The Ram Temple in Ayodhya will have five domes instead of the three as earlier design to accommodate more devotees, its architect, Ahmedabad-based Chandrakant Sompura said on Saturday.
Previous design originally prepared in 1989 by the 80-year-old architect had three domes and a height of 130-odd feet. “The temple will now have five domes and its height will be 160 feet,” said Sompura who was in Ayodhya on Saturday.
“I’m glad that I’m carrying forward our family legacy. To design a bhavya temple like the Ram temple is a dream come true,” said Sompura.
Sompura’s father Prabhakar was the architect of the Somnath Temple in Gujarat. The family has designed 131 temples including Swami Narayan Temple in GandhiNagar and Ambaji Temple in Palanpur.
Nikhil, Sompura’s son, said the pink sandstone to be used for the temple has been procured in the last two decades. “Another batch came just a few days ago. Work had begun before the Covid Outbreak.
Trust members told that 106 out of 212 pillars to be used for temple construction are ready. “When construction begins at full swing, it will require 250 artistes every day to work at the temple. It may take two to three years,” said a trust member.
VHP vice president Champat Rai said that two dates: August 3 and 5 have been kept for the Bhumi Pujan and invitation will be sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“August 3 and 5 are auspicious days. While August 3, its Shukla Paksha and full moon night, it is Krishna Paksha on August 5 which is an auspicious day too” Rai said.
Source:TOI