The Superstar of the Millennium Amitabh Bachchan has come forward to build a dharamshala in the holy township of Ayodhya in memory of his late father, renowned poet Padma Bhushan Dr Harivansh Rai Bachchan.
According to reports, the proposed dharamshala will have more than 20 rooms and will be constructed on land purchased by the Harivansh Rai Bachchan Memorial Trust for approximately Rs 15 crore inside The Sarayu premium township along the upcoming Dashrath Path. The land was part of Bachchan’s first reported Ayodhya purchase in January 2024, a 10,000 sq ft plot, and he also owns another parcel in the same project.
Amitabh Bachchan has already submitted the building plan for approval to the Ayodhya Development Authority (ADA). ADA Vice-Chairman Anurag Jain has confirmed the receipt of the application and said that several eminent personalities from across the country have been contributing to the development of Ayodhya and in the same sequence Bachchan has also applied for the map of a dharamshala with more than 20 rooms. As part of the approval process, the ADA has published the proposal in newspapers and invited public objections within a 15-day window, after which the map will be examined and approval will be granted as per rules. Construction is expected to begin in October 2026 once clearance is received.
The facility is intended to provide organized and affordable accommodation to pilgrims and devotees travelling to Ayodhya from distant parts of the country. Sources said the dharamshala will also have a special hall displaying books of Harivansh Rai Bachchan’s poetry, including his iconic 1935 work Madhushala, along with posters showcasing his life, work and his Hindi translations of Shakespeare’s plays, turning the property into a living memorial.
It may be recalled that Amitabh Bachchan along with his son Abhishek Bachchan and the entire family were among the distinguished guests invited for the historic consecration ceremony of the Lord Ram idol and the Ram Temple in Ayodhya in January 2024, an event that left a deep impression on the actor who hails from Uttar Pradesh.
