Kanak Bhawan () is a temple in Ram Janmabhoomi, Ayodhya, which is in the north-east of Ramkot. It is one of the most famous temples of

Ayodhya Ayodhya () is a city situated on the banks of the Sarayu river in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is the administrative headquarters of the Ayodhya district as well as the Ayodhya division of Uttar Pradesh, India. Ayodhya became th ...

. It is believed that this palace (temple) was gifted by

Kaikeyi Kaikeyi,(Sanskrit: कैकेयी, IAST: Kaikeyī) is a princess of Kekeya and the queen of Kosala in the Hindu epic ''Ramayana''. Kaikeyi is the third queen and favourite consort of King Dasharatha, who ruled Kosala from its capital, A ...

, immediately after the marriage of

Rama Rama (; , , ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the seventh and one of the most popular avatars of Vishnu. In Rama-centric Hindu traditions, he is considered the Supreme Being. Also considered as the ideal man (''maryāda' ...

with

Sita Sita (; ), also known as Siya, Jānaki and Maithili, is a Hindu goddess and the female protagonist of the Hindu epic ''Ramayana''. Sita is the consort of Rama, the avatar of god Vishnu, and is regarded as an avatar of goddess Lakshmi. She is t ...

and hence, it is their personal palace. According to the mythology, after the original Kanak Bhawan was damaged, it was rebuilt by

Krishna Krishna (; Sanskrit language, Sanskrit: कृष्ण, ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme God (Hinduism), Supreme God in his own right. He is the god of protection, c ...

himself in the Dvapar Yuga. It is believed that it was renovated by

Vikramaditya Vikramaditya (Sanskrit: विक्रमादित्य IAST: ') was a legendary king as mentioned in ancient Indian literature, featuring in traditional stories including those in ''Baital Pachisi, Vetala Panchavimshati'' and ''Singhasan ...

in the

medieval period In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of World history (field), global history. It began with the fall of the West ...

. Later, it was renovated by Queen Vrishabhanu Kunwari which is still present today. The main idols installed in the ''sanctum sanctorum'' are of Rama and Sita.

History

The temple was designed as a huge palace. The architecture of this temple resembles the palaces of

Rajasthan Rajasthan (; Literal translation, lit. 'Land of Kings') is a States and union territories of India, state in northwestern India. It covers or 10.4 per cent of India's total geographical area. It is the List of states and union territories of ...

and

Bundelkhand Bundelkhand (, ) is a geographical and cultural region and a proposed state and also a mountain range in central and North India. It corresponds to the Post-Vedic Chedi kingdom. The hilly region is now divided between the states of Uttar Prad ...

. The history basically goes back to

Treta Yuga ''Treta Yuga'' (IAST: ''Tretā-yuga'') (Devanagari: त्रेतायुग), in Hinduism, is the second and second-best of the four '' yugas'' (world ages) in a '' Yuga Cycle'', preceded by '' Krita (Satya) Yuga'' and followed by '' Dvapara ...

when it was given by Rama's step-mother

to his wife Sita as a gift over

marriage Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children (if any), and b ...

. Over the time, it became dilapidated and was even completely destroyed. It is rebuilt and renovated several times throughout its history. The first re-construction was done by

's son

Kush KUSH 1600 AM is a radio station licensed to Cushing, Oklahoma. The station broadcasts a Full service format, consisting of local and national talk, sports Sport is a physical activity or game, often competitive and organized, tha ...

in the early period of

Dvapara Yuga ''Dvapara Yuga'' (International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration, IAST: ''Dvāpara-yuga'') (Devanagari: द्वापर युग), in Hinduism, is the third and third-best of the four ''yugas'' (world ages) in a ''Yuga Cycle'', preceded b ...

. After this, it was rebuilt by King Rishabh Dev (

Tirthankara In Jainism, a ''Tirthankara'' (; ) is a saviour and supreme preacher of the ''Dharma (Jainism), dharma'' (righteous path). The word ''tirthankara'' signifies the founder of a ''Tirtha (Jainism), tirtha'', a fordable passage across ''Saṃsā ...

