Editing Ayodhya (section)

=== Early medieval period ===
According to Indologist [[Hans T. Bakker]], the only religious significance of Ayodhya in the first millennium AD was related to the ''Gopratara'' [[tirtha (Hinduism)|tirtha]] (now called Guptar Ghat), where Rama and his followers are said to have ascended to heaven by entering the waters of Sarayu.{{sfn|Bakker, The rise of Ayodhya as a place of pilgrimage|1982|p=105}}<ref name="paramasivan-2009" />{{sfn|Kunal, Ayodhya Revisited|2016|p=12}}

In the 11th century, the [[Gahadavala]] dynasty came to power in the region, and promoted [[Vaishnavism]]. They built several [[Vishnu]] temples in Ayodhya, five of which survived till the end of [[Aurangzeb]]'s reign. Hans Bakker concludes that there might have been a temple at the supposed birth spot of Rama built by the Gahadavalas (see [[Vishnu Hari inscription]]). In subsequent years, the cult of Rama developed within Vaishnavism, with Rama being regarded as the foremost avatar of Vishnu. Between the 13th and 18th century, Ayodhya's importance as a pilgrimage centre grew.<ref name="paramasivan-2009">{{Cite book |last=Paramasivan |first=Vasudha |title=Patronage and Popularisation, Pilgrimage and Procession |publisher=Otto Harrassowitz Verlag |year=2009 |isbn=978-3-447-05723-3 |editor-last=Heidi R. M. Pauwels |pages=101–116 |chapter=Yah Ayodhya Vah Ayodhya: Earthly and Cosmic Journeys in the Anand-lahari}}</ref>

In 1226 AD, Ayodhya became the capital of the province of [[Awadh]] (or "Oudh") within the [[Delhi sultanate]]. Muslim historians state that the area was little more than wilderness prior to this. Pilgrimage was tolerated, but the tax on pilgrims ensured that the temples did not receive much income.{{sfn|Bakker, Ayodhya: A Hindu Jerusalem|1991}}