The Hanuman Janmabhoomi Trust at Hampi is planning to build a 215-feet tall statue of Lord Hanuman at his birthplace of Kishkinda, which is believed to be Hampi, reports The New Indian Express.

The trust, Karnataka Hanuman Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra (HJTK), came into existence earlier this month on 5 February, the same day when the Centre announced Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra, the trust that will oversee the construction of the Ram Mandir at Ayodhya.

The HJTK trust, headed by Govindananda Saraswathi Swamy, has been constituted for the overall development of Kishkinda Pampakshetra at Hampi.

Hampi, which is already a tourist centre, will also be turned into a pilgrimage centre, Trust sources said, reports The New Indian Express.

“It will equal the grandeur of Ayodhya after the Ram temple is built. At Ayodhya, the world’s tallest Rama statue will be built at 225 feet and since Rama and Hanuman were inseparable, we also decided to put up the tallest statue of Hanuman but 10 feet shorter than Rama’s. The Hanuman statue will be made out of copper,” the sources were quoted in the report as saying.

According to the report, a Hanumantha Ratha will travel through the country starting this year and will collect funds for the statue and other expenses. The Rath Yatra will end at Ayodhya, the sources said.

The Ratha is expected to take at least three years to complete the journey. Meanwhile, the work at Kishkinda too will start, said the Trust members.

In a bid to set up the statue and a temple, the trust is planning to purchase 10 acres of land. It will also invite 101 saints from Ayodhya for this year’s Hanuman Jayanthi.