Ayodhya Bans High-Rises Near Ram Temple to Preserve Sacred Aura, Uphold Spiritual Sanctity

BK Singh

Ayodhya, in a deeply symbolic move rooted in faith, reverence, and the spiritual legacy of one of Hinduism’s most sacred sites, the Ayodhya Development Authority (ADA) has officially imposed a ban on the construction of tall buildings in the vicinity of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir.

This decision, enshrined in the city’s Master Plan 2031, is intended not only as a regulatory measure but as an act of devotion — a conscious effort to preserve the divine atmosphere and ensure the unobstructed presence of Lord Ram’s abode on the skyline of Ayodhya.

The announcement is already being implemented on the ground, with ADA teams erecting signboards at key locations across the city.

These notices are more than administrative declarations — they are public affirmations of Ayodhya’s sacred status and an invitation to all who build here to respect the spiritual gravity of the land.

At the heart of this decision lies a profound understanding: that Ayodhya is not just a city of bricks and mortar, but a living testament to millennia of devotion, mythology, and divine association.

It is the birthplace of Shri Ram, the embodiment of dharma, and the site where millions of devotees from around the world come to feel spiritually connected and elevated.

Preserving the visual and spiritual prominence of the Ram Mandir is therefore seen as essential, not just for heritage, but for faith itself.

“In matters of urban planning around such a divine centre, aesthetics must be guided by reverence,” said Ashwini Pandey, Vice Chairman of the Ayodhya Development Authority.

“This is not merely about zoning laws or construction guidelines. It’s about ensuring that no man-made structure overshadows the eternal spiritual light of Lord Ram’s temple.”

According to the newly enforced regulations, strict height restrictions will be applied to all future constructions based on their proximity to the temple complex. In the innermost perimeter — a sacred zone extending up to two kilometres from the temple — no building will be permitted to exceed 7 metres in height, preserving a clear and sacred line of sight to the temple dome from all angles.

Beyond this, within a four-kilometre radius (the second periphery), buildings can be constructed up to 15 metres, but no more.

These regulations are being framed and enforced not with a bureaucratic mindset, but from the deep understanding that the Ram Temple is not merely a structure — it is a symbol of spiritual resurgence, cultural pride, and national awakening.

Its visual prominence must remain uninterrupted, free from the clutter of modernity, so that the faithful can look upon it in awe and devotion from near and afar.

Residents and pilgrims alike have largely welcomed the move. Many see it as a rightful assertion of Ayodhya’s identity as a spiritual city first — a tirtha (pilgrimage centre) before a metropolis.

“The skyline of Ayodhya should be dominated only by the shikhara of Bhagwan Ram’s temple,” said local priest Mahant Raghunandan Das. “It is not appropriate for towers of steel and glass to loom over the house of Maryada Purushottam Shri Ram.”

Architects and town planners involved in the Ayodhya redevelopment efforts have echoed similar sentiments, noting that religious aesthetics are central to the city’s master plan.

The goal is to develop Ayodhya in a way that respects its ancient glory while accommodating modern needs, but never at the cost of its spiritual soul.

This vision is already taking shape across the city. Roads are being widened, pilgrim facilities expanded, and a grand Ram Path is being constructed — but all in a design philosophy that prioritises tradition, tranquillity, and the spiritual energy of the land.

As crores of devotees prepare to visit the Ram Temple in the years ahead, the ADA’s decision marks a historic stand — an affirmation that in the land where Lord Ram walked, the skyline too must reflect humility and sanctity.

In Ayodhya, this is more than urban planning. It is Ram Rajyaspiriti— where development bows respectfully before divinity.