Ayodhya: The home of the much-anticipated Ram temple with a pervasive presence of Ram motifs, proclamation of ‘Jai Shree Ram’ painted on shop shutters and saffron flags fluttering in the wind, Ayodhya displays its identity as ‘the land of Lord Ram’ everywhere.
In the run up to the inauguration of the Ram Mandir on 22 January, the city, it seems, is being built from scratch. Apart from new infrastructure and widening of roads, Ayodhya is also witnessing an influx of luxury hotels and restaurants.
The government is focusing on developing several tourist spots around town and, to make access to the temple easy, has built a 13-km stretch called ‘Ram Path’, apart from a ‘Bhakti Path’ and a ‘Dharam Path’.
On the flip side, though, the noise of traffic and construction seems to follow wherever one goes in the city.
Meanwhile, the old exists alongside the new and is witnessed in the saffron-clad pandits walking down streets, in the shops selling souvenirs bearing lord Ram’s name and the traditional aarti at river Saryu every evening.
On a visit to Ayodhya, ThePrint’s Manisha Mondal captures old-new city.
