Ahead of the January 22 consecration ceremony at Ayodhya’s Ram Temple, what are the changes that the city has undergone? What does it look like now? The following photos offer a glimpse.
Under the Namami Gange scheme, work is going on to revive and beautify the extinct rivers and ponds in Ayodhya in the coming days.
Formerly this was the mansion of Sujauddaula, which was later handed over to the Narcotics Department by the government. The office of the Narcotics Department has been running here. Until 10-15 years ago, opium used to be weighed here. Now, this office has been taken over by the state government on contract from the Narcotics Department. It is now being made into a museum, park and restaurant called Saket Sadan.
The road from the highway towards Naya Ghat to Lata Mangeshkar Chowk has been named Dharampath. It is completely decorated with the figures of the sun god and the entry gate has been constructed in the shape of a sun.
The hotels of Ayodhya are almost booked. So a tent city is being constructed for visiting worshippers in which 5-star facilities are being provided.
Land allotted for the Shri Lakshchandi Mahayagya, which needs to be performed by 1,500 learned Brahmins in the presence of Swami Shri Prakhar Ji Maharaj, for 17 days.
This intersection was earlier known as Muhavara intersection. It has now been renamed Chudamani intersection and a bangle-shaped sculpture of the deity Sita has been created. This major intersection falls on the main road while going from the highway towards the Ram Mandir.
A construction on the Saryu.
The route from Singarhat to reach the Ram Temple via Hanumangarhi will be known as Bhakti Path. There is a corridor of 700 meters on this route. The width of Bhakti Path is also being widened. All the shops on this route were have been made to look the same now.
The name of the road leading directly to the Ram Mandir from the front of Birla Dharamshala is Janmabhoomi Path. This road is being called the main gate of the Ram Mandir. Two grand pillars have been built at the beginning of the Janmabhoomi path, the same stone is being used in the Ram temple and the pillars have been made from the same stone and in the future, devotees will visit from here.
An under-construction section of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Photo: By arrangement.
All photographs are by the author.
