श्री राम जन्मभूमी मंदिर, अयोध्या
Today at this temple
Quick facts
- Primary deity
- राम
- Tradition
- vaishnava
- Year founded
- 2024
- Founder
- Ancient birthplace of Bhagavan Shri Ram (Treta Yuga per Valmiki Ramayana); current grand temple consecrated (Pran Pratishtha) on 22 January 2024 by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. The Pran Pratishtha of Ram Lalla — the child form of Shri Ram (5-year-old infant) — was performed by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi as yajaman, guided by a panel of Vedic priests led by Acharya Lakshmikant Dixit of Kashi. The 51-inch black-shaligram-stone Balak Ram murti was sculpted by Arun Yogiraj of Mysuru, Karnataka.
- Managing trust
- Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust — established by Government of India (Ministry of Home Affairs) on 5 February 2020 following the Supreme Court of India judgment of 9 November 2019. Chairman: Shri Mahant Nritya Gopal Das (Ramanandi Vaishnava tradition); General Secretary: Shri Champat Rai; Treasurer: Swami Govind Dev Giri. 15-member board includes representatives of Ramanandi, Nirmohi Akhara, and other sampradayas
- Daily footfall
- 1-1.5 lakh daily (post-consecration baseline); 2-3 lakh on weekends
- Photography
- outside_only
- Non-Hindu policy
- all_welcome
- Dress code
- Traditional respectful attire — men in kurta-pajama / dhoti-kurta / shirt-trouser; women in saree / salwar-kameez / lehenga-choli. Shorts, sleeveless, Western mini-skirts, and ripped jeans not permitted. No specific color restriction though saffron, white, yellow, and red are most auspicious. Footwear removed at the outer complex gate (free cloakroom; token-based). No leather belts, wallets, or bags inside the main sanctum enclosure. Phones permitted in outer parkota but NOT inside the garbha-mandapa queue. Metal detectors and bag scanners at all entry points (strict security — CISF-deployed post-consecration).
- Accessibility
- ♿ 👴 🍼
- VIP darshan
- ✓
- Typical visit
- 90–240 min
Sthala Purana — the story
Per Valmiki Ramayana — the oldest extant narrative — Ayodhya was founded by Vaivasvata Manu, the progenitor of the Solar dynasty (Suryavamsha / Ikshvaku-vamsha). The city stood on the banks of the Sarayu river and was the capital of Kosala kingdom through the reigns of Ikshvaku, Mandhata, Harishchandra, Sagara, Dilipa, Raghu, Aja, Dasharatha, and finally Shri Ram. Dasharatha and his three queens Kausalya, Kaikeyi, and Sumitra presided over a dharmic and prosperous kingdom. Shri Ram — born to Kausalya on Chaitra Shukla Navami (Ram Navami) — was the seventh avatar of Vishnu, incarnated specifically to end the tyranny of the 10-headed rakshasa Ravana of Lanka. After his exile, vana-vasa, Sita-haran, the Lanka war, and victorious return, Shri Ram ruled Ayodhya for an idealized 11,000 years — the "Ramrajya" golden age that became the Hindu civilizational template for just governance. Shri Ram, Sita, Lakshman, Bharat, Shatrughan, and their descendants are all recorded as having maintained temples and sacred sites in Ayodhya. The Janmabhoomi itself — the exact spot of Shri Ram's birth in the royal palace of Dasharatha — became a continuously-worshipped pilgrimage site. Per tradition, Emperor Vikramaditya of Ujjain (1st century BCE) constructed a major Ram Mandir on the spot using black stone and wooden columns. The Puranas (Skanda Purana, Padma Purana, Vayu Purana) contain extensive references to Ayodhya as one of the 7 Sapta-Puri moksha-tirthas. The sthala-purana emphasizes the redemptive power of simply dying in Ayodhya — death on Ayodhya soil is said to grant direct moksha, bypassing the usual cycle of rebirth. The Sarayu river's origins are traced to Manasarovar in the Himalayas (via Gomati tributary); bathing in Sarayu is spiritually equivalent to Ganga-snana per Ayodhya tradition.
