A replica of Cambodia's 12th century Angkor Wat - the largest Hindu temple complex in the world - is all set to come up near Hajipur, around 25km north of the Bihar capital.
The 'bhoomi pujan' of the proposed Rs100-crore project will be held on Monday, said Acharya Kishore Kunal, chairman of the Bihar Mahavir Mandir Trust.
"The launch of the project has been timed to coincide with the ongoing centenary year celebrations of the foundation of Bihar," Kunal said.
The replica of the magnificent temple will be called Virat Angkor Wat Ram Mandir and the sprawling 15-acre site on the Hajipur-Bidupur road near Ismailpur village, where the temple will come up, has been christened Angkor Nagar.
"The selected site for construction of the temple has mythological significance as it is believed that the deities Ram, Lakshman and Vishvamitra had visited the village and were welcomed by King Sumati of the Vaishali kingdom," said Kunal.
The proposed temple will be 222 feet high and, like Angkor Wat, will have five storeys and five shikhars.
{{/usCountry}}The proposed temple will be 222 feet high and, like Angkor Wat, will have five storeys and five shikhars.
{{/usCountry}}"Besides Lord Ram and Sita, the temple will house other Hindu deities such as Radha-Krishna, Shiva-Parvati, Ganesha and Surya. Lord Vishnu and his 10 incarnations will also be housed here," Kunal said.
"The construction of the main temple might take around five years. But the entire project will be ready only in 10 years," Kunal said.
The Angkor Wat temple was built in the 12th century during the reign of Cambodian king Suryavarman II.