Ayodhya
Contents |
Ajodhya Town (in Sanskrit Ayodhya; now known as Ajudhi): 1908
This article has been extracted from THE IMPERIAL GAZETTEER OF INDIA , 1908. OXFORD, AT THE CLARENDON PRESS. |
Note: National, provincial and district boundaries have changed considerably since 1908. Typically, old states, ‘divisions’ and districts have been broken into smaller units, units, and many tahsils upgraded to districts.Many units have since been renamed. Therefore, this article is being posted mainly for its historical value.
Town in Fyzabad District, United Provinces, situated in 26 degree 48' N. and 82 degree 12' E., on the right bank of the Gogra, and on a branch of the Oudh and Rohilkhand Railway. Population (1901), 21,584. The interest of Ajodhya centres in its ancient history. The old city has almost entirely disappeared, and only its outlines are marked by an extensive tract of elevated ground. But according to tradition Ajodhya was in remote antiquity one of the largest and most magnificent of Indian cities.
It is said to have covered an area of 12 yojanas or 80 to 100 miles in circumference, though the limits according to modern tradition extend only about 6 miles from Guptar Ghat on the west to Ram Ghat on the east. Ajodhya was the capital of the kingdom of Kosala, and contained the court of the great king Dasaratha, fifty-sixth Monarch of the Solar line in descent from Raja Manu. The opening chapters of the Ramayana recount the magnificence of the city, the glories of the monarch, and the virtues, wealth, and loyalty ofhis people. Dasaratha was the father of Rama Chandra, the hero of the epic, whose cult has experienced a great revival in modern times. With the fall of the last of the Solar line, Raja Sumintra, the one hundred and thirteenth monarch, Ajodhya became a wilderness and the royal family dispersed. From different members of this scattered stock the Rajas of Udaipur, Jaipur, &c, claim descent.
Tradition relates that Ajodhya was restored by king Vikramaditya of Ujjain, whose identity is a matter of dispute. Ajodhya was of small importance in Buddhist times, when Saketa became the chief city of Kosala. It is still uncertain where Saketa was situated, and it has been suggested that it occupied part of the ancient city of Ajodhya. Numismatic evidence points to the rule of a line of independent Rajas, in or near Ajodhya, about the com mencement of the Christian era.
The identifications of Ajodhya with the capitals of Sha-chi, 'O-yu-t'o, or Pi-so-kia, visited by the Chinese pilgrims, are all doubtful.
Under the rule of the early Muhammadan kings of Delhi, Ajodhya or Awadh was the seat of a governor whose authority extended over a varying tract of country.
When Akbar had firmly established his power in Northern India, the city became the capital of a Subah or province. In the eighteenth century it was for a time the nominal head-quarters of the early Nawabs of Oudh. In 1765, however, Shuja-ud-daula made his residence at Fyzabad, a few miles away, and Ajodhya lost all im- portance, except as a rellrgious centre.
The present town stretches inland from a high bluff overlooking the Gogra. At one corner of a vast mound known as Ramkot, or the fort of Rama, is the Holy spot where the hero was born. Most of the enclosure is occupied by a mosque built by Babar from the remains of an old temple, and in the outer portion a small platform and shrine mark the birthplace.
Close by is a larger temple in which is shown the cooking-place of Sita, the faithful wife of Rama. A lolty temple stands on the bank of the Gogra at the place where Lakshmana bathed ; and Hanuman, king of the monkeys, is worshipped in a large temple in the town, approached by an immense flight of steps, which bears the name Hanuman Garhi.
Other noticeable temples built during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries are the Kanakbhawan, a fine building erected by a Rani of Tikamgarh, the Nageshwarnath temple, Darshan Singh's temple, and a small marble temple built by the late Maharaja. Ajodhya also contains a number of Jain temples, five of which were built in the eighteenth century to mark the birthplaces of the five hierarchs who are said to have been born at Ajodhya.
Besides the mosque of Babar, two ruined mosques, built by Aurangzeb, stand on the sites of celebrated Hindu shrines — the Swargadwara, where Rama's body was cremated, and the Treta-ka-Thakur, where he sacrificed. An inscription of Jai Chand, the last king of Kanauj, has been found in the latter.
Three graves are reverenced by Musalmans as the tombs of Noah, Seth, and Job, and the two last are mentioned under those names in the Ain-i-Akbari.