References: Valmiki Ramayana Bala Kanda and Ayodhya Kanda · Ramcharitmanas (Goswami Tulsidas) Bala Kanda and Uttara Kanda · Skanda Purana Ayodhya Mahatmya sections · Hanuman Chalisa (Tulsidas) 40 chaupais in praise of Hanuman
Darshan & aartis
- 04:30Mangala Aarti (Jagaran)60 min · Pre-dawn awakening aarti performed by the Trust-appointed priests inside the sanctum; deity is awakened with Jagaran mantras, Ganga-Sarayu-jal abhishekam, and fresh silk installation. Invitation-only for pass-holders (book through Trust website); general pilgrim access begins at 06:30.
- 06:30Shringar Aarti30 min · Morning decoration aarti as Ram Lalla is adorned with crown, bow-arrow, jewelry, and day-specific shringar; pilgrim queue darshan begins.
- 12:00Bhog Aarti30 min · Midday bhog offering — panchamrita, kheer, laddu, fresh butter, fruits, tulsi; sanctum closes 12:30-13:30 for Madhyahna Bhog and Shayan (rest).
- 16:00Uttharapan Aarti30 min · Afternoon awakening aarti as Ram Lalla is woken from rest; evening darshan queue resumes.
- 18:30Sandhya Aarti45 min · Evening twilight aarti — 108+ lamps lit; Hanuman Chalisa and Ram Raksha Stotram recited; atmospheric golden-hour darshan of the illuminated Balak Ram; among the most popular aarti slots.
- 21:30Shayan Aarti30 min · Night closing aarti — deity put to sleep with lullabies (Ram-palna songs); silk curtain drawn; sanctum closes 22:00. On Ram Navami, Deepotsav, and Saavan months, extended to 23:30.
Plan your visit
Maharshi Valmiki International Airport, Ayodhya (AYJ) — 15 km, operational from 30 December 2023; currently served by IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet with daily flights from Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru. Lucknow (LKO) — 135 km, 2.5 hours drive; Gorakhpur (GOP) — 150 km; Varanasi (VNS) — 200 km
Ayodhya Dham Junction (AYC) — 3 km from Mandir; Ayodhya Cantt (old Faizabad Jn, AY) — 8 km; both have direct trains from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Varanasi, Lucknow, Patna, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Mangaluru, Jaipur post 2024 infrastructure expansion
Multiple designated parking zones operated by Ayodhya Development Authority (ADA) — Kaushalya Parking (2 km; large capacity), Sita Parking, Lava-Kush Parking. ₹50-150 per 4-wheel; ₹20-50 per 2-wheel. E-rickshaws and ADA-operated shuttles between parking and Mandir gate (₹20-50). Avoid private autorickshaws quoting ₹500+ during peaks — use prepaid ADA counter.
✓
The Ramayana (Taj Hotels) (2.5 km) · Ayodhya Ashram Dharamshalas (VHP, Karsevakpuram, Ramkot area) (1 km) · UP Tourism Saket Hotel, Ayodhya (3 km) · Faizabad-Ayodhya mid-range hotels (5 km)
Trust Annakshetra (Free Mahaprasad) · Ramkot & Hanumangarhi area pure-veg restaurants · Ayodhya Urad-dal Kachori and Jalebi stalls · Trust Prasad Counter — Shri Ram Laddu
Year-round accessible. The absolute peak — Ram Navami (Chaitra Shukla Navami, late March to mid-April; 2026: 29 March 2026) — brings 25+ lakh pilgrims and the unique Surya-Kirana event (sun rays on Ram Lalla's forehead at solar noon). Deepotsav (eve of Diwali, Kartik Krishna Chaturdashi; typically late October or early November) is the second peak — 25+ lakh diyas are lit on Sarayu ghats in a record-setting illumination; 10-15 lakh pilgrims; the event has held Guinness World Record for largest simultaneous diya-lighting since 2017. Kartik Purnima (November) and Akshaya Tritiya (April-May) draw 5-8 lakh. Chaitra Navratri (9 days preceding Ram Navami) and Shravan month (July-August) are sustained peaks. October-February is the ideal regular-visit window (15-28°C; clear skies). March-June is hot (30-45°C) and best avoided by sensitive pilgrims. July-September