Patna:  In a humanitarian gesture aimed to strengthen religious tolerance, a Muslim family in Bihar has donated land worth Rs.2.5 crore for the construction of the world's largest Hindu temple, known as Virat Ramayan Mandir in the Kaithwalia area of the East Champaran district.

Informing this to media persons, Acharya Kishore Kunal, the head of Patna-based Mahavir Mandir Trust said that a man named Ishtiaq Ahmed Khan has donated the land. Kunal’s trust that has taken up the project, said that Khan is a native East Champaran where he is doing business.

Kunal said the family recently completed all required formalities about donating the land for the building of the temple. The formalities were completed at the Kesharia sub-division (East Champaran). Kunal is a former Indian Police Service officer also.

He said that donation by Khan and his family is a great example of social harmony and brotherhood between two communities. Without the help of Muslims, it would have been difficult to realise this dream project, he added.

The Trust has so far been able to find out 125 acres of land for the construction of this temple. The trust is expected to get 25 acres of additional land soon for the project.

The Virat Ramayan Mandir is slated to be taller than the world-famous 12th century Angkor Wat complex in Cambodia, which is 215 feet high. The complex in East Champaran will comprise 18 temples with high spires and its Shiv temple will have the world's largest Shivling.

The total construction cost is estimated to be around Rs 500 crores. The trust will soon take advice from the experts engaged in the construction of the new parliament building in New Delhi.