Famous Hanuman Temples in India

Temples to Lord Hanuman are found in every Indian state, and a few stand out for their history, architecture or devotional tradition.

Hanuman Garhi, Ayodhya (Uttar Pradesh)

One of Ayodhya's most important temples, Hanuman Garhi carries several stories about its origin. One folk legend holds that when the saint Tulsidas was refused entry into Ayodhya on caste grounds, he prayed to Hanuman and was granted permission to establish a temple just outside the city. Historically, it is recorded that Aurangzeb had the site demolished and a mosque built there; later, Bairagi ascetics defeated Nawab Shujauddaula of Awadh and rebuilt a Hanuman temple on the land. In 1855, the Nawab of Awadh granted land revenue for the temple.

Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple, Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh)

Set on the banks of the Assi river, this temple was established by Goswami Tulsidas in the early 16th century, at the site where he is said to have had a vision of Hanuman. Tulsidas is the same saint who composed the Ramcharitmanas and the Hanuman Chalisa. A fig tree in the temple grounds still stands, under which he is believed to have written most of the Ramcharitmanas. In 1900, Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya extended the temple complex, giving it the shape it has today.

Jakhoo Temple, Shimla (Himachal Pradesh)

Set atop Shimla's highest hill, this ancient temple is now best known for the world's tallest Hanuman statue — roughly 33 metres (108 feet) tall, built between 2008 and 2010, and recognized in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Namakkal Anjaneyar Temple (Tamil Nadu)

Located in Namakkal, this temple is known for its roughly 18-foot (5.5-metre) Hanuman idol, carved from a single monolithic slab of stone — among the tallest monolithic Hanuman images in India. The temple follows the Vaikhanasa tradition, and sources date its origin variously between the 5th and 8th centuries.

Salasar Balaji and Mehandipur Balaji (Rajasthan)

The Salasar Balaji Temple's idol is distinctive for depicting Hanuman with a beard and moustache, setting it apart from most other Hanuman shrines. Legend holds the idol was unearthed by a farmer ploughing his field in the 18th century.

The Mehandipur Balaji Temple, in Dausa district, also uses "Balaji" to refer to Hanuman in his childhood form — a naming convention common in several parts of the country.

The Dispute Over Hanuman's Birthplace

One honest fact worth stating: there's a genuine, ongoing dispute among scholars and states over Hanuman's actual birthplace. The main claimants are Anjanadri Hill (Anegundi, near Hampi) on the banks of the Tungabhadra river in Karnataka's Koppal district, Anjaneri in Nashik district, Maharashtra, and Japali Theertham at Tirumala in Andhra Pradesh, which the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has more recently put forward as the birthplace. Smaller, more local claims also exist in Navsari, Gujarat, and parts of Jharkhand. There is no single, universally agreed historical answer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who established Hanuman Garhi?

Folk legend credits the saint Tulsidas. It's also historically recorded that the site was demolished under Aurangzeb and later rebuilt by Bairagi ascetics.

What is Sankat Mochan Temple's connection to the Hanuman Chalisa?

The temple was founded by Goswami Tulsidas, who is also the author of the Hanuman Chalisa.

Where is the world's tallest Hanuman statue?

At the Jakhoo Temple in Shimla, standing roughly 33 metres (108 feet) tall and recognized in the Guinness Book of World Records.

What makes the Salasar Balaji idol different from other Hanuman idols?

It depicts Hanuman with a beard and moustache, a feature not seen in most other Hanuman temples.

Where is Hanuman traditionally believed to have been born?

There's no single agreed answer. Anjanadri Hill (near Hampi, Karnataka), Anjaneri (Nashik, Maharashtra), and Japali Theertham at Tirumala, Andhra Pradesh, are the three main claimants.