Weeks after two ‘shaligram’ stones were brought to Ayodhya from Nepal, two more stones reached the temple town and will be used in the construction of the Ram Mandir.
The 2 shaligrams, which are 60 million years old, reached Ayodhya last month. One rock weighs 26 tonnes and the other weighs 14 tonnes.
The idol of Lord Ram carved out of these stones will be placed in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple, which is expected to be ready by January 2024.
Over 60% of the construction of Ram Mandir has been completed. By August this year, the ground floor of the temple's sanctum sanctorum is expected to be complete.
The second phase of the construction at the temple site is expected to begin later this year and it will be completed by December 2025.
Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra has received donations in excess of Rs 3,000 crore for the construction of the Ram Mandir.
The temple is being built on a site of about 67 acres and is expected to be one of the largest Hindu temples in the world.
The temple complex will also include a museum, a digital library, a research centre, and other facilities.
The temple is the result of a long dispute over the site where the Babri Masjid once stood. The mosque was built on a site held by Hindus as the birthplace of Lord Ram.
Since construction of the temple began, the govt has sanctioned large amounts of money and announced schemes to develop the Ram Janmabhoomi Corridor.