A large mound close by, called the Maniparbat, is said to have been dropped by Hanuman when carrying a portion of the Himalayas, while another tradition asserts that it was formed by the coolies who built Ramkot shaking their baskets as they left work ; it possibly covers a ruined stupa.
Modern buildings include the spacious residence of the Maharaja of Ajodhya (see Ajodhya Estate) and two dispensaries. For adminis- trative purposes Ajodhya forms part of the Fyzabad municipality. There is little or no trade ; but three great fairs take place annually in March-April, July -August, and October-November, which are some- times attended by 400,000 persons.
At special fairs the attendance has been estimated at as many as a million. There is one public school, while ten Sanskrit schools contain 350 students.
Chhoti Mecca
120 shrines
Shailvee Sharda, Other Ayodhya: Home of Sufi shrines, November 10, 2018: The Times of India
_and_Tomb_of_Haji_Iqbal_near_Badi_Bua_Grave.jpg)
From: Shailvee Sharda, Other Ayodhya: Home of Sufi shrines, November 10, 2018: The Times of India
It’s Sad The Syncretic Culture Had Never Attracted The Limelight: Scholars
To most, Ram and his ‘janmabhoomi’ are two sides of the same coin. Citing scriptures, some also call Ayodhya the ‘karmabhoomi’ of the Puranic king Bhagirath, who is believed to have brought the Ganga on earth. But the canvas of Ayodhya has many more colours to it.
The saffron of Hindus has given place to yellow, the hues of which are linked to Sufism. In fact, Ayodhya came to be known as ‘Khurd’ or ‘Chhoti Mecca’, an identity coined by the locals to celebrate the pious and plural character of the place.
“Ayodhya is home to at least 120 shrines — including mosques, mazars, karbalas and eidgahs — which are important to Muslims. Each of them attracts Hindus as well. Almost all of the 100 mosques in Ayodhya follow a strictly vegetarian code as a mark of respect for the Hindu brethren,” Mahant Girishpati Tripathi of Tewari Mandir said.
“The presence of these shrines jointly gives Ayodhya its identity of Chhoti Mecca. To a believer, Ayodhya is next to Mecca,” said Mohd Omar, a religious leader. Mohd Akram, a maulvi, added, “Secular Muslims see Lord Ram as a ‘paighambar’ (messenger of God). Religious texts describe him as an avatar and the Quran directs us to respect all paighambars.”
Krishna Kumar Mishra alias Barfi Maharaj, convenor of Shri Saryu Avadh Balak Samiti, a 110-year-old people’s group working to conserve Ayodhya’s heritage and legacy, said, “The mazar of paighambar Hazrat Shees makes Ayodhya a must-visit for Muslims.”
Sarvesh Kumar, assistant professor of cultural geography at Banaras Hindu University, has documented the city’s Sufi heritage. “The mazars of Hazrat Shees, Nuh and Badi Bua are among the most frequently visited. It is a tradition in Hindu families to take newlyweds and babies to these shrines for blessings,” he said.
Hazrat Shees is believed to be the son of Aadam, the first man, in Islamic tradition. “The shrine is at least 600 years old. He was the first child born on earth and lived a thousand years. Abul Fazl, chronicler during Emperor Akbar’s time, has mentioned the shrine,” said its caretaker Mohd Kaleen-ud-Din Firdausi.
Another popular shrine is Nughazi Mazar behind Ayodhya Kotwali. Caretaker Mohd Omar said the place is the mausoleum of Prophet Nun (Noah in the Bible). The shrine of Hazrat Ibrahim Shah from Tashkent is also thronged by devotees every evening. Khadimul Auliya (chief caretaker) Mohd Junaid Qadri said. The Hazrat is also known as ‘zinda fakir’ because it is believed that he is alive and meditating in a cave in Adgada area.
“While most of the early Chisti Sufi shrines are from the 16th century, the tradition in Ayodhya goes back to the 14th century. This includes the shrine of Badi Bua, also unique because she was a woman, the sister of Shaikh Nasiruddin Chiragh-i Dilli, a Sufi saint of the Chishti order who was born in Ayodhya in the 12th century. After having spent 40 years of life in the land of Rama, he shifted to Delhi to live with Khwaja Nizamuddin Auliya.
Locals and scholars said it was unfortunate that Ayodhya’s syncretic culture had never attracted the limelight. “The place should be seen as a school of Sufism as many of these shrines have distinct traditions which are being lost as times change,” said BHU professor Rana PB Singh, who has brought out many papers on the tradition of Ayodhya.