monsoon is lush but rainy. For first-time pilgrims, allocate a minimum 2 full days for Ayodhya: Day 1 — Shri Ram Mandir (book Sugam Darshan), Hanumangarhi (adjacent — mandatory precursor visit per tradition), Kanak Bhawan (Sita-Ram's private palace in their marriage residence tradition), Nageshwarnath (ancient Shiva shrine by Ram's son Kush); Day 2 — Sarayu ghats + Deepotsav-ground walk, Treta ke Thakur, Ram ki Paidi, 14 Kosi Parikrama starting point, Bharat Kund (16 km). For pairing — Ayodhya combines naturally with Naimisharanya (80 km, 18-Purana completion site), Chitrakoot (250 km, Ram's 12-year vanavasa beginning), Varanasi (200 km, Kashi Vishwanath + pan-Hindu integration), Mathura-Vrindavan (600 km via rail, Krishna Janmabhoomi + Bhramar Ghat). Ayodhya's new Maharshi Valmiki International Airport and Ayodhya Dham Junction make it the most accessible major North-Indian pilgrimage today.
- Traditional clothing (men: kurta-pajama / dhoti; women: saree or salwar-kameez; saffron / yellow / white most auspicious; strictly no shorts or ripped jeans)
- Photo-ID and Aadhaar (mandatory for darshan pass booking and entry verification)
- Darshan booking pass printout or digital QR (srjbtkshetra.org — book 7-15 days ahead for Ram Navami and Deepotsav)
- Tulsi garland, fresh flowers (lotus, rose, marigold), unbroken rice (akshat), honey, panchamrita for bhog
- Comfortable slippers (removed at outer gate; free token-based cloakroom)
- Cash and UPI; ATMs at Trust complex and throughout Ayodhya
- Water bottle, ORS sachets (summer April-June is hot 35-45°C)
- Umbrella / raincoat (July-September monsoon is heavy)
- Warm clothing (December-February minimums can fall to 5-10°C; foggy)
- Sunscreen, hat/cap for summer pilgrimages
- Phones allowed outside main sanctum; photography strictly prohibited within the garbha-mandapa queue
- Ramcharitmanas or Ram Raksha Stotram books for recitation during queue
- For elderly pilgrims intending final anantavasa: contact Sapta-Puri moksha-serving ashrams (Hanumangarhi, Nageshwarnath, Kanak Bhawan) for long-stay arrangements
- Medicines for chronic conditions (long queue times may strain those with cardiac/diabetic/respiratory issues; priority Divyang lane is available — use it)
- For Ram Navami: arrive 2-3 days early; book accommodation 90+ days ahead; expect 12-24 hour darshan queues; the Surya-Kirana event at noon is the spiritual climax
- For Deepotsav (eve of Diwali): 25+ lakh diyas lit on Sarayu ghats; book ghat-side viewing 60+ days ahead
Gallery & media
Deity & iconography
- Height of murti
- 130 cm
- Vahana
- Hanuman (depicted with folded hands as Shri Ram's pre-eminent bhakta); Garuda (Vishnu-avatara vahana, sculpted at entrance)
- Adornments
- The principal deity, "Balak Ram" or "Ram Lalla," is a 51-inch (130 cm) standing murti of the 5-year-old child Shri Ram — sculpted from Krishna-shila (black shaligram-grade stone sourced from Gandaki river region of Nepal). Depicted as a child holding a bow (dhanush) and arrow (baan); adorned with a gold crown encrusted with diamonds, rubies, and emeralds; golden bow and arrow; diamond-studded tilak; silk pitambara (yellow-gold dhoti); navaratna kanthi-mala; pearl necklaces; gold kamarbandh; kadas; paduka. The 10 Dashavatara carvings of Vishnu adorn the aureole (prabhavali) behind the deity; Hanuman, Sugriva, and Shiva also on the prabhavali. Additional panels: Surya, Brahma, Swastika. Daily shringar themes rotate: Monday — white-silk for Shiva-priti; Tuesday — red for Hanuman-day; Wednesday — green; Thursday — yellow/gold for Brihaspati; Friday — white-pink; Saturday — blue/black; Sunday — pink-red. Abhishekam with Sarayu water, Ganga water, panchamrita, and rose-water.
