Jakhoo Temple
About Jakhoo Temple
Far From City: 1 kms from city center
Cost:
About Jakhoo Temple
Weather:
Time Required:1-2 hours
Open Time:5:00 AM - 12:00 PM, 4:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Cost:No entry fee
Legend of Jakhoo Temple
During the battle of Ramayana, between Rama and Ravana, Lakshmana was seriously injured by Indrajit's (Ravana's son) arrow. To revive him, Hanuman sought after the much acclaimed Sanjeevani plant which is said to cure any malady. It is said that Lord Hanuman stopped here on the way retrieve the medicinal plant. Also, it is believed that the place has earned its name from sage 'Yakoo' whom Hanuman had seen sitting here while he was on his way to the Himalayas.
To gather more details about the plant, he landed here. The result of which the Jakhoo hill which was much higher, sunk halfway into the earth. He proceeded onto Mount Dronagiri in the Himalayas and promised to visit sage Yaaku to meet him on his return. However, on his way back, due to the shortage of time, and his confrontation with the cunning demon, Kaalnemi, he could not make it back to the hill. Sage Yaaku supposedly built this temple in the honour of Lord Hanuman.
Legend says that the temple has been built around Hanuman?s footprints. The monkeys that flock and reside around the shrine here are said to be the descendants of Lord Hanuman. The original date of construction of the temple is not clearly known but is believed to be existing since the times of Ramayana.
Architecture of Jakhoo Temple
Being the highest peak in Shimla, the scenic vistas Jakhoo Temple provides are enough of an incentive to visit this place. The Jakhoo hill provides amazing views of sunrise, sunset, the lofty mountains of the Shivalik ranges and the nearby town of Sanjauli. The trail up to the temple offers a relaxing, serene path full of narrow promenades and excellent views surrounded by deodar trees. The temple itself is a quiet place housing a shrine dedicated to Lord Hanuman.
The premises hold murals and paintings showing Hanuman's feats during Ramayana. The huge 108 feet tall idol of Hanuman installed here in 2010 is a grand sight and has played an important part in attracting an increasing number of tourists throughout the years, who come here to witness this architectural marvel. The soaring statue is illuminated during the night. It is visible from almost anywhere in Shimla, even during the day! An endless number of monkeys flock the hill and is a wonderful sight to experience, but beware of their mischievous behaviour.
Jakhoo Temple Ropeway
The vintage British-era architecture coupled with the scenic views of the Himalayan landscape is thoroughly enjoyed by the ropeway cable car from the bottom of the hill to the top. The fantastic Gondola ride rises to 8,054 feet above sea level and covers the distance of half a kilometre in not more than 5-6 minutes, thereby sparing you of the usual human congestion on the roads. The Jakhoo ropeway is one of the four major ropeway attractions in the state, with the other being - Solang Nala at Rohtang, Naina Devi in Bilaspur and Timber Trial in Solan. Each ropeway cabin can carry six people and is one of the safest ropeways in all of India, having been inaugurated recently. The formidable surrounding scenery is bound to leave you breathless.
The ride timings are from9:30 AM to 6:00 PM(i.e. until sunset).The ticket prices vary according to the age.It is free for children below 3 years of ageand costsINR 200 for children between 3-12 years.For adults, the cost of the ticket is INR 250.All these are one-way prices. You can hike back down, catch a cab or descend down in the cable car again, the choice is yours!
Dussehra Celebrations at Jakhoo Temple
The festival of Dussehra (Vijayadashami) is celebrated on a grand scale during the month of October/September at the Jakhoo Temple because of Lord Hanuman's heroic feats in the Hindu epic, Ramayana. Dussehra marks the victory of Lord Rama over the demon king Ravana.
Best time to visit Jakhoo Temple
Shimla's fantastic weather makes it a great destination to visit any time of the year. Summer months between March and June are pleasant with an average temperature of 20 degrees Celsius. The rainy season during July and after can be quite a nuisance to travel around due to heavy showers. The winter months post September until January are very idyllic and calm. It can get quite cold and chilly with occasional snow showers.
How to Reach Jakhoo Temple
The temple on top of the hill is a short ride away from the Shimla city centre. You can either hire a taxi, get a pony or walk the picturesque trail of 2 kilometres up the hill in order to reach Jakhoo Temple. A rope/cable car is also available to reach the top.
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Tips
1. Disposing and littering of unwanted garbage in the temple premises will be frowned upon and is best to avoid it.2. Sometimes, the monkeys here can be quite a hassle to deal with and are famous for snatching anything you might to be carrying or wearing. So, beware of your surroundings and carry a stick to keep them away. They also generously accept eatables given to them by people!3. There are several eateries at the temple site.4/ It is considered good luck to ring the temple bell before exiting the premises.
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