Collect your pre-booked self-drive car at Lucknow airport; quick orientation and handover. It's best to choose a family-friendly SUV or MPV for comfort and luggage space.
Check into a budget 4-star family hotel with airport transfer and safe parking for your rental car; use this time to rest after the flight and freshen up.
Stroll the pedestrianized Hazratganj market and see the iconic Rumi Darwaza; great for light shopping, street snacks and photos. Most shops open until 9:00–10:00pm.
Famous Lucknowi kebabs — a family favourite (order milder options for kids) or dine at the hotel's multi-cuisine restaurant for a quieter meal. Tunday outlets generally open till late (check local outlet timings).
Explore the famous 18th-century Bara Imambara complex and the fun mirror-maze (Bhool Bhulaiya) — interesting history and a playful spot for children. Open roughly 9:00am–5:00pm.
Visit the ornate Chota Imambara and the nearby British Residency ruins to understand Lucknow’s history; short walks and shady grounds are family-friendly. Chota Imambara open 9:00am–5:00pm.
Enjoy a relaxed Awadhi thali or biryani; choose family-friendly seating and milder spice levels for kids. Many popular restaurants open through lunch from 12:00–15:00.
Walk the wide lawns and impressive architecture at the park — space for children to run and learn modern Indian history. Park open around 8:00am–6:00pm.
Leave Lucknow by car for the 2–2.5 hour drive to Ayodhya (approx 135 km) to avoid traffic and get the most of the day; roads are mostly NH/expressway segments.
Explore the newly developed Ram Janmabhoomi precinct and nearby sacred spots — important cultural and religious experience for many families. Timings vary but temples and complex are generally accessible from 6:00am to 8:00pm (check local entry rules).
Walk the peaceful ghats and take a short, supervised boat ride on the Saryu (a calm, scenic experience for families around late afternoon). Boat rides typically operate from early morning to evening (rates and safety vary).
Have an early hotel breakfast and check out to start the longer drive east to Varanasi; leaving early keeps the journey cooler and less tiring for kids.
Experience the famous evening Ganga Aarti — a colourful, spiritual ceremony with lamps and music that's memorable for families (arrive early; best seats 6:15–6:30pm). Aarti usually begins around sunset (≈6:15–7:30pm depending on season).
Take a guided sunrise boat ride from Assi or Dashashwamedh Ghat to see morning rituals, bathing ghats and the city waking up — calm and safe with a licensed boatman. Boats operate early (≈5:00–8:30am).
Visit the museum (open around 9:30am–5:00pm) to see Ashokan lion capital and artefacts, then walk the gardens and stupas — quiet, stroller-friendly paths.
See the sacred confluence (Triveni Sangam) and visit Anand Bhavan (Nehru family museum) for a culturally rich stop — both family-appropriate and educational. Anand Bhavan open around 10:00am–5:00pm (confirm local timings).
Family-friendly zoo with varied animal enclosures and shaded paths — open usually from 9:30am–5:00pm; good for kids to end the trip on a playful note.
Short visit for photos and a last-minute shopping run for souvenirs and sweets like 'peda' or 'revdi'. Shops typically operate late morning to evening.
Return your self-drive vehicle per the rental agreement (fuel/cleaning check) and take the hotel or rental company transfer to the airport for onward flights.