Let's clear up the biggest source of stress first: the Sugam Darshan pass is free, and yes, on a busy date it really does vanish within minutes of the midnight release. That combination — free but scarce — is exactly what the touts and fake websites feed on. They know you're anxious, they know you'll be up at midnight refreshing a page, and they know a tired traveller will click "pay to confirm" if it looks official enough.
We've watched people lose money to those cloned sites, and it's always avoidable. So before you touch your keyboard at 11:58 PM, read this. The official process is simple once you know the rhythm of it, and if you miss the slot, it genuinely isn't the end of your trip.
Remember this and you can't be scammed: the pass costs nothing. The moment a website or "agent" asks for a payment to confirm it, you're looking at a fraud.
Sugam pass at a glance
Key facts before you book
- Cost
- Free No legitimate paid version
- Opens
- 15 days ahead, 12:00 AM IST
- Per booking
- Up to 8 devotees Per registered mobile number, per day
- At the gate
- Original physical ID Must match booking details
Step-by-Step: Booking on the Official Portal
Do a dry run a day or two earlier so you know where every button is. When midnight comes, you want muscle memory, not a scavenger hunt.
- Go to the official portal, and only the official portal — online.srjbtkshetra.org. Bookmark it right now, today, so you're not typing a search into Google at 11:59 PM and clicking the first lookalike that appears.
- Be logged in and waiting 15 days before your visit date, just before 12:00 AM IST. The day's slots drop at midnight and, on weekends and festival dates, they can be gone before you've finished your chai.
- Enter each devotee's details — name, age, gender and a government ID number (Aadhaar or passport). One registered mobile number can cover up to 8 devotees for the day, so a whole family goes through in a single booking.
- Pick your date and slot, then confirm. There is no payment. If a page asks you to pay to "lock" the slot, close it — that's the tell of a fake.
- Save the confirmation. Screenshot it and, if you can, print the QR slip. Phones get locked away before darshan, so a paper backup is worth its weight.
- On the day, carry the original physical ID that matches the booking. Security checks it against your pass, so the named person genuinely needs to be standing there.
What ID Do You Actually Need?
People overthink this one, so here's the simple split:
- At booking: just the details — name, age, gender, ID number. No photo is taken, nobody video-verifies you.
- At entry: the original physical photo ID matching what you typed in. Aadhaar or passport both work. Security rechecks the card against your pass, so a photocopy or a "my ID is in the hotel" won't get that person through.
If the Slots Are Gone (and They Might Be)
Take a breath — missing a Sugam slot is not the disaster it feels like at 12:03 AM staring at a "sold out" screen. The free general queue reaches exactly the same darshan, and off-peak it often clears in 1–3 hours. We've had plenty of guests skip the midnight scramble entirely and do just fine.
No pass? Here's your move
What to do if Sugam is gone
Use the free queue off-peak
Best forFlexible travellers and most families
An early weekday morning moves fastest and costs nothing — it's what we'd do ourselves.See queue strategyTry again at the next midnight release
Best forTravellers with a flexible date
A fresh day's slots open every midnight, 15 days out — so a slightly different visit date is worth a second attempt.Related Guides
- Ram Mandir darshan and entry rules
- Free queue vs Sugam pass
- Ram Mandir aarti booking guide
- Ram Mandir mobile phone and locker rules
Planning for a Group or Elders?
The midnight booking window is a fiddly thing to hit when you've also got flights and hotels to organise. We do it for our guests all the time — grab the slot and then build the rest of the day around it so the seniors in your group aren't left waiting in the heat.
FAQ
How far in advance does the Sugam pass open?
Fifteen days before your visit date, at 12:00 AM (midnight) IST. On busy dates it can be gone within minutes, so be ready and waiting.
Is the Sugam Darshan pass really free?
Completely free. If anyone is charging you for it, walk away — that's a scam, plain and simple.
How many people can go on one booking?
Up to 8 devotees per registered mobile number per day, so most families are covered in one go.
What ID do I need on the day?
The original physical photo ID — Aadhaar or passport — matching the details you entered when booking. A photocopy won't do.
What if I can't get a slot?
Use the free general queue. Off-peak it often clears in 1–3 hours and takes you to the very same darshan.