“The canvas of faith in Ayodhya is much bigger than it seems. Besides being the birthplace of Ram and home to more than 60 temples, Ayodhya is a manifestation of belief in the supreme ruler,” said vice-chancellor of RML Avadh University Manoj Dixit.
Hazrat Shees
The Times of India, June 7, 2016
Shailvee Sharda
Ayodhya may have come to be known as the land of Rama because of the dispute over Ram Janmabhoomi, but it has also been known as 'Chhoti Mecca', a term coined locally to celebrate its pluralist culture.
This facet of Ayodha comes into sharp focus particularly during the month of Ramzan. Mahant Girishpati Tripathi of Tewari Mandir said the temple town has at least 20 shrines which are important to Muslims. "Each of these attracts Hindus as well," he said.
There are more than a 100 mosques which follow a strictly vegetarian code as a mark of respect for the Hindu brethen. "The presence of these mazars, mosques and mausoleums jointly give Ayodhya its identity of Chhoti Mecca. To a believer, Ayodhya is next to Mecca," said Mohd Omar, a Muslim religious leader. Maulvi Mohd Akram added that secular Muslims see Lord Rama as 'messenger of god' (meaning paighambar). "Religious texts describe him as an avatar and Quran directs us to respect all paighambars," he said.
"Ayodhya is perhaps the only place in India to have the mazar of Islamic paighambar Hazrat Shees which makes the place a must-visit for Muslims," said Krishna Kumar Mishra (alias Barfi Maharaj), convenor of Shri Saryu Avadh Balak Samiti, a 110-year-old people's group working to conserve Ayodhya's heritage and legacy. Expectedly, Hazrat Shees's mazar is one of the most revered among all places.
"Hazrat Shees was the son of Hazrat Aadam (the first man to be sent on earth) and epitomized the importance of sharing in life," said Mohd Kaleen-udDin Firdausi, caretaker. "The mazar is at least 600 years old. He was the first child to be born on earth and lived for about a 1,000 years. His mazar has increased in length since the time it was made." Abul Fazl, a writer in Akbar's times, has mentioned this mazar. It also finds a mention in 'The Gazeteer' for the province of Oudh (1877).
The main shrines
Shailvee Sharda, March 14, 2019: The Times of India
From: Shailvee Sharda, March 14, 2019: The Times of India
From: Shailvee Sharda, March 14, 2019: The Times of India
From: Shailvee Sharda, March 14, 2019: The Times of India
From: Shailvee Sharda, March 14, 2019: The Times of India
From: Shailvee Sharda, March 14, 2019: The Times of India
Even as the SC-appointed mediation panel is hoping for an amicable settlement to the decades-old Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute, in the temple town different faiths have co-existed for centuries
Following the Supreme Court's decision to refer the Ayodhya litigation to a secret mediation process, the court-appointed three-member panel is in the temple town, hoping to resolve the decades-old Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute through mediation. While for many, Ram and his ‘janmabhoomi’ are two sides of the same coin, the canvas of Ayodhya has, in fact, many more colours to it. Here, the saffron of Hindus co-exists with yellow, the hues of which are linked to Sufism. In fact, Ayodhya is known as ‘Khurd’ or ‘Chhoti Mecca', an identity coined by the locals to celebrate the pious and plural character of the place.
Ayodhya saw no communal clashes in 1992 while the rest of the state was burning after the Babri Masjid demolition
Manoj Dixit, Vice-chancellor, RML Avadh University
“Ayodhya is home to at least 120 shrines including mosques, mazars, karbalas and eidgahs which are important to Muslims. Each of them attracts Hindus as well. Almost all 100 mosques in Ayodhya follow a strict vegetarian code as a mark of respect for the Hindu brethren,” Mahant Girishpati Tripathi of Tewari Mandir said with pride.
“The presence of these shrines jointly gives Ayodhya its identity of Chhoti Mecca. To a believer, Ayodhya is next to Mecca,” said Mohd Omar, a religious leader. Mohd Akram, a maulvi, added, “Secular Muslims see Lord Ram as a ‘paighambar’ (messenger of God). Religious texts describe him as an avatar and the Quran directs us to respect all paighambars.”
Krishna Kumar Mishra alias Barfi Maharaj, convenor of Shri Saryu Avadh Balak Samiti, a 110-year-old people’s group working to conserve Ayodhya's heritage and legacy, said: “The mazar of paighambar Hazrat Shees makes Ayodhya a must-visit for Muslims.”
