Jakhu Temple In Shimla
The Jakhu Mandir, also spelled as Jakhoo, is located on Jakhu Hill. This lies about 2.5 km east of the Shimla Ridge. At a height of 2,455m above sea level, it is the highest peak in Shimla. This hilltop offers spectacular views of Shivalik mountain range and the town of Sanjauli. The temple is dedicated to Lord Hanuman and is home to a large colony of monkeys. It is believed that the temple dates back to the time of the Ramayana. And that the footprints of Lord Hanuman can be seen in this temple.
The monkeys here are not afraid of humans and turn to tourists for food. They often even check tourist’s pockets! However, they are not aggressive. It is advisable not to carry anything in your hands when visiting the temple.
There are many legends around this temple. According to one such legend, when Lord Rama’s brother, Lakshman was fighting Ravana, the demon king, he was injured by an arrow and fell unconscious. A priest told Hanuman to get a herb called the Sanjeevani booty from the Himalayas to cure Lakshman. When Hanuman reached the Himalayas, he could not identify the herb and so carried an entire mountain back with him. The priest found the correct herb and used it to cure Lakshmana.
On his way back to the said mountain, Hanuman rested on the Jakhu hill for a short while. It is believed that the hill was flattened because of his weight. The Jakhu temple was later built at this site. Every year Dussehra celebrations take place in a big way at this temple. Many tourists time their visit to attend this celebration.
The statue of Lord Hanuman in the Jakhoo Temple is among the tallest Hanuman statues in the world. Though the temple is very old, this statue was built only in the early 21st century. Actor, Abhishek Bachchan unveiled it on 5th November 2010.
The statue is 108 feet tall and overlooks the city of Shimla. In comparison, Brazil’s, ‘Christ the Redeemer’ statue is only 98 feet tall. The idol towers high above the trees and is visible from several points in Shimla.
The area around the statue has been developed so that visiting families can spend time comfortably here. A children’s park with swings and slides is located nearby.
The Jakhu temple is well connected by road to Shimla. Cabs are available from any of the Shimla hotels you may be staying in. You can also take a pony ride to the Jakhoo Temple from the Shimla Mall Road. Adventure enthusiasts can trek up the hill, the climb is quite steep in places and you will encounter many monkeys along the way. Recently, an aerial ropeway – the Jahku Ropeway Shimla started, that takes you from The Ridge to the Jahku Temple in just 6 minutes.
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