) in the middle of

and

Shri Krishna Krishna (; Sanskrit: कृष्ण, ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme God in his own right. He is the god of protection, compassion, tenderness, and love; and is wi ...

is also believed to have visited this ancient place in the pre-Kali Yuga period (about 614 BC). In the present era, it was first built by Chandragupta-II of the

Gupta empire The Gupta Empire was an Indian empire during the classical period of the Indian subcontinent which existed from the mid 3rd century to mid 6th century CE. At its zenith, the dynasty ruled over an empire that spanned much of the northern Indian ...

in the Yudhishthira period in 2431 BC. After that, it was done by

Samudragupta Samudragupta (Gupta script: ''Sa-mu-dra-gu-pta'', ( 335–375 CE) was the second emperor of the Gupta Empire of ancient India. A military genius and a patron of arts, he is regarded among the greatest rulers in Indian history. As a son of th ...

in 387 AD. The temple was destroyed by Nawab Salarjung-II Ghazi in 1027 AD and was renovated by Bundela Rajput Maharaj of

Orchha Orchha is a town, near the city of Niwari in the Niwari district of Madhya Pradesh state, India. The town was established by a Bundela Rajput ruler Rudra Pratap Singh some time after 1501, as the seat of an eponymous former princely state ...

and

Tikamgarh Tikamgarh (also spelled as Tikamgadh)is a town and a tehsil in Tikamgarh district in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. The city serves as a district headquarters. The earlier name of Tikamgarh was Tehri (i.e., a triangle) consisting of thr ...

, Maharaj Mahendra Pratap Singh and his wife Maharani Vrishabhan Kunwari in 1891. This construction was completed on the Shaishthi of Vaishakh Shukla of Guru Paush. There are three pairs of idols here and all three are of

and

. The largest statue was installed by Maharani Vrishabhan Kunwari. It is believed that she was the main person behind the re-construction and establishment of the temple. A statue of somewhat lower height is installed on the right side of this pair by King

. This idol was kept safe by him when this ancient temple was attacked. The third and the smallest pair is said to have been gifted by

to a female devotee who was worshiping

at this place.

instructed the woman to bury these idols with her after her demised because this place would be later marked as holy place and a great king will build a huge temple at this place in

Kali Yuga ''Kali Yuga'' (Devanagari: कलियुग), in Hinduism, is the fourth, shortest, and worst of the four '' yugas'' (world ages) in a '' Yuga cycle'', preceded by '' Dvapara Yuga'' and followed by the next cycle's '' Krita (Satya) Yuga''. I ...

. Later, when Maharaj Vikramaditya led the foundation of this temple and excavated the base, he found these ancient idols. At the time of construction of present temple, all three pairs were enshrined in the ''sanctum sanctorum''. Now, all three pairs can be seen.

Transport

Airways

The nearest airport is 11 kilometers away from the newly build

Ram Mandir, Ayodhya The Ram Mandir (ISO: , ), also known as Shri Ramlalla Mandir, is a partially constructed Hindu temple complex in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, India. Many Hindus believe that it is located at the site of Ram Janmabhoomi, the mythical birthplace o ...

. Faizabad-Gorakhpur airport is 158 km approx.

Prayagraj airport Prayagraj Airport , also known as Allahabad Airport, is a domestic airport and an Indian Air Force base serving the city of Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India. Located in the Bamrauli suburb of the city, it is one of the oldest airports in India. ...

is 172 km approx. and

Varanasi Varanasi (, also Benares, Banaras ) or Kashi, is a city on the Ganges river in northern India that has a central place in the traditions of pilgrimage, death, and mourning in the Hindu world.* * * * The city has a syncretic tradition of I ...

Lal Bahadur Shastri airport Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport is an international airport serving Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India. It is located at Babatpur, northwest of Varanasi. Formerly known as Varanasi Airport, it was officially renamed after Lal Bahadur Shastri, the ...

is 224 km away approx.

Railway

Railway stations are well-connected. By Faizabad railway, it is 128 km from

Lucknow Lucknow () is the List of state and union territory capitals in India, capital and the largest city of the List of state and union territory capitals in India, Indian state of Uttar Pradesh and it is the administrative headquarters of the epon ...

, 171 km from

Gorakhpur Gorakhpur is a city in the List of state and union territory capitals in India, Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, along the banks of the West Rapti River, Rapti river in the Purvanchal , Purvanchal region. It is situated 272 kilometres east of ...

, 157 km from

Prayagraj Prayagraj (, ; ISO 15919, ISO: ), formerly and colloquially known as Allahabad, is a metropolis in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.The other five cities were: Agra, Kanpur, Kanpur (Cawnpore), Lucknow, Meerut, and Varanasi, Varanasi (Benar ...

, 196 km from

whereas by Ayodhya Railway, it is 135 km from Lucknow, 164 km from both Gorakhpur and Prayagraj and 189 km from Varanasi.

Road

Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation The Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) is a public sector passenger road transport corporation which services Uttar Pradesh, India, and adjoining states of North India. It operates as a state and interstate bus service and ...

's bus services are available for several hours and it is easy to get here from remote area also. It is 152 km from Lucknow, 158 km from Gorakhpur, 172 km from Allahabad and 224 km from Varanasi.

References

External links

* {{Official website, ... Rama temples Hindu temples in Uttar Pradesh