Almost all 100 mosques in Ayodhya follow a strict vegetarian code as a mark of respect for the Hindu brethren
Mahant Girishpati Tripathi of Tewari Mandir
Sarvesh Kumar, assistant professor of cultural geography at Banaras Hindu University, has documented the city’s Sufi heritage. “The mazars of Hazrat Shees, Nuh and Badi Bua are among the most frequently visited. It is a tradition in Hindu families to take newlyweds and babies to these shrines for blessings,” he said. Hazrat Shees is believed to be the son of Aadam, the first man, in Islamic tradition. “The shrine is at least 600 years old. He was the first child born on earth and lived a thousand years. Abul Fazl, chronicler during Emperor Akbar’s time, has mentioned the shrine,” said its caretaker Mohd Kaleen-ud-Din Firdausi.
Another popular shrine is Nughazi Mazar behind Ayodhya Kotwali. Caretaker Mohd Omar said the place is the mausoleum of Prophet Nun (Noah in the Bible). The shrine of Hazrat Ibrahim Shah from Tashkent is also thronged by devotees every evening, Khadimul Auliya (chief caretaker) Mohd Junaid Qadri said. The Hazrat is also known as 'zinda fakir' because it is believed that he is alive and meditating in a cave in Adgada area.
“While most of the early Chisti Sufi shrines are from the 16th century, the tradition in Ayodhya goes back to the 14th century. This includes the shrine of Badi Bua, also unique because she was a woman, the sister of Shaikh Nasiruddin Chiragh-i Dilli, a Sufi saint of the Chishti order who was born in Ayodhya in the 12th century. After having spent 40 years of life in the land of Ram, he shifted to Delhi to live with Khwaja Nizamuddin Auliya. Badi Bua’s name was Rahmatullah Bibi,” said Kumar. There exist several historical graves in the surroundings of Badi Bua, including those of Shaikh Zainuddin Ali Awadhi, Shaikh Fatehullah Awadhi and Allama Kamaluddin Awadhi, the disciples of Shaikh Nasiruddin.
These mazars attract Muslim visitors even from abroad. “People from South Africa, Indonesia, Trinidad and Tobago visit Ayodhya only for these shrines. They club it with visits to places like Dewa Sharif in Barabanki and Syed Salar Sharif in Bahraich,” said Prateek Hira of Indian Association of Tour Operators.
Locals and scholars said it was unfortunate that Ayodhya’s syncretic culture had never attracted the limelight. “The place should be seen as a school of Sufism as many of these shrines have distinct traditions which are being lost as times change,” said BHU professor Rana PB Singh, who has brought out many papers on the tradition of Ayodhya.
Secular Muslims see Lord Ram as a ‘paighambar’ (messenger of God). Religious texts describe him as an avatar and the Quran directs us to respect all paighambars
Mohd Akram, Maulvi
“The canvas of faith in Ayodhya is much bigger than it seems. Besides being the birthplace of Ram and home to more than 60 temples, Ayodhya is a manifestation of belief in the supreme ruler. The co-existence of people of different faiths, especially Hindus and Muslims, makes it an epitome of India’s syncretic culture,” said vice- chancellor of RML Avadh University Manoj Dixit, adding, "evidence of Ayodhya's tolerance is the fact that the temple town saw no communal clashes in 1992 while the rest of the state was burning after the Babri Masjid demolition."
Development
Land transactions: 2017- 23
Bhavika Jain, January 20, 2024: The Times of India
From: Bhavika Jain, January 20, 2024: The Times of India
As Ayodhya shines again, property prices are on fire
Bhavika.Jain@timesgroup.com
For two years, the dust never settled in Ayodhya. A whole city was being remade on a deadline so tight that it would make an MI movie look rather tepid.
And as the city transformed, its real estate sector also underwent a sea change. Ved Prakash Singh, an 80-year-old who has lived all his life in Ayodhya, recalls how this was a neglected town of narrow streets and open sewers. In two years, all that has changed. His son, Mahesh Singh, is a mason. Now, he’s never without work. He’s not only building houses and shops but also adding an extra floor to his house to accommodate pilgrims. Who knows, some of them may even be international visitors, he says.
