✦ Celebrity stories, facts and career updates. Explore F4U now →

Home › Biography › Chandrakant Sompura

Chandrakant Sompura biographyFeatured Biography

Image source: StarsUnfolded

Celebrities

Chandrakant Sompura Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 4, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth1943

Age80 Years

BirthplaceGujarat, India

ProfessionArchitect

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseShobha Sompura

FamilyTwo sons: Nikhil Sompura and Ashish Sompura (both architects)

Chandrakant Sompura Biography

Chandrakant Sompura is a veteran Indian temple architect from Gujarat, best known as the chief architect of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. A member of a long‑l

Early life and background

Chandrakant Sompura was born in Gujarat in 1943 and belongs to a family long associated with temple architecture. He hails from Palitana and the family moved to Ahmedabad in the 1960s for work. Sompura is part of a multi‑generation lineage of temple builders — he is identified as the 15th generation in that family tradition — and grew up surrounded by that craft. His father, Prabhakar Sompura, and his grandfather, Prabhashankar Sompura, were both noted temple architects, with his grandfather credited for the renovation of the Somnath temple completed in 1949.

Career

Sompura has built a large body of work over many decades, credited with designing and overseeing more than 130 temples in India and abroad. Projects associated with his family include prominent Hindu temple complexes such as Akshardham in Gujarat and several Swaminarayan mandirs. Individual works linked to Chandrakant Sompura include the Swami Narayan Temple in Gandhinagar and the Ambaji Temple in Palanpur.

Although he did not receive formal professional training in architecture, Sompura developed his skills within the family tradition of temple design. He first prepared a design for the Ayodhya Ram temple in 1989 after being approached via contacts connected to the Birla family. Over successive years he produced models and iterative designs for the site, presenting proposals to religious leaders and committees involved in the project.

In the years leading up to the temple’s completion, Sompura worked on refined plans together with his sons, Ashish and Nikhil, to adapt the earlier design for the larger scale of the final project. He served as chief architect of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and led the creation of wooden models and other design studies that were reviewed and approved by stakeholders. Sompura has described unconventional field methods used during early site visits when measurement tools were restricted; on one occasion he relied on counting steps to record spatial information that he later translated into scaled plans.

Technical approach and recognition

Sompura has highlighted structural aspects of the Ram Temple project, noting that the design underwent modern analysis to assess seismic performance. He reported progress on carved stone work during construction phases and, as the project advanced, stated expected timelines for completion of certain stages.

Over his career he has received a number of honours recognizing his contributions to temple architecture. Listed awards include the Bharat Gaurav Award (2019), the Vastu Shilpi Award (2020), the Ram Janambhoomi Shilpi Award (2021), the Amrit Ratna (2023), and the Padma Shri (2025).

Public profile

Sompura is regarded as one of India’s prominent practitioners of temple architecture, often cited for his role in sustaining traditional design and construction practices. His family name is associated with several high‑profile temple projects and with passing craft knowledge across generations; his two sons, Nikhil and Ashish Sompura, are also architects and have collaborated with him on major projects.

His work on the Ayodhya Ram Temple brought him substantial public attention. The temple’s consecration took place on 22 January 2024, following many years of design and construction activity to which Sompura contributed as chief architect.

Personal life

Chandrakant Sompura is married to Shobha Sompura, who is also an architect. The couple have two sons, Nikhil and Ashish, both of whom practice architecture. Physical descriptions in public records list his height at approximately 173 cm and note black eyes and salt‑and‑pepper hair.

Latest updates

As of late 2019, Sompura reported that a significant portion of carved stone work for the Ram Temple had been completed and gave projected timelines for subsequent construction stages. The project moved forward over the following years and reached consecration in January 2024.
◈

Recent Work

Ram Temple, Ayodhya

Chief architect for the design and construction efforts; produced initial designs in 1989 and later updated plans with his sons for the final, large‑scale project. Oversaw creation of models, wooden mockups and stone carving progress leading up to the temple's consecration in January 2024.

1989–2024
✦

Career Highlights

  1. Chief architect of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya
  2. Designed and built over 130 temples in India and abroad
  3. Part of a 15‑generation family of temple architects
  4. Worked on projects associated with Akshardham and notable Swaminarayan mandirs
  5. Received multiple awards including Bharat Gaurav Award, Vastu Shilpi Award, Ram Janambhoomi Shilpi Award, Amrit Ratna and Padma Shri
?

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Chandrakant Sompura born?

1943

What is Chandrakant Sompura known for?

Architect

What is Chandrakant Sompura’s marital status?

Married

Who is Chandrakant Sompura married to?

Shobha Sompura