Suryakund

Suryakund, the Pool of the Sun, is a sacred tank in Ayodhya visited by pilgrims who come to bathe in its water. According to legend it was made by Lakshmana, the brother of Ram, so that Sita would have cool water during their exile, and the water is believed to have healing powers. Many visitors take a dip in the belief that it cleanses both body and mind.

The site is entered through a decorated archway, after which a path shaded by old trees and lined with carved stone pillars and flowering bushes leads down to the pool. Water runs over old stone sculptures at the edge, and the sound of chanting and devotional songs carries from the temples nearby. The atmosphere is busiest when groups of pilgrims arrive to bathe.