Rām Janmabhoomī

ancient temple, India

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 13, 2026

Quick Summary

The Ram Janmabhoomi site in Ayodhya is traditionally believed to be the birthplace of Rama, a principal deity in Hinduism and an avatar of Vishnu. This site was historically occupied by the Babri Masjid, a 16th-century mosque built by the Mughal emperor Babur.123

Following a 2019 Supreme Court verdict, a new Ram Mandir (temple) was constructed on the site, opening in January 2024. Ayodhya itself is considered one of the seven sacred cities in Hinduism and is revered for its association with Rama's birth and his father's rule, as depicted in the epic Ramayana. The celebration of Rama's birth is observed on Rama Navami, a major Hindu festival.134

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

4 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

India
V.P. Singh’s coalition—its brief rise and fall
…a more ancient Hindu temple, Ram Janmabhoomi, was supposed to have stood. In the fall of 1990 a mass march of Hindus bearing consecrated bricks to rebuild “Rama’s birth temple” won the support of most members of Advani’s BJP, as well as of many other Hindus throughout India. V.P. Singh…
Read More
…a more ancient Hindu temple, Ram Janmabhoomi, was supposed to have stood. In the fall of 1990 a mass march of Hindus bearing consecrated bricks to rebuild “Rama’s birth temple” won the support of most members of Advani’s BJP, as well as of many other Hindus throughout India. V.P. Singh…
Read More