Dussehra and Ramlila in India unfold as regionally distinct spectacles — from devotion-soaked pageantry in Ayodhya to processioned royalty in Mysore, the street theatre of Varanasi’s Ramnagar and the hill-town ritual of Kullu. This guide rounds up the best places to experience the festival beyond Delhi, with practical notes on what to expect and how each city puts its own stamp on victory-of-good-over-evil.
If you want a Dussehra charged with religious gravity, Ayodhya — the Ram Janmabhoomi city — has become a focal point. The city stages multiday Ramlila performances across open-air grounds and temple precincts, culminating in a dramatic Ravan dahan and mass prayers at the Ram temple. In recent seasons authorities have expanded crowd management, cultural programming and even drone and fireworks spectacles to accommodate the huge pilgrim turnout that Navratri–Dussehra now draws to the holy ghats and Ram Katha venues.
Plan: Arrive early, book hotel/guesthouse near the temple precincts, and expect heavy security and processions that can alter local transport.
How to go: Fly into Maharishi Valmiki/Ayodhya airport (seasonal/expanded services around festivals), or take trains to Ayodhya Junction/Ayodhya Cantt. From Lucknow and Varanasi there are frequent festival-time road links; during peak days temporary trains and extra buses are often added.
Across the Ganga at Ramnagar, Varanasi’s Ramlila is both theatrical and community-rooted — long-running scripts, mask traditions and a fair-like atmosphere make the nights lively. The performances (often staged over several nights) attract local devotees, pilgrims and theatre-lovers who relish the traditional staging and folk music. The Ramnagar shows are entwined with the city’s ritual calendar: aarti on the ghats, temple visits and small mela stalls make Varanasi a sensory-packed Dussehra experience. If you want traditional stagecraft and a riverine festival vibe, this is it.
Practical tip: Watch timings — performances typically run after sundown; combine a visit with a Ganga aarti and leave enough time to cross the river, as boats and ghats are busier at dusk.
Mysore’s Dasara (Nada Habba) is among India’s most famous state-sponsored celebrations: a ten-day programme of processions, cultural shows and the iconic Jamboo Savari (elephant-led parade) that lights up the Mysore Palace. In recent years the festival has layered modern spectacles — from drone shows to expanded cultural pavilions — onto the centuries-old royal rites, making it theatrical and tourist-friendly while preserving rituals. Nights around the palace dazzled by lighting, tableaux and torchlight parades are the hallmark.
Getting there: Mysore is well connected by rail and road to Bengaluru (approx 3–4 hours by road/train); festival hotels and packaged experiences sell out quickly — book early for Jamboo Savari viewing.
Kullu Dussehra blends mela energy with Himalayan ritual. What began as a local chieftains’ festival to carry deities in procession has evolved into a week-long mela where dozens of village deities are paraded to the central ground and traditional wrestling, handicrafts and cultural shows take place. Authorities sometimes scale aspects (such as limiting foreign troupes) to focus on local faith and safety — but the result is an intimate, rustic Dussehra that feels rooted in community customs rather than stagecraft. If you prefer mountainous scenery and folk authenticity, Kullu is distinctive.
Travel note: Kullu is best accessed from Manali or via Kullu–Manali airport (seasonal) and hill roads; weather and road conditions should be checked in advance.
In Kolkata and surrounding districts the Dussehra period overlaps with Durga Puja’s end-of-season rituals, but many neighbourhoods and towns also stage local Ramlilas and mela setups. Here you’ll find a mix: Bengali cultural processions, local plays and town squares where effigies are burnt. These are community-centred, theatrical and ideal if you want to see grassroots festival theatre alongside larger Durga festivities. (If you’re combining trips, time travel between the two festivals carefully — both attract huge crowds.)
Book early: festival hotels and special viewing passes (Mysore Jamboo Savari, Ayodhya front-row darshan) sell out quickly.
Transport: expect extra trains and buses but also road closures; arrive a day early if possible.
Pack: comfortable shoes, modest clothing for temple areas, and a small day-bag for water and masks.
Local rules: follow security cordons, photography restrictions near rituals, and advice from local authorities — especially during large processions.
Whether you prefer devotional intensity (Ayodhya), riverbank theatre (Varanasi), royal spectacle (Mysore), hill-folk ritual (Kullu) or neighbourhood theatre (Kolkata), India’s Dussehra scene beyond Delhi offers rich, varied experiences — each a different way to witness the same ancient story being retold in a living, local language.
1. Which cities in India have the most unique Dussehra celebrations beyond Delhi?
Beyond Delhi, some of the most distinctive Dussehra celebrations take place in Ayodhya, Varanasi (Ramnagar), Mysore, Kullu, and Kolkata. Each city has its own style—Ayodhya focuses on pilgrimage-scale Ramleela, Mysore on royal Jamboo Savari processions, Kullu on hill-town deity rituals, Varanasi on riverbank theatre, and Kolkata on community-based Ramleelas alongside Durga Puja.
2. What is special about Mysore Dussehra and the Jamboo Savari?
Mysore Dussehra, also called Naadahabba, is Karnataka’s royal festival. The highlight is the Jamboo Savari, an elephant-led procession carrying the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari on a golden mantapa. The ten-day festival combines palace illumination, cultural shows, folk performances, and rituals, attracting tourists from across India and abroad.
3. How can I attend the Ayodhya Ramlila during Dussehra 2025?
To attend Ayodhya’s Ramlila, plan ahead: book hotels or guesthouses near the Ram Janmabhoomi temple precincts, arrive early, and expect crowd control and road closures. You can reach Ayodhya via Maharishi Valmiki Airport, trains to Ayodhya Junction or Cantt, or by road from Lucknow or Varanasi. Extra festival-time buses and temporary trains are often added.
4. What makes Kullu Dussehra different from other celebrations?
Kullu Dussehra in Himachal Pradesh blends hill-town rituals with vibrant mela festivities. Local village deities are carried in procession to the central ground, accompanied by folk dances, handicrafts, and traditional wrestling. Unlike larger, commercialized festivals, it preserves community-rooted customs in a scenic Himalayan setting, offering an authentic local experience.
5. When and where can I experience Ramlila in Varanasi and Kolkata?
In Varanasi, the Ramnagar Ramleela unfolds over several nights near the Ganga, featuring traditional scripts, folk music, and theatre. In Kolkata, local Ramleelas coincide with the end of Durga Puja, held in neighborhoods and town squares. Check local schedules for exact timings, as performances usually occur after sundown and attract large crowds.