History
Ram Janmabhoomi Timeline
21 key events spanning from the mythological birth of Lord Shri Ram to the completion of the new temple in 2025.
Birth of Lord Shri Ram
Lord Shri Ram is born at Ayodhya to King Dasharatha and Queen Kausalya. The site has been venerated as Ram Janmabhoomi - the birthplace of Rama - ever since.
Vikramaditya Rebuilds the Temple
King Vikramaditya of Ujjain is said by tradition to have rediscovered the lost city of Ayodhya and rebuilt a temple at the Janmabhoomi.
Successive Temples
Multiple temples are built and rebuilt at the site across centuries, according to local, Jain, and Buddhist parallel traditions.
Construction of the Babri Structure
A mosque-style structure, later called the Babri Masjid, is built under Mughal Emperor Babur by his general Mir Baqi. ASI excavations in 2003 found evidence of a substantial pre-existing structure at the site.
First Communal Incidents
The first recorded communal incidents at the disputed site take place under British administration of Awadh.
First Formal Lawsuit
Mahant Raghubar Das files the first formal lawsuit seeking permission to build a canopy on the outer courtyard. The suit is dismissed.
Ram Lalla Idols Appear
Idols of Ram Lalla are reported to have appeared inside the central dome of the disputed structure. The site is locked by authorities to prevent communal incidents.
Four Civil Suits Filed
Gopal Singh Visharad, Paramahansa Ramachandra Das, Nirmohi Akhara (1959), and the Sunni Central Waqf Board (1961) each file suits over rights to worship and ownership of the site.
Gates Opened for Worship
A district court orders the gates opened, permitting Hindu worshippers to offer prayers to the Ram Lalla idols inside the disputed structure.
Shilanyas Ceremony
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad performs a Shilanyas (foundation-laying) ceremony on land adjacent to the disputed site.
Demolition of the Structure
The disputed structure is demolished by a large crowd. Communal violence follows in several cities. The Government constitutes the Liberhan Commission of Inquiry the following month.
Land Acquisition Act
Parliament passes the Acquisition of Certain Area at Ayodhya Act, acquiring approximately 67 acres of disputed and surrounding land for the Central Government.
ASI Excavation Report
The Archaeological Survey of India, ordered by the Allahabad High Court, conducts excavations and reports evidence of a substantial pre-existing structure beneath the demolished mosque.
Allahabad High Court Verdict
A three-judge bench delivers a 2:1 majority verdict, dividing the 2.77-acre disputed land equally among the Sunni Waqf Board, Nirmohi Akhara, and Ram Lalla Virajman. All parties appeal to the Supreme Court.
Supreme Court Unanimous Verdict
A five-judge Constitution Bench awards the full 2.77 acres to Ram Lalla Virajman and directs the government to allot 5 acres of alternative land to the Sunni Central Waqf Board.
Trust Constituted
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust is constituted by the Government of India to oversee construction and management of the temple.
Bhoomi Pujan
Prime Minister Narendra Modi performs the Bhoomi Pujan, marking the official start of construction of the new Ram Mandir.
Construction Phases
Construction proceeds under the Sompura family of Ahmedabad as principal architects, built in the Nagara style using Bansi Paharpur sandstone with no iron in the structural design.
Prana Pratishtha
The Ram Lalla idol by sculptor Arun Yogiraj of Mysore is consecrated in the garbhagriha. Public darshan begins the same day.
Ram Darbar and Rampart Shrines Open
The Ram Darbar and six rampart shrines dedicated to Surya Dev, Bhagwati, Ganesh, Shiva, Hanuman, and Annapurna are opened to the public.
Dhwajarohan - Temple Complex Complete
The saffron flag is hoisted atop the main shikhara by the Prime Minister, marking the formal completion of the entire complex including the seven sage mandapas.
Sources
- Supreme Court of India: M Siddiq v. Mahant Suresh Das, judgment of 9 November 2019
- Allahabad High Court: Title suit verdict, 30 September 2010
- Archaeological Survey of India: excavation report on Ayodhya, 2003
- Liberhan Commission of Inquiry: final report, 30 June 2009
- Acquisition of Certain Area at Ayodhya Act, 1993
- Press Information Bureau, Government of India, January 2024