Ayodhya

The Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, India, is a Hindu temple complex believed to be located at Ram Janmabhoomi, the mythical birthplace of Lord Rama, a principal deity in Hinduism. The temple was inaugurated on 22 January 2024 following a consecration ceremony, after which it received over half a million visitors on its first day and saw between 100,000 and 150,000 daily visitors within a month. The site was previously occupied by the Babri Masjid, a 16th-century mosque built by Mughal emperor Babur, which was demolished in 1992 amid communal tensions. A 2019 Supreme Court verdict awarded the site to Hindus for temple construction, directing the government to provide an alternate site for a mosque.

The temple is nearing completion, with the grand flag-hoisting ceremony scheduled for 25 November 2025, following Diwali celebrations. It is designed in the Nagara style of architecture, featuring a three-storied structure with each floor dedicated to different aspects of Lord Rama's life and journey. The main temple is constructed using traditional materials such as pink sandstone from Rajasthan, granite for the plinth, and marble for inlay work, with no steel or iron used in the construction. The temple complex spans 4 hectares and includes five mandaps (halls), 392 pillars, 44 doors, and a 14-metre thick roller-compacted concrete foundation. The sanctum sanctorum houses an idol of Ram Lalla, an infant form of Lord Rama, sculpted by Arun Yogiraj.

The temple complex also includes a museum, a pilgrims' facility centre for 25,000 people, a sewage treatment plant, and other modern amenities, emphasizing sustainability and environmental conservation. A time capsule containing a copper plate with information about the temple has been buried approximately 2,000 feet below ground. The temple is designed to be earthquake-resistant and features 200 lightning arresters to prevent damage from storms. The construction was overseen by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, with the original design by the Sompura family of Ahmedabad, later modified in accordance with Vastu Shastra and Shilpa Shastra