Ram Mandir Ayodhya - Complete History & Guide

Ayodhya Ram Mandir - Complete History and Guide The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir, popularly known as Ram Mandir or Ayodhya Ram Mandir, is a Hindu temple under construction in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, India. It is built at the site of Ram Janmabhoomi - the birthplace of Lord Rama. The temple was inaugurated on 22 January 2024 with the Pran Pratishtha ceremony performed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the presence of thousands of saints and dignitaries. This was one of the most historic events in modern India. Architecture of Ram Mandir The Ram Mandir is built in the Nagara style of Hindu temple architecture. The temple is 380 feet long, 250 feet wide, and 161 feet high. It has 5 mandapas (halls): Nritya Mandap, Rang Mandap, Sabha Mandap, Prarthana Mandap, and Kirtan Mandap. The temple is built with pink sandstone from Rajasthan (Bansi Paharpur). It has 392 pillars and 44 doors. No steel or iron is used in the construction - all pillars are made of stone. The temple can accommodate approximately 10,000 pilgrims at a time. History of Ram Mandir Movement The Ram Janmabhoomi movement is one of the most significant religious and political movements in modern India. For centuries, Hindus believed that the exact spot where Lord Ram was born in Ayodhya was sacred. In 1528 AD, Mir Baqi, a commander of Mughal Emperor Babur, demolished the original Ram Mandir and constructed the Babri Masjid at that site. This led to centuries of conflict. Multiple legal battles were fought. Finally on 9 November 2019, the Supreme Court of India gave a unanimous verdict in favor of the Ram Janmabhoomi Trust, directing the government to hand over the disputed land to the Trust for building the temple. On 5 August 2020, Prime Minister Modi performed the Bhoomi Pujan (ground-breaking ceremony) for the Ram Mandir. On 22 January 2024, the Pran Pratishtha ceremony was performed, consecrating the idol of Ram Lalla in the sanctum sanctorum. Ram Lalla - The Main Deity The main deity of Ram Mandir is Ram Lalla - the child form of Lord Ram. The new murti (idol) was sculpted by Arun Yogiraj, a noted sculptor from Mysuru. The idol is 51 inches tall, made of Krishna Shila (black stone), and shows Lord Ram as a 5-year-old child. Darshan Timings Morning Session: 6:00 AM to 12:00 PM Afternoon Break: 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM Evening Session: 2:00 PM to 10:00 PM Mangala Aarti: 4:00 AM (Special darshan) Shringar Aarti: 6:00 AM Shodashopachar Puja: 7:30 AM Bhog Aarti: 12:00 PM Sandhya Aarti: 7:30 PM Shayan Aarti: 10:00 PM How to Reach Ram Mandir By Air: Maharishi Valmiki International Airport, Ayodhya (AYJ) - inaugurated in December 2023 By Train: Ayodhya Dham Junction (AY) - well connected to all major cities By Road: Well connected by NH-27 and state highways Ayodhya is located approximately: - 135 km from Lucknow - 200 km from Varanasi - 700 km from Delhi - 550 km from Patna