No. 104 · Culture, Public Realm & Mobility
Maharashtra Bhawan (Bhakt Niwas)
Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh
- Location
- Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh
- Client
- Govt. of Maharashtra
- Built-up area
- 34,000 m²
- Site area
- 2 acres
- Project value
- ₹150 crore
- Sector
- Culture, Public Realm & Mobility
A pilgrim Guest House in Ayodhya for the Government of Maharashtra, with a tall front of repeating arches and jharokha openings in the city's pink-stone language, entered through forecourts and shaded corridors.
About the project
Bhakt Niwas, Maharashtra Bhawan, is a Guest House for pilgrims in Ayodhya, being built by the Government of Maharashtra through its Public Works Department. Since the inauguration of the Ram Mandir the number of visitors to the city has risen sharply. The building gives devotees a dignified, comfortable place to stay, and carries something of Maharashtra's identity into the city.
Ayodhya's pink-stone language
The design draws on the pink-stone Architecture now emerging across Ayodhya. The massing is tall and vertical. Arches repeat in a steady rhythm along the front, alongside finely proportioned jharokha-style openings and ornamental shading elements. The aim is a front with some of the calm of temple Architecture, expressed in a contemporary way and carrying Maharashtra's own heritage.
Arriving and staying
Pilgrims arrive through forecourts before a symmetrical frontage, which sets a sense of order from the first step. Shaded corridors lead to the guest rooms, dining areas, administrative spaces and gathering areas, all within landscaped grounds.
The building is planned for large numbers. Routes are easy to follow and accessible to visitors of every age, and the house is run so that guests can think about their pilgrimage rather than the practicalities of their stay. For a devotee arriving after a long journey, it offers shade, a meal, a room and a quiet welcome.
Culture, Public Realm & Mobility
