In a move which is an important measure to maintain the sacred, spiritual and religious purity of the holy city, the Ayodhya district government has implemented a stringent ban on selling and delivering any non-vegetarian items within 15 kilometres of the Bhavya Ram Janmabhoomi Temple.
Announced on Friday, January 9, 2026, the action seeks to bring the city’s dining scene into better alignment with its reputation as a world spiritual epicenter. As meat sales had already been closed in the immediate vicinity of the temple, the new order has substantially increased the volume in scope by concentrating on online delivery solutions and on-the-job restaurant locations.
Cracking Down on Online Deliveries
The move was spurred by complaints about online food aggregators. Assistant Food Commissioner Manik Chandra Singh revealed that while local bans existed, certain users, tourists and citizens, were able to order non-vegetarian meals through apps like Zomato and Swiggy in the sacred Panchkosi Parikrama circuit.
“We have now instituted a blanket ban on online non-vegetarian food delivery in the 15-km area,” Singh said. “To be precise, the delivery platforms, the hotels, local vendors have been notified. Monitor relentlessly and take strict legal action or cancel license for violations..
- The Ban Scope: The 15-km radius of Ban; The Ban limits is not restrictful only to the temple gates, and it extends to the central sections of Ayodhya which in fact includes all around the centre of Ayodhya:
- The Panchkosi Parikrama Path: The 15-km circumference of the Panchkosi Parikrama Path, which the pilgrims believe to be holy.
- Ram Path: The 14 km-long route leading Ayodhya to Faizabad. Hotels & Homestays: Restaurants and motels within this zone cannot serve their guests meat or alcohol.
Support from the Community
Local leaders in the hospitality and religious communities have largely welcomed the move. "The Ban" is a major step ahead in "Ayodhya Dham," says Shubham Srivastava, principal manager of a major hotel in the locality. "In such holy places the scriptures deem the consumption of non-veg a sin," he said.
We fully endorse this measure and we are here to protect the holy spirit of the city." VHP International Working President Alok Kumar also praised the enforcement, pointing out that Ayodhya's emergence as a 'pure tirtha' is similar to those seen at Haridwar and Rishikesh.
Lingering Challenges: The Liquor Ban
Though measures to crack down on meat shops and online delivery of food quickly gained a passing headway, local residents warned that enforcement for alcohol was still patchy. More than two dozen licensed outlets reportedly operate along the stretch of Ram Path, despite a May 2025 resolution by the Ayodhya Municipal Corporation (AMC) to make it liquor-free. Municipal officials said they can take out meat shops but liquor vends must be stopped with a dedicated power by the district administration to shut them down.