- Consorts on panel
- The main sanctum depicts Balak Ram alone (infant form, pre-marriage). Subsidiary/planned shrines in the larger complex: Sita-Ram-Lakshman-Hanuman panel (Ram Darbar — on first floor, consecrated phase 2); Devi Annapurna, Devi Bhagwati, Shiva as Ramanatheshwar; Ganesha, Surya, Hanuman (separate mandir), Maa Annapurna. Outer parkota wall shrines (planned across 70-acre complex): Rishi Valmiki, Sant Tulsidas, Mata Shabari, Nishadraj Guha, Mata Ahilya, Rishi Vashishtha, Rishi Vishwamitra.
- Favored bhoga
- Panchamrita (milk, curd, ghee, honey, sugar) · Ganga-Sarayu-jal · tulsi leaves (Shri Ram's consort Sita = Vrinda in Vaishnava tradition) · kheer · maaka ki sabzi · lotus and rose garlands · yellow-gold silk · unbroken rice (akshat) with haldi · misri (rock sugar) · fresh butter · kamal (lotus) · makhana kheer · Prasad laddus (boondi) produced at the Trust's own kitchen; packaged as Shri Ram Prasad
- Mantras chanted here
- Shri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram · Om Shri Ramaya Namah · Ram Raksha Stotram · Hanuman Chalisa · Ramcharitmanas (Tulsidas) · Valmiki Ramayana · Shri Ramachandra Kripalu Bhajaman · Tulsi Ramayana chaupais · Maharshi Valmiki Ramayana shlokas
- Worship purpose
- Darshan of Shri Ram at his eternal birthplace (janmabhoomi) — the single-most-significant site for Shri Ram bhakti in all of Bharat. Worship for: (a) Maryada Purushottam darshan — Ram as the ideal of dharma, truth, devoted husband, exemplary son, just king; (b) Ramrajya ideal — the golden-age governance model of the Ramayana; (c) spiritual liberation through Ram Nama (Ram's name as the Kali-yuga mahamantra); (d) witnessing the restored Janmabhoomi — site of one of the longest civilizational legal-religious struggles in world history (490+ years from 1528 destruction to 2024 consecration); (e) integration with the 7-Puri Sapta-Puri teachings (Ayodhya is one of the 7 moksha-granting cities alongside Mathura, Haridwar, Kashi, Kanchi, Avantika, Dwaraka).
Architecture & art
The current Shri Ram Mandir is designed in classical Nagara (North-Indian) style by the Sompura family — the pre-eminent hereditary temple architects of Bharat, spanning 15 generations. Chief architect Chandrakant Sompura (whose earlier designs include the Somnath rebuild) led the design; son Nikhil Sompura and grandson Ashish Sompura executed refinements. The temple follows strict Vastu-shastra and Shilpa-shastra principles: NO iron or steel anywhere in the superstructure above plinth — only stone-on-stone with copper-clamp connectors, following 1000-year-old Nagara temple methodology. Materials: Bansi Paharpur pink sandstone (Bharatpur, Rajasthan) for exterior cladding — the same stone used in many great Rajput forts; Makrana white marble (Makrana, Rajasthan) — same quarry as Taj Mahal — for interior and sanctum; Chamrajnagar granite (Karnataka) for the plinth; Ballarpur teak (Maharashtra) clad with 5-kg gold leaf for the 44 doors. The completed temple is 380 feet long (east-west), 250 feet wide, and 161 feet tall at the shikhara (49.4m). The structure has 3 storeys (ground, first, second) with 5 major mandapas running east-to-west: Nritya (dance), Rang (color), Sabha (assembly), Prarthana (prayer), Kirtan (chanting). 392 pillars — each carved with multiple Ramayana episodes, deities, yogic postures, and decorative motifs — support the structure. The ground-floor garbha-griha houses the 51-inch Balak Ram murti (sculpted by Arun Yogiraj from Krishna-shila black stone) on a 4-foot marble plinth. First floor is planned for the Ram Darbar (Sita-Ram-Lakshman-Hanuman panel). Second floor holds the shikhara staging and Kalasha mounting. The 732-meter parkota wall (14 feet high) will enclose 6 subsidiary shrines: Surya, Shiva, Ganesha, Bhagavati, Hanuman, Annapurna. Beyond the parkota, the 70-acre complex accommodates: Sapta-Rishi shrines (Valmiki, Tulsidas, Shabari, Vashishtha, Vishwamitra, Agastya, Ahilya), Kuber-tila with Jatayu statue, museum, library, Valmiki auditorium. A unique architectural feat: the Surya-kirana system — on Ram Navami at solar-noon, sun rays enter through a 3-aperture pathway in the shikhara and strike Ram Lalla's forehead for 4 minutes; designed by IIA-Bangalore astronomers and CBRI-Roorkee structural engineers in collaboration with Sompura architects.
