman Kila, Sheshavatar Temple, Swarg Dwar, Ram Ki Paidi and Nageshwarnath are the stops of the UP tourism heritage tour that follows the 14 Kosi route, according to a PTI report of 30 October 2026.

The 2026 Route Upgrade

Dynamite News reported on 1 October 2026 that a 31 km section of the 42 km route is being widened to four lanes at an estimated Rs 1,140 crore. The report says lighting linked to Lord Ram is being added, with toilets, water kiosks, tin sheds and seating planned along the route, and the Public Works Department said the project was in its final phase, targeted for completion before Deepotsav. We could not confirm that all of this is complete. In 2025 Amar Ujala described unfinished stretches, gravel, open drains and raised manhole covers, so wear sturdy shoes and watch your step in the dark.

UP Tourism Heritage Trail

UPSTDC launched the Ayodhya Divine Heritage Trail from 1 November 2026, according to PTI. It is a six-hour guided tour that follows the 14 Kosi route in two batches, 10 AM to 4 PM and 1 PM to 7 PM, and it ends with the Saryu aarti. The report does not give a price or booking method, and we do not know whether the trail runs on parikrama day.

Crowd, Traffic and Arrangements

The scale is large. IANS reported, citing the District Magistrate, an estimated 30 lakh devotees in 2024, and called it the largest turnout since the consecration of the Ram temple. For 2025 the administration expected more than 20 lakh, according to Amar Ujala. These are official estimates, not counts.

What the Administration Did in 2024

The Lucknow to Gorakhpur national highway was closed for 30 hours and traffic from many districts was diverted.
Entry of vehicles was restricted at about a dozen points, and heavy vehicles were banned from entering Ayodhya.
Magistrates, barricades and health camps were placed along the path.
The Municipal Corporation provided rest cabins and mobile toilets, organisations ran refreshment stalls, and over 150 changing rooms were built at ghats.

These were the 2024 orders as ETV Bharat and IANS reported them. The 2026 traffic plan has not been announced. For 2025, ANI reported lights, drinking water and cleaned rain shelters along the route. Expect similar closures in 2026 and plan to walk the last part of the way into the city.

Panchkosi Parikrama After Akshaya Navami

Panchkosi follows on Dev Uthani Ekadashi. The Ekadashi tithi begins at about 7:17 AM IST on 20 November and ends at about 6:33 AM on 21 November by our calculation, so Smarta calendars list 20 November and Vaishnava calendars list 21 November. The Ayodhya parikrama schedule is set locally, so wait for the notice. In 2025 Amar Ujala gave 1 and 2 November for Panchkosi, with Ekadashi on 1 November.

A Practical Plan for Parikrama Day

Confirm the official start time and traffic plan from the Ayodhya administration as soon as they are issued.
Arrive in Ayodhya by 16 or 17 November. Do not plan to drive in on the parikrama night.
Book a room close to the Saryu or the Ram Path, or stay outside the city and use the park-and-walk points once they are announced.
Take the Saryu bath, then start at the time given for your group.
Walk with your family in a group, agree on a meeting point and keep phone batteries charged.
Rest at the cabins and stalls on the route, and do not try to finish in one sprint if you are elderly or unwell.

What to Carry

Sturdy, worn-in shoes. The 2025 report described rough stretches.
Water, glucose or dry snacks, and any regular medicines.
A power bank, a small torch and a light shawl for the night.
A photo ID and the booking details of your room.
Small cash for stalls.

Speak to your doctor before attempting 42 km if you have a heart, knee or blood sugar problem, are pregnant or are over 60. Many devotees do a shorter section instead, such as the Panchkosi.

Where to Stay and How to Move

Rooms near the city fill quickly on parikrama weekends, and we have no occupancy data, so we cannot say how early to book. Read our guides to local transport in Ayodhya, Ram Mandir car parking and the car drop point before you travel. Our hotel booking can compare rooms, and the airport pickup guide explains transfers from Maharishi Valmiki Airport.

Beware of Fake Passes

No official source we checked mentions a pass or fee for the parikrama. Do not pay anyone who sells a pass, a VIP walk or a donation receipt. Read our guides on darshan fraud and fake websites.

