Faizabad district, officially renamed Ayodhya district in 2018, lies in eastern Uttar Pradesh, India. Its principal urban centres, Faizabad and Ayodhya (अयोध्या), stand close together near the Saryu River. The district is known for Ayodhya’s religious importance to Hindus and Faizabad’s historic role as an early capital of the Nawabs of Awadh.
Awadhi and Hindi shape everyday conversation, while religious festivals, pilgrimage and the wider traditions of Awadh influence local culture. Agriculture, retail, public services and tourism support livelihoods. Major landmarks include the Ram Mandir and Hanuman Garhi in Ayodhya, alongside Faizabad’s Gulab Bari and Bahu Begum’s mausoleum, reflecting different periods of the district’s history.
Common civic concerns include roads, drainage, sanitation, reliable water supplies and access to healthcare and education. Growing pilgrimage and development also bring attention to traffic, crowd management, river cleanliness, heritage conservation and the effects of redevelopment on residents, small businesses and housing.