- Style
- Nagara style — classical North-Indian temple architecture; 3-storey (ground, first, second floor); 5 main mandapas (Nritya, Rang, Sabha, Prarthana, Kirtan); 392 pillars with intricate carvings of Ramayana episodes, deities, and yogic-dance postures; 44 doors; pink Bansi Paharpur sandstone (Rajasthan) for exterior; Makrana white marble (Rajasthan) for interior; granite plinth (Karnataka-Telangana); NO iron/steel in the superstructure (traditional Nagara principles — stone-on-stone with mortar-free jointing, copper clamps only)
- Shikhara height
- 49.4 m
- Built of
- Bansi Paharpur pink sandstone (Bharatpur, Rajasthan) — exterior cladding; Makrana white marble (Makrana, Rajasthan) — sanctum and interior; granite (Chamrajnagar, Karnataka) — plinth; teak wood doors from Maharashtra (Ballarpur) clad with gold leaf; 392 carved pillars; 44 doors; copper clamps replace iron connectors per traditional Sompura Nagara methodology; NO structural iron or steel anywhere above plinth; gold-plated sanctum door
- Notable features
- 70-acre mandir complex · 2.77-acre main mandir footprint · 3-storey temple with shikhara at 161-feet (49.4m) above plinth · 5 mandapas: Nritya, Rang, Sabha, Prarthana, Kirtan · 392 pillars with full Ramayana narrative carvings · 44 doors · Ram Lalla sanctum on ground floor; Ram Darbar planned on first floor · Surya-kirana event — on Ram Navami (noon), sun rays enter through a 3-aperture system and illuminate the deity's forehead for 4 minutes (unique astronomical-architectural feature) · 14-foot-high 732m parkota (outer wall) with 6 shrines (Surya, Shiva, Ganesha, Bhagavati, Hanuman, Annapurna) · planned Sapta-Rishi shrines to Valmiki, Tulsidas, Shabari, Vashishtha, Vishwamitra, Agastya, Ahilya · traditional Sompura-family design (Chandrakant Sompura, 80+ years of temple-architecture lineage)
- Protection status
- trust_managed
History timeline
- Treta Yuga (traditional)
Bhagavan Shri Ram, seventh avatar of Vishnu, born to King Dasharatha and Queen Kausalya in Ayodhya, the capital of the Ishvaku-dynasty Kosala kingdom. Per Valmiki Ramayana (traditional dating: Treta Yuga; modern scholarship places the epic's composition between 5th and 4th century BCE). Ayodhya becomes the capital of the Ramrajya — the archetypal dharmic rule. Traditional temple construction by Shri Ram's descendants and later by Vikramaditya (1st century BCE) is recorded in multiple Puranic texts.
- 1st c. BCE - 11th c. CE
Per local tradition and multiple Puranic references, a major Ram Mandir stood at the Janmabhoomi site through successive dynasties. Emperor Vikramaditya (Gupta period) is traditionally credited with a major reconstruction. The Gahadavala dynasty (11th-12th c.), Gurjara-Pratihara, and other North-Indian royal lines patronised the site. Ayodhya (alternatively named Saketa, Kosala) is continuously recorded as a major pilgrimage center in classical Sanskrit literature, Puranic texts, and travelogues (Fa-Hien 5th c., Xuanzang 7th c.).
