Jakhu Temple - An Ancient Lord Hanuman Temple Shimla

 

Jakhu Temple is an ancient Hanuman temple which has the world’s largest statue of God Hanuman. It is one of the famous sightseeing places in Shimla which offers a mystical vibe to the devotees of the “Pawan Putra”. The surroundings of the Jakhu Temple are complemented by amazing views. It is a great place to enjoy the awe-inspiring sunrises and sunsets and an adventurous drive for trek enthusiasts. Other than that, the lush green winding pathways are an absolute treat for nature lovers.

 

 

Jakhu Temple has an interesting mythological story attached to it. It is generally said that during the battle course of Ramayana, Shri Ram’s younger brother Lakshmana got injured by Shakti Ban and became unconscious. He couldn’t be revived despite several efforts. Then, Vaidya Sushen (the Raj vaidya of the King Ravana of Lanka) told Lord Rama that he needed a particular Sanjeevani herb to bring him back to life. Hanuman was given the charge of getting the herb from the Himalayas.

 

While going towards the Himalayas, he met sage Yaaku on the hilltop. Hanuman sat on the mountain and cleared his doubts about the herb. The mountain couldn’t bear his weight and got flattened, remaining half of its size. After collecting enough information about the herb, Lord Hanuman promised Yaaku to meet him while going back to Lanka.

 

However, on his way back, he had to fight with a demon named “Kalnemi” who tried to fool him around, which consumed a lot of his valuable time. To reach Lanka on time, he chose not to meet sage and took the shortest possible route. When sage was disappointed, he thought of meeting him in person and tell the reason for breaking the promise.

 

As Hanuman left the place, an idol of him appeared on the hill by itself. To honour the Lord’s visit, Yaaku built a temple there. It is believed till date that the temple has the footprints of Hanuman and the monkeys that stay around the shrine are the descendants of Lord Hanuman.

 

 

Jakhu Temple situated at the highest peak in Shimla, surrounded by lofty mountains and deodar trees, the trail up to the temple lets you soak in the mesmerizing beauty. The temple premises hold several paintings that represent the story of Hanuman during Ramayana. Installed in 2010, the 108 feet long idol of Hanuman is an attraction in itself and has enticed a huge number of tourists throughout the years. Illuminated with lights in the night, it is a grand sight to watch on your Shimla tour and is visible from anywhere in Shimla.

 

 

Apart from its religious significance, Jakhu Temple also keeps its tourists occupied with many things to do in Shimla. Jakhu Hill is famous for its trekking activity. It is only 0.4 km away from Jakhoo Temple. Surrounded by Alpine trees, snow-capped Himalayan mountains and the evergreens valleys, Jakhoo Hill is a favorite escape for visitors wanting to relax away from the city life. Here you can spend hours just by looking at the clouds or simply capture the breathtaking scenery.

 

 

Since the Jakhoo Temple is just a short stroll away from the city centre, it is pretty easy to walk the picturesque trail of 2 km to reach your destination. One can also hire a taxi or a shared cab to enjoy the Shivalik ranges and steep slopes on the road route.

 

However, the easiest way to reach the Jakhoo Temple in Shimla is through a new ropeway that takes you directly to the temple from The Ridge in 5 minutes. The 2-way journey costs nearly INR 500 per person (for adults) and INR 400 per person (for children).

 

Distance of Jakhu Temple from Shimla bus stand is 3.4 km and the distance of Jakhu Temple from Shimla railway station is 3.2 km. If you prefer travelling by road, you can also hire a private vehicle from one of the top car rental companies in Shimla.

 

Entry Fee and Timings of Jakhu Temple