Context: Recently, the ‘bhoomi pujan’ ceremony of the Ram temple in Ayodhya took place and foundation stone of the temple is laid down by by Prime Minister of India.
Proposed look of the Ram temple in Ayodhya

• Reportedly, the stones from Banshi mountains in Rajasthan will be used for the construction.
• The temple will be a whooping 161-feet high and have three storeys. The temple will be designed according to the Vastushastra ans Shilpishastra. All the calculations for different temple elements are highly specific.
• There are different types of Shikhara found in Indian temples. A comparison with Khajuraho Vishwanath temple, also built in Nagara style, shows the similarity between the two.
• The shikhara over the mandapas of the Ayodhya Ram temple can be seen having a square base, and a rectilinear outline. This is called the phamsana-style shikhara. Note that the mandapa shikhara right at the entrance has an octagonal base.

What is Nagara style of temple architecture?
The basic form of a Hindu temple contains the following architectural elements:

• Garbhagriha: the small room where the principle deity/deities of the temple reside
• Mandapa: the portico or hall at the entrance of the temple generally designed to house a large number of people
• Shikhara: the mountain like spire which can have different shapes from pyramidal to curvilinear
• Vahana: the mount of the main deity placed generally in line of sight from Garbhagriha

However, apart from the basic common elements with the spiritual significance, the Indian landscape is adorned with temples with a wide variety of architectural styles that developed under regional rulers.

• The Nagara style of temple architecture is found in northern India. Nagara school is further subdivided into different schools based on region like Odisha, Khajuraho, Solanki etc.
• In the Nagara style, the temple is generally constructed on a upraised platform called jagati. Mandapas are present in front of the Garbhagriha. These are adorned with the Shikhara, the tallest one being above the Garbhagriha.
• Unlike the temples in south India, Nagara style doesn’t usually have elaborate boundary walls or gateways (South Indian temples often sport magnificent Gopurams). Generally, there is no water tank in the temple premises and the pradakshina patha is covered.