- 1528 CE
Mir Baqi, a commander of Mughal emperor Babur, destroys the then-extant Ram Mandir at the Janmabhoomi site and constructs the Babri Masjid on its foundations (per inscription dated 1528 CE on the mosque). Local Hindu tradition records continuous protest and attempts to reclaim the site. Estimates suggest 76+ armed confrontations (mostly unsuccessful) occurred between 1528 and 1949 in attempts to reclaim the site.
- 1949 - 1992
22-23 December 1949: Ram Lalla idols appear inside the disputed structure (per local accounts; criminal case filed by both sides). 1950: First civil suit filed (Gopal Singh Visharad vs Zahoor Ahmad) seeking rights to offer worship. 1984: Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) launches Ram Janmabhoomi movement. 1986: District court orders opening of the structure's gates for Hindu worship. 1989: Foundation-laying (shilanyas) near disputed site. 6 December 1992: Babri Masjid demolished by a large gathering of karsevaks. Subsequent riots and CBI investigation. Emergency excavations and makeshift Ram Lalla worship continues at the site under tarpaulin.
- 2003 - 2010
2003: Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), under Allahabad High Court order, conducts a 5-month GPR-guided excavation at the disputed site. ASI report records evidence of a "massive pillared temple structure" beneath the Babri Masjid foundations, with Hindu architectural elements (pillar-bases with lotus-shaped carvings, a circular shrine, inscribed panels). 30 September 2010: Allahabad High Court 3-judge bench delivers a partitioned verdict — 2.77 acres divided between Nirmohi Akhara, Sunni Waqf Board, and the Ram Lalla Virajman party (one-third each); appeals filed with Supreme Court of India.
- 9 November 2019
The Supreme Court of India, in a unanimous 5-judge Constitution Bench judgment (CJI Ranjan Gogoi, S A Bobde, D Y Chandrachud, Ashok Bhushan, S Abdul Nazeer), awards the entire 2.77-acre disputed site to the Hindu side (Ram Lalla Virajman) for construction of a Ram Mandir, and directs the Central government to allot 5 acres of alternate land in Ayodhya to the Sunni Waqf Board for a mosque. The 1,045-page judgment affirms the site as the Janmabhoomi of Shri Ram per unbroken Hindu tradition and ASI-corroborated continuous worship. 5 February 2020: Government of India establishes the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. 5 August 2020: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi performs Bhumi Pujan and lays the foundation stone.
- 22 January 2024
Pran Pratishtha (consecration) of Shri Ram Lalla (Balak Ram) at the completed ground-floor sanctum. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi serves as principal yajaman; Vedic rites led by a panel of Acharyas (lead: Acharya Lakshmikant Dixit of Kashi). 7,000+ invitees including Mahants, sadhus of all sampradayas, Supreme Court justices, Chief Ministers, industrialists, international dignitaries. Simultaneous live-broadcast to 100 crore+ viewers globally. 5 February 2024: Temple opened for public darshan. First Ram Navami (17 April 2024) draws 25+ lakh pilgrims; the Surya-kirana astronomical event — sun rays illuminating Ram Lalla's forehead at noon — occurs for the first time as designed. First 100 days saw 50+ lakh pilgrim visits. Phase-2 construction (Ram Darbar on first floor, 6 parkota shrines, Sapta-Rishi complex, museum, library, Valmiki auditorium) continues with full 70-acre completion targeted 2025-2026. Ayodhya's infrastructure (new international airport, rail junction, pilgrim hostels) transformed as India's newest mega-pilgrimage.
