‘Pran pratishtha’ at Ram temple in Ayodhya by Jan 2024: Trust

“While the ground floor that will house the sanctum sanctorum will be complete by December 2023, the first and second floors of the temple will be ready by December 2024, even as the entire carving work will be complete by the end of 2025,” Misra told The Indian Express.

Considering that the ‘darshan’ of “Ram Lalla” will open in December 2023 or at the most by January 2024, the construction work of the pilgrimage facilitation centre, utilities and infrastructure services at the complex have also started, said a statement from the Trust on Monday.

The masterplan of the remaining area of the temple complex is still being finalised, which entails construction of the temples dedicated to Valmiki, Vashisth, Viswamitra, Jatayu and Sabri, in addition to ritualistic facilities like a “yagya mandap”, a residential block for sages, a museum, research centre and a library. The under-construction pilgrimage facilitation centre comprises the facility of depositing shoes and other personal belongings, waiting halls for 5,000 devotees, drinking water and toilets blocks.

The super structure of the temple is being constructed using the carved Rajasthan sandstone from Bansi Paharpur. The carving process is on and approximately 1,200 artisans are engaged at mines and workshops in Rajasthan and at the temple site in Ayodhya, the Trust statement said. For the sanctum sanctorum, white Makrana marble from Rajasthan has been finalised, which will also be used for the flooring, arches, railing and door frames in the main temple.