Maharishi Valmiki International Airport

The Maharishi Valmiki International Airport, commonly known as the Ayodhya Airport, is located in the temple town of Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh, India. It has an impressive built-up area of 8000 sq.m and a master plan area of 336.59 acres. The airport is an infrastructural marvel that promises holistic community development and cultural enrichment. With a GRIHA 4-Star Certification, the airport is a testament to India’s commitment to sustainable practices, signalling a new era of environmentally conscious aviation. With a focus on improving connectivity and complementing the Ayodhya Ram Temple, the airport is strategically located to facilitate travel for devotees and tourists. With a peak-hour capacity of 750+ passengers and four aircraft movements per hour, the airport has been designed to cater to a large population and accommodate the continuous expected growth.

Project description

The airport is a two-story structure adorned with elevated elements depicting the rich history of the sacred city of Ayodhya. The ground floor’s expansive amenities invite passengers, while the airport operations are carried out from the first floor. The structure, designed with a gradual elevation of mandapas, is inspired by the Nagara style of temple architecture, which is native to Northern India. The airport has boosted connectivity across India and is specifically designed to enhance the visitor and devotee experience while reflecting Ayodhya’s heritage. The key highlights of the project include:

Integrating the historic city’s heritage into the architecture

At the airport’s main entrance is a tall, grand-stepped shikar adorned with brass. This architectural masterpiece follows the Nagara style, outlined with scriptures, presenting a majestic and culturally rich welcome to the passengers. The city’s heritage and story unfold through intricate columns, each with profound symbolism. The mega columns supporting the terminal roof symbolise the Kandas of Ramayana, infusing the cultural richness of the place into the airport’s architecture. The Khandika, symbolising impermanence, coexists with the Deva Gana Patta, embodying divine features. Every column narrates a story of dedication, courage, and spirituality, weaving the city’s essence into the very fabric of the airport.

Interspersing symbolic murals and artwork from the Ramayana

The terminal building is a canvas of profound messages. The bow and arrow mural symbolises the courage to confront untruth, while the hexagonal light particles embody the eternal triumph of truth over falsehood. From arrivals to skylights, artworks intricately depict the timeless tale of Lord Ram from the Ramayana, creating an immersive, sensory-rich experience in contrast to the traditional airport designs. Strategically placed skylights serve as guiding beacons, assisting in pathfinding and offering a discernible experience for passengers.

Pioneering sustainable and environmentally conscious design practices

Embracing carbon neutrality with eco-conscious glass fibre-reinforced materials, the design pioneers sustainable practices in aviation. Replacing the traditional stone facades with glass fibre reinforced concrete (GRC) rich in ornamental work significantly contributed to environmental sustainability and reduced carbon emissions.

Boosting local and national connectivity in Uttar Pradesh

Ayodhya Airport’s passenger terminal has been designed to accommodate 150 arrivals and departures simultaneously, anticipating the surge in passenger traffic. The airport is poised to transcend the ordinary, mirroring the cultural opulence of Ayodhya and redefining contemporary airports to authentically embody the city’s identity, a symbol of pride for the aviation industry. The journey is physical and spiritual for pilgrims who will tread the corridors of Ayodhya Airport. The airport has been strategically designed to further develop Ayodhya as one of the world’s largest pilgrimage centres, providing top-notch connectivity and making the journey to Ayodhya more accessible and enriching for pilgrims.

Creating jobs and boosting the local economy in Ayodhya

The impact of the Ayodhya Airport transcends its architectural and cultural dimensions. It is expected to catalyse economic growth in the region, with projections indicating that at least 500 jobs will be created annually, eventually offering tangible benefits to the local community.

Architect speaks

What makes this project special and unique?
The Ayodhya Airport is a groundbreaking project that is a unique synergy of architectural innovation, cultural heritage, and sustainability designed to create an infrastructure that resonates with the city’s spirit and the future of aviation. Its deep-rooted connection to the city’s rich history, symbolised by architectural elements, sets it apart. Inspired by the Nagara temple style, the airport’s architecture is an ode to tradition and a statement of modernity focusing on enhancing the visitor experience. Beyond its environmental credentials, the airport is also set to accelerate regional development, apart from turning Ayodhya into a global pilgrimage hub.

What major challenges did you face while executing the project? And how did you address them?
One of the foremost challenges was integrating the city’s rich cultural heritage into a modern infrastructure while ensuring functionality and sustainability. To address this, we studied the Nagara style of temple architecture, ensuring that its elements were harmoniously incorporated into the airport’s design.

Sustainability was another key challenge. As the project aimed for a GRIHA 4-Star Certification and sought to reduce its carbon footprint, we faced the challenge of sourcing and utilising eco-friendly materials. We addressed this by replacing traditional stone facades with GRC, which ensured structural integrity and reduced carbon emissions without compromising the aesthetic appeal.

The sheer scale of the project, aimed at handling a peak-hour capacity of over 750 passengers, also posed logistical challenges. Our solution to this issue was to design the airport with an expansive layout and capacity to handle 150 arrivals and departures simultaneously while ensuring passenger comfort with ample amenities.

Why do you think the project got shortlisted for the award?
The Ayodhya Airport project stands out for its exceptional integration of cultural heritage, architectural innovation, and sustainable design, making it a strong contender for this prestigious award. The design’s ability to reflect Ayodhya’s rich spiritual and historical legacy while incorporating sustainable, eco-conscious design practices, positioning it as a true exemplar of modern architecture, is a major aspect of the shortlist. The focus on eco-friendly design supports India’s sustainable development goals and sets a new benchmark for airports in Tier 2 cities. In essence, the Ayodhya Airport is more than just an infrastructure project; it is a testament to the power of architecture to elevate a city’s identity, preserve its heritage, and embrace a sustainable future. This combination of cultural depth, design excellence, and social impact is why the project has rightfully been shortlisted for this award.

About the architect

Ar. Harsh Varshneya is the Director and Head of Design at STHAPATI, an award-winning multidisciplinary architectural practice headquartered in Lucknow and Delhi. The firm’s globally recognised portfolio spans a spectrum of building typologies, from individual dwellings to large-scale urban developments. Harsh leads the firm’s innovative ventures into urban mobility projects in India and internationally. Over the past decade, he has guided prestigious projects and various redevelopment initiatives within the aviation and railway sectors, shaping the nation’s infrastructure landscape. His extensive portfolio includes redeveloping major academic institutions like the Delhi University and transforming key transport hubs in cities like Bangalore, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and beyond.

For more details, visit: https://sthapatiindia.org/

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