What is the name of the flying chariot used by Rama to return to Ayodhya?

The flying chariot Rama used to return to Ayodhya was the Pushpaka Vimana. In the Ramayana, this aerial vehicle originally belonged to Kubera, the wealthy lord of treasures and Ravana's half-brother. Ravana seized it from Kubera after defeating him and taking control of Lanka.

Following Ravana's defeat, Rama used the Pushpaka Vimana to travel from Lanka toward Ayodhya with Sita, Lakshmana, and their allies. Its magical nature distinguishes it from an ordinary chariot: it could fly through the sky and expand to accommodate its passengers. Epic descriptions portray it as an extraordinary vehicle or palace-like conveyance rather than a historical aircraft.

The name is sometimes shortened to Pushpaka or Pushpak, while vimana is a broader Sanskrit term used for flying vehicles, palaces, or divine chariots in Hindu literature. That is why “Vimana” alone is less precise than the full answer. Another common mix-up is Garuda, the divine bird associated with Vishnu; Garuda is not Rama's returning chariot.