The city is currently experiencing a real estate boom, spurred by the upcoming ‘pran pratishtha’ ceremony of the Ram temple. This boom is evidenced by a surge in land deals for luxury hotels, villas, retirement homes, guest houses, and homestays. Since the 2019 Supreme Court verdict favouring the temple’s construction, property prices have increased by 25-30%. An investment of over Rs 85,000 crore is expected in Ayodhya in the next decade.
Anuj Puri, chairman of Anarock group, a real estate consultancy, isn’t surprised by this boom. He attributes it to religious tourism, excellent infrastructure, connectivity, and strong political will.
However, this growth has led to a scarcity of properties. Local property dealer Akhilesh Singh reports a dramatic rise in land rates, with commercial property prices reaching as high as Rs 6,000-Rs 7,000 per sq ft. This scarcity is echoed by another dealer, Pervez Ahmed, who notes the government’s acquisition of most vacant plots and sky-high prices due to high demand and limited supply. This development has had its downsides. About 4,000 residential and commercial structures were demolished to widen a road, causing dissatisfaction among those who lost property.
The Ayodhya Development Authority plans to develop a new housing scheme spread across 80 acres. High-profile projects, like that of Mumbai-based developer Abhinandan Lodha, are in the pipeline, including a 25-acre project with luxury amenities. The city is preparing to accommodate a surge in tourism. Officials estimate around 45 lakh tourists monthly, far exceeding Ayodhya’s population. The hospitality sector is responding; major players are planning hotels to meet the demand. For instance, the Taj brand is set to open upscale hotels, and the Abhinandan Lodha group is collaborating with Leela Palaces, Hotels & Resorts for a luxury hotel near the temple.
Local families like Shivani Shukla’s are adapting to the tourist influx by starting travel companies and offering homestay accommodation, showcasing Ayodhya’s evolution from a quaint town to a booming religious tourism hub.
Hanumangarhi/ Aalamgiri Masjid in Argara
A 300-year-old dilapidated mosque would be rebuilt on the land belonging to Hanumangarhi temple,.
Days after a local civic body declared the Aalamgiri Masjid `hazardous', and pasted a notice banning entry into the building, Hanumangarhi temple trust, which is in possession of the masjid land, not only allowed its reconstruction and agreed to bear the cost but also welcomed Muslims to offer namaz in the premises.
Aalamgiri Masjid was built in the 17th century with the consent of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb by one of his generals. The structure and its land situated in an area called Argara came in the possession of the Hanumangarhi temple after Nawab Shujauddaulah donated the land to the temple in around 1765, on the condition that namaz would continue at the masjid.
However, gradually the practice of offering namaz came to an end and the masjid was lying abandoned with no renovation or maintenance. Ayodhya municipal board had recently put up a notice on its wall banning entry into the masjid.This galvanised a group of local Muslims following which they met Hanumangarhi's chief priest Mahant Gyan Das, requesting him the permission to get the masjid repaired.
“I asked our Muslim brothers to renovate and reconstruct the masjid on our expense and also issued noobjection certificate for Muslims to offer namaz as this is also a `Khuda ka ghar',“ Mahant Gyan Das told TOI.
“I am also extending support for the renovation of a mausoleum on the premises which is as old as the masjid,“ added Gyan Das, who has been holding iftar for Ayodhya Muslims during Ramzan.
Elaborating on the masjid, historian Roshan Taqui said, “After the battle of Buxar in 1764, Shujauddaulah, the Nawab of Awadh, moved his capital from Faizabad to Lucknow. During his reign in Faizabad he had donated the land in Ayodhya for the construction of Hanumangarhi temple. After he shifted to Lucknow, when a delegation of mahants visited him and appealed for more land, the nawab donated four pucca bighas of land that already had on it a masjid built by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.“
Mani Ram Ki Chhawni
Shri Sita Ram Naam Bank
A bank where Ram Naam is deposited in Urdu, Arabic, Apr 5, 2017: The Times of India
HIGHLIGHTS
Devotees here deposit the name ‘Shri Sita Ram’ in red ink on the notebook provided free of cost by the bank
The bank management claims the number of notebooks deposited with them is in crores
Bags and bags of notebooks lie packed in this bank. In each notebook, the words 'Shri Sita Ram' are written in scores of boxes. The sacred words are not only in Hindi or Sanskrit but also in Urdu and Arabic.
The International Shri Sita Ram Naam Bank in Mani Ram Ki Chhawni locality of Ayodhya offers no interest but promises full return on the day of judgement.
