Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir

Ayodhya, Ayodhya district, Uttar Pradesh

Famous temples

About

The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir in Ayodhya stands at the place that devotees revere as the birthplace of Shri Ram. It is now one of the most visited temples in India. In the sanctum, Shri Ram is worshipped as Ram Lalla, a child. The temple is built in the North Indian Nagara style from pink sandstone brought from Bansi Paharpur in Rajasthan. It has three storeys, and its main shikhar rises about 161 feet. Its carved pillars show many forms of the devtas, and the complex also has smaller shrines of other devtas. The temple is looked after by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra trust.

The story

Ayodhya, on the banks of the Saryu, is the city of the Suryavansh kings. In the Ramayan, King Dasharath had no children for a long time. After the putrakameshti yagya, Shri Ram was born to Maa Kaushalya on Chaitra Shukla Navami, and Bharat, Lakshman and Shatrughna were born to Maa Kaikeyi and Maa Sumitra. Ram ji spent his childhood here. To keep his father's word he went into vanvas for fourteen years, and after his victory over Ravan he came back to be crowned king of Ayodhya. His rule, Ram Rajya, is remembered as a time of justice and happiness for all. For centuries devotees have come to Ayodhya to bow at the place they believe Ram ji was born. Goswami Tulsidas lovingly called the child Ram 'Ram Lalla', and the name stayed in devotees' hearts. The present temple follows a design by the Sompura family, who come from a long line of temple builders, and work on it began in 2020. On 22 January 2024, the new murti of Ram Lalla was consecrated in the sanctum in a pran pratishtha ceremony, and the temple opened for darshan. Since then devotees from India and abroad have been coming for Ram Lalla's darshan.

Visiting

October to March is the most comfortable time; Ram Navami and Diwali bring very heavy crowds. Security checks are strict, so carry as little as possible. By an old custom, many pilgrims first visit Hanumangarhi. Nearby are Kanak Bhawan, the Nageshwarnath temple and the Saryu ghats at Ram ki Paidi.