Ahead of the much-awaited grand consecration ceremony of Shri Ram Mandir, around 80 chartered flights landed at the Maharishi Valmiki International Airport, Ayodhya Dham on Monday.
The Shri Ram temple at Ayodhya is one of the holiest sites in India, which will be opened today. “The planes will depart after dropping guests,” airport manager Saurabh Singh said.
Notably, the list of attendees boasts some of India’s most influential people including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, industrialists Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani, and Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan among others.
Ram Temple: The engineering marvel
Designated as a green area, the Ram temple compound features hundreds of trees, emphasising the commitment to environmental sustainability. The temple complex itself is designed to be “atmanirbhar” or self-reliant, boasting facilities such as sewage and water treatment plants, a fire brigade post, and a dedicated power line.
Standing at a height of 30 feet, each pillar features an ornamental orb that, when illuminated at night, resembles the Sun. Twenty of these pillars have been situated near Lata Mangeshkar Chowk, with 10 on each side of the road. The remaining 20 pillars are designated for the same road, extending beyond the Satrangi Pul near the Saket petrol pump.
Crafted from reinforced cement concrete, each pillar boasts a decorative cladding made of a special fiber. The pillars carry inscriptions of ‘Jai Shri Ram,’ a mace symbolising Lord Hanuman, and various other ornamental motifs, contributing to the overall aesthetic appeal.
Further, the expansive green area encompasses densely wooded sections, some so dense that sunlight scarcely filters through. Around 600 existing trees have been preserved in this green belt. Further, an array of impressive sun-themed pillars, known as ‘Surya Stambhs,’ is being erected along a prominent road in the temple town.
Following the Supreme Court’s verdict, the construction of the Ram Mandir began in UP’s Ayodhya.