Special phenomena
Surya-Kirana — noon sunbeam on Ram Navami
The single most distinctive architectural-astronomical feature of the new Shri Ram Mandir: on Ram Navami (Chaitra Shukla Navami, March-April), at solar noon, sun rays enter the shikhara through a precisely-designed 3-aperture pathway and fall directly on the forehead of Ram Lalla for approximately 4 minutes. This Surya-Tilak of the deity was designed collaboratively by astronomers at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bangalore, structural engineers at the Central Building Research Institute (CBRI), Roorkee, and the Sompura-family architects. First successful observation: Ram Navami, 17 April 2024. This phenomenon connects Shri Ram — descendant of the Surya-vamsha (Solar Dynasty) — to his cosmic ancestor the Sun, enacted physically at the Janmabhoomi on his birthday. The ceremony is broadcast live nationwide and draws an additional surge in Ram Navami attendance.
Ram Lalla — the child-Ram darshan
Unlike most Ram shrines across Bharat where Shri Ram is depicted in his adult princely form (with Sita, Lakshman, Hanuman), the Janmabhoomi sanctum uniquely enshrines "Balak Ram" or "Ram Lalla" — the 5-year-old child Shri Ram. This is theologically appropriate: the Janmabhoomi is where Ram was born, and the child-form commemorates that earliest moment of his divine descent. The 51-inch murti, carved from Krishna-shila (black shaligram-grade stone from the Gandaki river region of Nepal), was sculpted by Arun Yogiraj — a sixth-generation traditional sculptor from Mysuru, Karnataka. Three finalist murtis were sculpted by three different artists; the Trust selected Arun Yogiraj's after extensive Vedic consultation. The Balak Ram is depicted standing, holding a child-sized bow and arrow, with an expression of gentle divine smile. Shringar-darshan is changed daily; Ram Navami shringar is the most elaborate.
Sapta-Puri moksha site
Ayodhya is one of 7 Sapta-Puri moksha-granting cities of Hinduism, alongside Mathura (Krishna Janmabhoomi), Maya/Haridwar, Kashi (Varanasi), Kanchi (Kanchipuram), Avantika (Ujjain), and Dvaravati (Dwarka). Per Puranic tradition, death (dehanta) on Ayodhya soil grants direct moksha without requiring the usual transit through higher lokas. The Sarayu river (which flows past Ayodhya) is said to confer spiritual purification equivalent to Ganga-snana. Many elderly pilgrims historically travel to Ayodhya for "anantavasa" (eternal residence) in the final years of life, with the intention of final passage on Ayodhya soil — a tradition continuing to the present.
Poojas & sevas offered here
No bookable poojas listed yet
Festivals & signature events
- Signatureराम नवमीAnnual
Location & nearby temples
- Hanumangarhi, Ayodhya0.4 km · Ayodhya
Scriptural references
- Valmiki Ramayana
- Bala Kanda and Ayodhya Kanda
- Ramcharitmanas (Goswami Tulsidas)
- Bala Kanda and Uttara Kanda
- Skanda Purana
- Ayodhya Mahatmya sections
- Hanuman Chalisa (Tulsidas)
- 40 chaupais in praise of Hanuman
Sources & credits
✓ Verified by 2026-04-24. Seeded from training knowledge + Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust / Supreme Court of India judgment / Wikipedia references. Pandit review pending for: current Sugam Darshan and seva pricing (approximated — official pricing varies as Trust refines darshan tiers post-consecration; verify via srjbtkshetra.org), exact aarti timings (Mangala/Shringar/Bhog/Uttharapan/Sandhya/Shayan times may vary ±15-30 min seasonally and per priest council decisions), Phase-2 construction completion schedule (Ram Darbar first floor, 6 parkota shrines, Sapta-Rishi complex targeted 2025-2026 per Trust statements), 2026 Ram Navami date (Chaitra Shukla Navami 2026 falls approximately 29 March 2026 — verify with Panchang), Surya-Kirana exact duration for 2026 (depends on solar-noon timing and cloud cover). Pilgrim footfall figures are 2024 baseline figures; verify current scale. VVIP/invitation protocols for Mangala and Shayan aarti access vary by Trust policy. Balak Ram shringar-themes listed are representative — daily Trust-decided themes may vary. Video metadata intentionally empty — curate real YouTube URLs during pandit review rather than fabricate placeholders.