Established about 20 years ago, devotees here deposit the name 'Shri Sita Ram' in red ink on the notebook provided free of cost by the bank. The bank management claims the number of notebooks deposited with them is in crores.
The notebooks are taken by account holders who return after months or years to deposit the filled-in copies and take new ones. The bank also offers a facility to send and receive copies by post from various destinations in India and abroad.
Mahant Raghuvar Sharan of Rasik Niwas temple says, "The bank does not deal in money but the number of its account holders is on the rise."
"Scribbling 'Shri Sita Ram' has always been a popular way of remembering the lord. One need not go to a temple. A businessman can do it sitting in his office, an office-goer can do it at his desk whenever he gets a break and a housewife can do it while doing her daily chores," said Mahant Ram Das, the chief priest of Nirmohi Akhara.
Mahant Punit Ram Das, manager of the bank, says, "We have deposits of 'Shri Sita Ram' in Urdu, Arabic, English, Gujarati and Marathi and the account-holders could be bureaucrats, businessmen, rickshaw-pullers, labourers, homeakers or social activists. They hail from all faiths. "This bank has got branches in the US, Canada, Nepal, Poland and almost all states of India," he says.
"There is frustration in every walk of life. People look for a medium to provide them a way to obtain peace. Scribbling 'Shri Sita Ram' is a way to connect to God," says Mahant Punit Ram Das.
Religious sites in the town
As in 2024
January 22, 2024: The Times of India
Hanumangarhi | A 10th-century temple believed to have been built by King Vikramaditya for the worship of Hanuman. Legend has it that Hanuman lived at this sacred site to guard Ram Janmabhoomi. The main temple houses an idol of Bal Hanuman on mother Anjani’s lap.
Guptar Ghat | Ram devotees believe this is where Ram took his last dip before leaving the earth for his original abode, ‘Vaikuntha’. Recently, the Ayodhya Development Authority renovated the ghats and built modern amenities for pilgrims, including food kiosks, a cafeteria, a children’s park, an open-air theatre and a meditation-cum-yoga centre.
Mani Parvat | It is believed that this was born out of a mountain of gems that Sita’s father Janak had gifted to Dashrath after her marriage to Ram.
Dashrath Mahal | Legend has it that this was where Ram spent most of his childhood. Now, it’s a famous Siddha Peeth that houses idols of Ram, Sita, Lakshman, Bharat and Shatrughan, alongside statues of King Dashrath and his wives.
Kalenath |The significance of this temple lies in the unique depiction of Ram as darkskinned. It is claimed that after the arrival of the Mughals, the temple’s priest took the idol and cast it into the Saryu, and in 1748, the idol was found in the river and reinstated in the temple.
Ram Ki Paidi | Ram ki Paidi is a series of ghats on the banks of the Saryu. According to popular lore, Ram stood here and said only those who have bathed in the Saryu before sunrise would be allowed to complete their pilgrimage. Pilgrims, therefore, flock to these ghats to take a dip in the holy waters, especially on full moon nights. In 2019, Ram Ki Paidi created a Guinness world record when pilgrims lit 410,000 diyas for Diwali.
Rang Mahal Mandir | A temple dedicated to the worship of Sita. Here, Ram is worshipped as Sita’s groom. A unique characteristic of this temple is the veiled priests, who consider themselves Sita’s friends. The temple is also known for its ‘jhulan’ tradition on Guru Purnima when the idol of Ram is placed on a swing.
Sita Ki Rasoi | It is a temple that houses symbolic kitchen utensils. It is believed Sita served the Panch Rishis here.
Raj Dwar | Originally built as an entry point to the solar dynasty’s palaces in Ayodhya. Currently, it stands as a temple.
Treta Ke Thakur | Constructed 300 years ago by the king of Kullu. The temple houses idols of Ram, Sita, Lakshman and Hanuman, carved from a single black stone block. Kanak Bhawan | Located next to the Ram Janmabhoomi, it was the fabled gift to Sita after her wedding from queen Kaikeyi. King Vikramaditya and subsequent rulers undertook renovations.
Nageshwara Nath Temple | Dedicated to the worship of Shiva. It is known to house one of India’s 12 jyotirlingas. According to lore, Ram’s son Kush built this temple for the “snake girl” who found his lost armlet in the Saryu. This temple is believed to have aided King Vikramaditya in rediscovering Ayodhya. It draws thousands of devotees annually during Shivratri.
