Smoke in the open air outside the terminal at Ayodhya Airport (AYJ) before you go through security. No designated indoor smoking room is documented at this new terminal, so finish your cigarette landside on the forecourt.
The airport — officially Maharishi Valmiki International Airport, Ayodhya Dham — was inaugurated on 30 December 2023, with commercial flights starting in January 2024. Its interim terminal covers about 6,250 sq m and is sized for roughly one million passengers a year, handling several domestic flights a day to cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Ahmedabad. Despite the “International” branding, scheduled service is domestic only for now (international operations are planned for later expansion phases). No enclosed smoking lounge is listed among its passenger facilities.
Outside the Terminal (Landside)
The reliable place to smoke is the open-air forecourt in front of the single terminal.
- Entrance forecourt and drop-off lane — step away from the doors and other travellers.
- Car park / kerbside — more space away from the entrance crowds.
Smoke before you clear security and allow time to pass through screening again. Smoking inside the enclosed terminal is not permitted under Indian law.
Airside (After Security)
The practical move is to have your last cigarette outside before you check in — no airside smoking room is documented in the compact departure hall, so once you are airside, your next chance is after you land.
Vaping
E-cigarettes and vaping devices are banned across India under the PECA 2019 law. Do not carry or use them at Ayodhya Airport, as they can be confiscated at security. Conventional cigarettes remain allowed in the open air before security.
Smoking Zones at Ayodhya Airport (AYJ)
| Area | Smoking zone | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Terminal entrance | Open-air forecourt / drop-off | Landside, before security |
| Car park | Kerbside / parking edge | More space away from doors |
| Departures (airside) | No confirmed indoor room | Smoke outside before security |
| Vaping | Not permitted | E-cigarettes banned across India |
Travelling on within Uttar Pradesh? See our guide to smoking at Lucknow Airport (LKO), the state’s main hub.
For India airport smoking rules, the PECA vape ban, lighter-machine instructions, and other rules, see our India smoking guide.