“Ramayana Spiritual Forest” in Ayodhya Will Be Dedicated To Ram’s Banishment

New Delhi: At the soon-to-be “Ramayana Spiritual Forest” on the banks of the Sarayu river in the temple town of Ayodhya, devotees will be able to learn more about the 14-year time that Lord Ram spent in exile.

Part of the Ayodhya Master Plan is the ecological forest, which would resemble an outdoor museum showcasing the rich tapestry of the Ramayana.

The Sarayu River, Lord Ram, the Ramayana, and Ayodhya are all essential components of Hinduism. The master designer of the Ayodhya reconstruction project, Dikshu Kukreja, told PTI that the projected spiritual forest is an extension of the riverside meant to be an eco-friendly forest constructed on the concept of Ramayana, especially reflecting Shri Ram’s voyage during the Vanvaas (exhile) era.

The Ayodhya Ram temple’s first phase is almost finished, and on January 22, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be present at the temple’s consecration ceremony.

In 2019, the Supreme Court rendered a landmark decision that resolved a century-old dispute between a temple and a mosque. The court decided that a different five-acre plot must be located in order to build a mosque, but it supported the construction of a Ram temple at the contested site.

With the goal of offering a glimpse of Ram’s time of banishment in an organic forest, it is anticipated to draw visitors and outdoor enthusiasts in addition to devotees, promoting a peaceful coexistence of spirituality, culture, and environmental preservation.

“The development of this ecological forest on the banks of the Sarayu river promises to be a cultural landmark, preserving and celebrating the rich heritage associated with Ayodhya and the Ramayana,” Kukreja said.

The master plan states that Ayodhya would undergo ten years of reconstruction at a cost of about ₹85,000 crore in order to modernize the sacred city.

The construction of Ram dwars (great entrance points) with traditional stone facades, the focus on homestays and dharamshalas for a variety of lodging options, and the creation of the Ramayana spiritual forest for an immersive cultural experience are just a few of the distinctive elements.

“The development of the Ramayana spiritual forest is underway through a public-private partnership (PPP) scheme,” Kukreja said.

A road project in Ayodhya called the “Bhraman Path” would link the Ram shrine with the Saryu. The Varanasi Kashi Vishwanath corridor is comparable to the project.

The fourth road project in Ayodhya will be Bhraman Path, after Ram Janmabhoomi Path, Bhakti Path, and Ram Path.

“The plan aims at leveraging tourism as engineer of growth to create regional economic development and epicentre of employment generation by facilitating long term growth and development of tourism industry,” he said.