Maniram Das Chhawani | One of the largest temples in Ayodhya, drawing numerous pilgrims daily across its 25-acre complex. A Gita-inscribed pillar is one of the major attractions of this holy site. The temple’s Mahant Nritya Gopal Das was a key figure in the Ram Temple movement and headed Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas.
Sitaraj Mahal Mandir | Dedicated to the worship of Sita. It is believed this was where Sita unveiled her face for the first time after her wedding. One of the unique traditions of this temple is the offering of milk to the deity in the morning.
Deokali Kund | According to religious texts, when Sita arrived in Ayodhya after marrying Ram, she brought her family deity Girija Devi’s idol from Janakpur. She would worship the deity in this temple. The Hindu epic ‘Ramayana’ carries several references to this holy temple.
The town
As in Dec 2023
Shalabh & Arshad Afzaal Khan, Dec 10, 2023: The Times of India
From: Shalabh & Arshad Afzaal Khan, Dec 10, 2023: The Times of India
From: Shalabh & Arshad Afzaal Khan, Dec 10, 2023: The Times of India
A sleepy town until November 2019, when the Supreme Court cleared the way for temple construction, Ayodhya is rapidly growing into a city that can receive 50,000 to 10 lakh visitors in a day. Projects worth Rs 50,000 crore – airport, railway station, new township, roads, star-rated hotels – are in different stages of completion, and many more are lined up. Altogether 37 state and national government agencies and departments are collaborating on 264 different projects. For now, the focus is on works within 5km of the Ram Temple as these have to be finished by December 31.
Access To Temple & Town
Three narrow lanes that led to the temple have been turned into 4-lane roads. Of these, the 13km Ram Path that connects Sahadatganj to Naya Ghat is the longest, followed by the 2km Ram Janmabhoomi Path between Sugriv Quila and the temple. The 750m Bhakti Path from Shringar Hat to Ram Janmabhoomi is the shortest.
These three roads had a melange of government, commercial, religious and residential buildings along them. During road widening their facades were pulled down and remodelled to harmonise their look and feel. Even the streetlights and shop shutters have been designed in line with the overall theme. Visitors will be greeted by grand welcome gates at the town’s six entry and exit points. They’ll find new bus shelters, legacy stambhs (specially designed pillars), 3,500 seating platforms with planters, mosaic art on the walls, aluminium murals, and other Ramayanathemed design elements.
When the new temple opens to the public on January 27, Ayodhya will have direct flights to and from Delhi airport. Built in less than three years, the brand new Maryada Purushottam Ram International Airport is modelled on the Ram Temple and will commence operations from December 15. The revamped railway station also takes design cues from the temple and will open in January. Meanwhile, NHAI is improving Ayodhya’s road links with neighbouring cities.
More Hotels And Homes
As a global tourism hub, Ayodhya expects to have a floating population of about 1 lakh daily visitors. Where 5,000-odd pilgrims came every day before November 2019, it gets 40,000-60,000 visitors now. This had started telling on the town’s resources as, until last year, the local municipal corporation had the capacity to cater to only 35,000 households.
“As an additional floating population of 1 lakh would be added to the city, it was important to renew the city. Electric buses, passenger vehicles, amenities and other resources would be added with time accordingly,” said Ayodhya municipal commissioner Vishal Singh.
And because Ayodhya’s sanctity could attract senior citizens and families to have a second home here, the Uttar Pradesh housing department has launched a 1,200-acre township which will be developed in phases with a budget of Rs 3,000 crore.
Private Players In, Rates Up
The Ayodhya 2031 master plan forecasts a four-fold increase in population in a decade due to migration.
So, private builders are making big investments in the town. Eight developers have taken land from Ayodhya Development Authority (ADA) to build townships. Senior government officials told TOI that 2-3 applications for building hotels and guest houses are received every month and 15 of them have been approved. Altogether, ADA is looking at private investments to the tune of Rs 5,000 crore.
Development projects have driven up land rates in Ayodhya and its twin Faizabad by up to 12 times, depending on the locality and its proximity to the temple. Shreyansh Singh, a 32-year-old realtor in Sahadatganj, says, “Plots for resale located 10-12km away from the temple along Ram Path now cost Rs 2,000 to Rs 2,600 per square foot. Five years back, nobody would have offered even Rs 500 per square foot for plots in these localities.”
See also
Ayodhya
Ayodhya: Ram Janmabhoomi Temple
