In his paper "Historical Rama distinguished from god Rama" presented at the Indian History Congress held recently, Prof. Shyam Narain Pande has said ancient Ayodhya was in fact situated near modern-day Herat ... in Afghanistan ..

A retired geography professor from K.B. Post- Graduate College in Mirzapur, Dr. Pande ... said that history of present city of Ayodhya was not older than 800 BC. Contrary to this objective evidence there is a subjective belief that Rama is much older ..

The ancient city of Ayodhya had been identified to be located on the banks of the Vedic river Sarayu also known as Haryu or Hari Rud which is modern-day Herat. Thus the search for Ayodhya should be around Herat; he added.

Dr. Pande said evidence from Panini as also from Avesta and Rigveda besides views of eminent historians B.C. Law, A.S. Altekar, P.V Kane, A L Basham, K.S. Kulish, Bhardwaj, Motilal Sharma and Rahula Sankrityayana prove that Rama existed in Afghanistan. ..

Panini in his book of grammar Ashtadhayayi had given a clue that the original homeland of Ikshwakus, the family from which Rama had descended, was in northern Afghanistan. There was an Avestan god Rama-Mwastra (god related to sun and moon - equivalent to Ramachandra), he added ...                                                      (Source: The Times of India)