Jakhu Temple in Shimla is dedicated to Lord Hanuman and sits atop Jakhu Hill — the highest peak in Shimla, at an elevation of 2,455 metres. The temple and its surroundings are reached by a two-kilometre uphill trek through deodar trees from the Ridge near Mall Road.
Quick Facts
- Location: Jakhu Hill, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh
- Altitude: 2,455 metres (highest peak in Shimla)
- Distance from Ridge: Approximately 2 km (uphill trek)
The Temple
The Jakhu Temple of Shimla is dedicated to the monkey god Hanuman. The scenic views from the hilltop encompass much of Shimla and the surrounding hills. The path to the temple through deodar forest is considered part of the pilgrimage experience.
The Hanuman Statue
In 2010, a large Hanuman statue was erected near the Jakhu Temple. At the time of its construction, the statue was reported to stand at 108 feet and was described as the world’s tallest Hanuman statue, at an altitude of over 8,100 feet. The construction cost was reported as Rs 1.5 crores.
Important: The “world’s tallest” description was applied at the time of construction in 2010. This claim was inaccurate even at the time of construction: the 135-foot Veera Abhaya Anjaneya Hanuman Swami statue at Paritala, Andhra Pradesh, was installed in June 2003 — seven years before the Jakhu statue was unveiled in 2010.