What is the historical meaning of the word 'Ayodhya'?

The word 'Ayodhya' is derived from Sanskrit: 'A' (not) + 'Yodhya' (to be fought/conquered), translating to 'The Unconquerable City' or 'That which cannot be subdued in war'.

Why is no iron or steel used in the Ram Mandir construction?

To ensure structural longevity for over 1,000 years without rust or corrosion, the temple is built purely using high-density Bansi Paharpur pink sandstone interlocking blocks joined with copper pins and stone dowels on a massive granite plinth.

Who sculpted the Ram Lalla idol in the Garbha Griha?

The 51-inch idol of 5-year-old Ram Lalla was carved from ancient 2.5-billion-year-old Krishna Shila (black granite) from Karnataka by master sculptor Arun Yogiraj.

Heritage & Sacred History

Ayodhya Through the Ages

From its founding by Vaivasvata Manu and the golden reign of Bhagwan Shri Ram, to the 2024 Pran Pratishtha and architectural revival.

Ayodhya, revered as the foremost among the seven sacred liberation cities (*Moksha Dayani Saptapuri*), carries an unbroken spiritual legacy spanning millennia. Explore the chronological milestone timeline and the breathtaking architectural facts behind the new **Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir**.

Ram Mandir Architectural Marvel

Engineered to endure for over 1,000 years without seismic or environmental degradation:

Architectural StyleTraditional North Indian Nagara Style (Sompara Family lineage)

Construction MaterialRajasthan Bansi Paharpur Pink Sandstone (Zero Iron/Steel Used)

Foundation Base14-meter thick compacted Roller Compacted Concrete (RCC) rock layer

Temple Dimensions380 ft Length × 250 ft Width × 161 ft Height (Shikhara)

Mandapas (Pavilions)5 Mandapas: Nritya, Rang, Sabha, Prarthana, and Kirtan Mandap

Total Pillars & Carvings392 Pillars featuring sculpted Devatas, Apsaras, and Dashavatara

Chronological Sacred Timeline

Satya Yuga

Founded by Vaivasvata Manu

According to the Atharva Veda and Valmiki Ramayana, Ayodhya was founded by Vaivasvata Manu, establishing it as the immortal capital of the Suryavansha (Solar Dynasty).

Treta Yuga

Golden Era of Ikshvaku Dynasty

Capital of King Dasharatha and the Ikshvaku dynasty. Revered as an unassailable golden fortress city ('A-yodhya' meaning 'that which cannot be subdued in war').

Treta Yuga

Avataran of Bhagwan Shri Ram

Lord Rama, the seventh avatar of Bhagwan Vishnu, is born to Queen Kaushalya and King Dasharatha—the divine event celebrated annually as Ram Navami.

Treta Yuga

Ramayana Era & Ram Rajya

Marriage to Mata Sita, 14 years of righteous exile (Vanvas), victory over Ravana, and the golden coronation establishing the ideal righteous kingdom of Ram Rajya.

6th Century BCE

Buddhist & Jain Heritage

Known as Saketa in ancient Buddhist texts visited by Gautama Buddha; also revered as the holy birthplace of five Jain Tirthankaras including Lord Rishabhanatha (Adinath).

4th–5th Century CE

Gupta Empire Renaissance

Emperor Chandragupta II (Vikramaditya) identified the sacred Janmabhoomi site, erecting a grand temple and carving out the traditional pilgrimage ghats.

11th–12th Century

Gahadavala Temple Architecture

Epigraphical records and Sanskrit inscriptions record the construction of the magnificent Vishnu-Hari temple complex at the Janmabhoomi site.

1528 CE

Destruction & Disputed Structure

A three-domed structure was erected over the site during the Mughal reign of Babur by commander Mir Baqi, triggering over five centuries of unbroken Hindu reverence and reclamation.

9 November 2019

Historic Supreme Court Verdict

A 5-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court of India unanimously ruled in favor of Ram Lalla Virajman, awarding the entire 2.77-acre Janmabhoomi complex for temple construction.

5 August 2020

Bhumi Pujan by PM Narendra Modi

Sacred soil from 2,587 holy places and water from 150 sacred rivers across India were sanctified as the foundation stone was laid for the grand Nagara-style temple.

22 January 2024

Pran Pratishtha of Ram Lalla

The divine 51-inch black granite idol of 5-year-old Bhagwan Shri Ram Lalla, sculpted by Arun Yogiraj, was consecrated in the Garbha Griha in a historic global ceremony.

2026 & Beyond