“Amitabh Bachchan to build a ₹15 crore memorial”: Amitabh Bachchan’s Ayodhya Project to Honour Father Harivansh Rai Bachchan

Amitabh Bachchan’s association with Ayodhya is taking a more personal direction. The veteran actor has submitted a proposal for a 20-plus-room dharamshala in the city, with the project intended as a tribute to his late father, renowned Hindi poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan.

The proposal has been submitted to the Ayodhya Development Authority (ADA), which has initiated the process of inviting public objections before considering approval. According to current reports, construction can move ahead only after the necessary permissions are granted.

The proposed facility is being described as a place that would provide accommodation and other amenities for devotees visiting Ayodhya. That makes the project different from a conventional private property development: its proposed use has a public and charitable dimension while carrying the name and memory of one of Hindi literature's most recognised poets.

The ₹15-Crore Property and What Is Planned

The current proposal is linked in reports to a property Bachchan purchased in Ayodhya for around ₹15 crore. The land is associated with The Sarayu development along Dashrath Path.

According to reporting on the latest proposal, the building plan submitted to the ADA covers a dharamshala with more than 20 rooms. The authority has allowed a period for objections before the layout can proceed through the approval process.

The distinction between a proposal and an approved, operational facility is important. The dharamshala has not yet opened, and construction should not be described as complete. The project remains subject to the relevant development approvals.

A Tribute That Connects Cinema With Literature

The proposed project also gives Amitabh Bachchan's Ayodhya association a cultural dimension.

Harivansh Rai Bachchan was among the most influential Hindi poets of the 20th century. His best-known work, Madhushala, became a landmark of Hindi poetry, while his literary career also included translations of Shakespeare's works. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan for his contribution to literature.

Amitabh Bachchan has maintained a strong public connection with his father's literary legacy over the years. In 2013, he announced the formation of the Harivansh Rai Bachchan Memorial Trust, saying that the trust would work towards raising funds for charitable activities in his father's memory.

That history provides important context for the proposed Ayodhya project. The idea of using property for a facility associated with his father's memory did not emerge entirely out of nowhere; the Bachchan family has previously linked charitable activity with Harivansh Rai Bachchan's name.

There Is More Than One Ayodhya Property in the Story

One detail that can easily become confusing in reports about Amitabh Bachchan's Ayodhya investments is that multiple land transactions have been associated with the actor and the Harivansh Rai Bachchan Memorial Trust.

In March 2025, reports emerged that a 54,454-square-foot parcel had been acquired in Ayodhya in the name of the Harivansh Rai Bachchan Memorial Trust. At the time, officials confirmed that the sale deed had been completed but indicated that the eventual purpose of the property would become clearer after approval of a building plan.

The Indian Express later reported that Bachchan's Ayodhya property portfolio included the land acquired through The Sarayu project as well as property associated with the trust. It also reported that developer Abhinandan Lodha recalled Bachchan purchasing a 15,000-square-foot parcel for ₹15 crore.

This distinction matters because earlier reports about a possible Harivansh Rai Bachchan memorial concerned the trust-held property, while the latest September 2026 reports specifically connect the proposed 20-plus-room dharamshala with Bachchan's ₹15-crore Ayodhya property.

Why the Dharamshala Matters

Ayodhya has undergone a major transformation as a religious and tourism destination following the opening of the Ram Mandir. A facility designed to accommodate visitors would therefore have a practical purpose beyond its association with the Bachchan family.

According to reports quoting ADA Vice Chairman Anurag Jain, the authority has received Bachchan's application for the proposed dharamshala and is following the prescribed process before granting approval.

For Bachchan, the project could ultimately create a physical connection between his family's literary history and a city that has become one of India's most prominent pilgrimage destinations.

The Legacy of Harivansh Rai Bachchan

Harivansh Rai Bachchan's legacy extends far beyond being known simply as Amitabh Bachchan's father.

His poetry occupies an important place in modern Hindi literature, with Madhushala remaining his signature work. His contribution to Hindi literature and his translations helped establish him as a significant literary figure in his own right.

That makes the proposed memorial element particularly relevant. Rather than using his father's name merely as a family tribute, the project could potentially provide a space through which visitors encounter the poet's legacy alongside their visit to Ayodhya.

The exact form that this cultural component may take, however, should not be assumed until the project receives approval and the final plans are made public.

The Celebrity Hour Take

The interesting part of Amitabh Bachchan's Ayodhya story is no longer simply that the actor has invested in property there.

The proposed dharamshala changes the narrative from celebrity real estate to legacy and public utility. If approved and completed, the facility could serve visitors while simultaneously keeping Harivansh Rai Bachchan's name connected with a city that attracts millions of religious and cultural visitors.

It also reflects a broader aspect of Amitabh Bachchan's public life: despite being identified primarily with cinema, his family legacy is closely tied to literature. A project in his father's memory gives that connection a tangible presence.

For now, however, the responsible way to describe the development is that Amitabh Bachchan has submitted a proposal for the dharamshala and the approval process is underway. The final design, construction timeline and eventual facilities will depend on regulatory clearance and subsequent development.

Sources & Verification

This report was independently researched using current reporting on the Ayodhya Development Authority's approval process, earlier reporting on Amitabh Bachchan's Ayodhya property acquisitions, and reporting on the Harivansh Rai Bachchan Memorial Trust. The article distinguishes between the proposed dharamshala, properties held through the trust, and Bachchan's separate Ayodhya land investments to avoid conflating different transactions.