The temple is set to be built on a vast expanse of 3.76 lakh square feet of land, located in the Kaithwalia-Bahuara villages along the Kesaria-Chakia road in the East Champaran district. This sacred site is approximately 120 kilometers away from the bustling city of Patna.
Construction work commenced on June 20 for what is being called the “world’s largest Ramayan temple” in Bihar’s East Champaran district. The foundation stone was laid by former Indian Police Service (IPS) officer and secretary of the Patna-based Mahavir Temple Trust, Acharya Kishor Kunal, along with former Chief Justice of Rajasthan High Court, Justice S. N. Jha, and other dignitaries. The commencement of work was marked by various religious rituals at the construction site.
The grand Viraat Ramayan temple is planned to be a three-storeyed structure and is expected to be completed by the end of 2025. The estimated cost of the project is ₹500 crore. Once completed, it will stand taller than the 12th-century Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia.
The temple will be built on a vast area of 3.76 lakh sq. ft. of land in the Kaithwalia-Bahuara villages under the Kalyanur block on Kesaria-Chakia road in East Champaran district, approximately 120 km away from the State capital, Patna. It will have an impressive length of 2,800 ft, a width of 1,400 ft, and a height of 405 ft.
The temple’s design features 12 domes, with the tallest dome towering at 270 ft. Inside, there will be 22 sanctum sanctorum to house different deities. Additionally, the complex will include marriage halls and guest houses to accommodate visitors.
One of the key attractions of the temple will be a 33-ft-high black granite Shivling weighing a massive 200 tonnes. This Shivling is being crafted at Mahabalipuram near Chennai and is set to become the world’s largest Shivling. It is scheduled to be established by the time of Mahashivratri in 2025.
The temple will be able to accommodate up to 20,000 people at once, providing ample space for devotees and visitors to participate in religious ceremonies and events.
The architectural inspiration for the world’s largest temple comes from various iconic structures, including the Angkor Wat complex in Cambodia, the Ramanathaswami temple in Rameshwaram, and the Meenakshi Sundareshwarar temple in Madurai, both located in south India.