Angkor Wat temple in Cambodia

The construction of a temple on the pattern of Angkor Wat in Cambodia will start following the bhumi pujan (a foundation ritual) at the site of the shrine at Kesariya in East Champaran on Thursday.

Acharya Kishore Kunal, the chairperson of Bihar State Board of Religious Trust, would perform the ritual, following which the date for beginning the construction work would be announced.

Planned at an estimated cost of Rs 3,000 crore, the temple is likely to be constructed within five to seven years on 110 acres on Kesariya-Chakia road at Bahuara village. The length, breadth and height of the temple, touted to be the highest in the world, would be 1,250ft, 1,150ft and 270ft, respectively.

The temple will be constructed in five tiers and Ram’s idol would be placed at a height of 72ft. To reach the idol, a pilgrim will have to walk around the temple.

The devotees would also be provided with escalators so that they do not have any difficulty.

The temple would have idols of Ram, Sita, their children Luv and Kush and Vashishtha, a saint.

Kunal confirmed about his scheduled visit to Kesariya on June 21 for the bhumi pujan near the site earmarked for the temple.

Out of the total land earmarked for the temple, 30 acres have been provided by a local shrine. The remaining 80 acres have been procured from the residents of the area, said a member of Mandir Nirma Samiti Madhuresh Priyadarshi.

Mayankeshwar Singh, a member of the Mandir Construction Committee, told The Telegraph that the temple would be constructed using only chunar stones.

“Noted architect from Gujarat Piyush Sonpura would oversee the construction work of the temple. There would be 13 additional temples and an equal number of tombs on the premises,” he added.

Idols of more religious and historical deities would be created inside this temple, which would depict important events from Ramayan and Mahabharat.