For Pilgrims from Abroad and Other States

Use the city table above to keep Akshaya Navami at home. If you come to Ayodhya from the USA, Canada or the UK, read our guides on the trip from the USA, trip from Canada and London to Ayodhya. Bengali families who keep Jagaddhatri Puja on the same day can read how to reach Ayodhya from Kolkata, and our Nabanna guide covers the harvest festival of the same month.

For other November dates in Ayodhya see the Kartik Maas guide, the Deepotsav 2026 guide and the Vivah Panchami guide.

Plan Your Ayodhya Trip with Your Travel Partner

Your Travel Partner is a travel company based in Ayodhya that arranges trips across India and abroad. We plan the road, the stay and the timing around a festival, for visitors from every state and from other countries.

Airport or railway pickup: airport and railway.
Local cabs for the days around the parikrama: Ayodhya cab service and cab.
Rooms: hotel booking.
A full plan with darshan: Ayodhya package, Ram Mandir tour package and 2-day itinerary.
Elders: senior citizen tour.
Send your dates, city and group size on WhatsApp or the enquiry form.

We do not sell parikrama passes, darshan passes or donation receipts. See the packages page, our reviews, about us and the cancellation policy.

Common Mistakes

Planning to drive into Ayodhya on parikrama night, when roads are closed.
Taking a panchang start time as the official parikrama time.
Starting 42 km in new shoes or with no water.
Buying a pass from a stranger.
Booking a room far from the route with no plan for the return.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Akshaya Navami 2026?

Wednesday 18 November 2026. Navami runs from 6:04 AM on 18 November to 7:05 AM on 19 November, according to Drik Panchang for New Delhi.

Is Akshaya Navami the same as Amla Navami?

Yes. Drik Panchang lists both names, and Satya Yugadi, for the Shukla Navami of Kartik.

When is the Ayodhya 14 Kosi Parikrama in 2026?

It is held on Akshaya Navami, which is 18 November. The exact start and end time is not yet announced.

How long is the 14 Kosi Parikrama?

About 42 km, according to IANS, Deccan Herald and Dynamite News.

What time does the 14 Kosi Parikrama start?

Not announced for 2026. In 2025 it opened around 4:50 AM the day before Akshaya Navami day, and in 2024 the muhurat was reported as 6:32 PM the day before.

Where does the 14 Kosi Parikrama start?

Devotees usually bathe in the Saryu first. IANS reported that the 2024 walkers began at Hanumangarhi and the Ramlala temple.

How many people join the parikrama?

An estimated 30 lakh in 2024, according to the District Magistrate quoted by IANS. For 2025 the administration expected over 20 lakh.

Is there a fee or pass for the parikrama?

No official source we checked mentions one. Do not pay anyone who sells a pass.

What is Panchkosi Parikrama?

The shorter walk of about 15 km around Ayodhya, held around Dev Uthani Ekadashi, which is 20 or 21 November 2026.

Will roads be closed on parikrama day?

Likely. In 2024 the Lucknow to Gorakhpur highway was closed for 30 hours and vehicle entry was restricted at about a dozen points. The 2026 plan is not announced.

Is the route ready in 2026?

Dynamite News reported on 1 October that a 31 km stretch was being widened to four lanes and was in its final phase. We could not confirm completion.

What is the amla tree puja on Akshaya Navami?

Water, milk, turmeric, kumkum, flowers and a lamp at the amla tree, a thread round the trunk, a Vishnu mantra and a simple meal under the tree, according to HinduTone.

Is it the same day in the USA and Australia?

18 November in the USA, UK and UAE. Singapore and Australia observe it on 19 November by the sunrise rule.

Is the UP tourism heritage trail the parikrama?

No. It is a six-hour guided tour that follows the 14 Kosi route, launched from 1 November 2026. It is not the pilgrimage walk.

Can Your Travel Partner arrange my Ayodhya trip?

Yes. We arrange pickups, cabs and hotels. We do not sell parikrama passes or donation receipts.

Conclusion

Akshaya Navami 2026 is on Wednesday 18 November, and the 14 Kosi Parikrama of about 42 km is held on this day. The start time is not announced, so follow the official notice and not a panchang page. Arrive early, expect road closures, carry water and sturdy shoes, and avoid anyone who sells a pass. For cabs, hotels and an Ayodhya plan, message us on WhatsApp.