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Hanuman Garhi

Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh · Lord Hanuman (shown as child Hanuman on his mother Anjani's lap)

The hilltop fort of Hanuman, reached by 76 steps, which pilgrims traditionally visit before Ram Lalla.

Hanuman Garhi is Ayodhya's most important Hanuman temple. It stands on a raised mound shaped like a four-sided fort, with round bastions at the corners, and is reached by a flight of 76 steps. The sanctum holds a small image of child Hanuman seated on the lap of his mother Anjani. Pilgrims customarily visit Hanuman Garhi first, and then the Ram Janmabhoomi temple, which is a short walk away.

Timings

• Temple open (sources differ): approx. 5:00 AM – 12:00 noon and 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM. Some sources give 4 AM to 10 PM. No official timetable was found.
• Confirm before you go: Hours change on festival days and during Ram Navami and Hanuman Jayanti.

Daily rituals

• approx. 5:00–5:30 AM – Mangala aarti: The first aarti of the day; usually the quietest time.
• approx. 6:00 PM – Sandhya aarti: Evening aarti, reported as the busiest of the day. Arrive early.
• approx. 9:30 PM – Shayan aarti: Night aarti before the temple closes.

Darshan types and costs

• General darshan – Free. Walk-in. Since January 2026 a trial system of one-way routes gives each pilgrim about 30 seconds in the sanctum (The Divine India, 6 January 2026). Queues are longest on Tuesdays, Saturdays and festivals.

How to book darshan

Hanuman Garhi is a walk-in temple. No official online booking site could be confirmed. Do not pay online for 'special darshan' or 'puja booking'.

1. Reach the base of the steps. Leave footwear at the stand on the street.
2. Climb the 76 steps. If you cannot, a palanquin (doli) service is reported at the base with displayed rates.
3. Join the queue. Follow the one-way barricades; each pilgrim gets a short darshan.

Booking safely

• No official online booking exists that we could confirm. Do not pay any website for 'special darshan'. The address hanumangarhiayodhya.com cited in some references did not load when we checked.

Agree the palanquin price at the base before you start.

Prasadam and offerings

• Laddu prasad – Approx. ₹20 – ₹100 per basket (travel site report). Sold at stalls on the staircase. Check the price before buying.

• Sindoor, flowers and laddu: Common offerings to Hanuman. Prices are not fixed by any published list; ask before you buy.

Dress code

Modest clothing covering shoulders and knees (travel-site report).

Temple etiquette

• Remove footwear at the stand on the street.
• Large bags are reported not to be allowed inside, and photography inside the compound is reported to be banned. Confirm at the gate.
• Hold the handrail on the steps, especially while coming down.
• Keep to the one-way route; do not stop in the sanctum.

Why it matters

In Ayodhya's tradition Hanuman is the guardian of the city. A legend recorded on Wikipedia says that after Rama returned to Ayodhya, Hanuman lived in a cave here to guard Ramkot, the citadel of Rama.

Because of this guardian role, many devotees believe a visit to Ayodhya is complete only after seeking Hanuman's permission at Hanuman Garhi. Travel sources describe the custom of visiting Hanuman Garhi before Ram Lalla.

The temple is run by Bairagi mahants of the Ramanandi tradition and the Nirvani Akhara, and it is described on Wikipedia as one of Ayodhya's most important temples, alongside the Ram Mandir and Nageshwarnath.

Legends

Hanuman guards Ramkot

According to the legend recorded on Wikipedia, Hanuman lived in a cave in Ayodhya to guard Ramkot after Rama's return from exile. The mound of Hanuman Garhi is identified with that place.

History

Medieval and early modern: Hanuman Garhi as a fort-temple

Wikipedia notes that the present temple was built by Bairagi sadhus after an earlier shrine at the site was lost. The complex is shaped like a four-sided fort.

1855: Dispute and land grant

The Nawab of Awadh granted land revenue for the temple in 1855. A dispute that year concerned Hanuman Garhi itself, according to the historian Sarvepalli Gopal, as cited on Wikipedia.

January 2026: Smart crowd management trial

The temple and local police began a trial of one-way barricaded routes that give each pilgrim about 30 seconds in the sanctum, so queues keep moving.

Architecture

The temple is built like a small fort, with a square plan and circular ramparts at each corner (Wikipedia). A flight of 76 steps leads from the street to the main shrine.

The walls carry verses of the Hanuman Chalisa, and the complex includes a Vijay Stambh (victory pillar).

The sanctum has a small image of child Hanuman on Anjani's lap, with a silver tulsi garland inscribed with Rama's name.

What to see

• The 76 steps: A steep climb from the street. A travel source says it takes 8 to 12 minutes and that the stones are worn smooth, so the descent needs care. Handrails are reported on both sides.
• Child Hanuman with Anjani: The principal image shows Hanuman as a child on his mother's lap, an uncommon form.
• Hanuman Chalisa on the walls: Verses of the Chalisa are written on the walls of the complex.
• View of the town: Because the temple stands on a mound, the courtyard gives a wide view over Ayodhya.

How to cover the temple

Hanuman Garhi is traditionally visited first in Ayodhya, before the Ram Janmabhoomi temple. The usual route is the 76 steps, a one-way darshan of child Hanuman, and then a walk to Ram Lalla.

1. Footwear and bags: Leave footwear at the stand on the street. Large bags are reported not to be allowed inside; check at the gate.
2. 76 steps: A steep staircase with handrails. A palanquin service for elders is reported at the base.
3. Child Hanuman on Anjani's lap: Follow the one-way barricades; each pilgrim gets roughly 30 seconds in the sanctum under the trial system begun in January 2026.
4. Walls with the Chalisa and the Vijay Stambh: Look at the Hanuman Chalisa verses and the victory pillar, and the view of Ayodhya.
5. Ram Janmabhoomi and Kanak Bhawan: Walk to the Ram Janmabhoomi temple (about 500 m by a travel estimate), with Kanak Bhawan on the way.

Customs and traditions

Visiting Hanuman before Rama

Pilgrims first seek Hanuman's permission at Hanuman Garhi, and then go to Ram Lalla.

Hanuman is regarded as the guardian of Ayodhya; Wikipedia records the legend that he lived in a cave here to guard Ramkot.

Free; just follow the order.

Tuesday and Saturday

The busiest days at the temple.

Days sacred to Hanuman.

Plan a weekday morning if you can.

For elders and differently-abled visitors

Access: Moderate. The temple is reached by 76 steps with handrails. Elders who cannot climb can use a palanquin service reported at the base. Since January 2026 a one-way route keeps the queue moving.

• No formal senior-citizen queue was found. The January 2026 smart crowd management trial is described as helping elders, children and the specially-abled avoid long queues (The Divine India).
• 76 stone steps; a travel source says the climb takes 8–12 minutes and the descent is riskier because the stones are worn smooth.
• Palanquin (paalki) carry service at the base of the steps; rates are reported to be displayed there. Confirm the price before you board.

Waiting time

A travel source says queues can run 40–60 minutes even at 6 AM on Tuesdays and Saturdays; other times are shorter.

Busiest on Tuesdays, Saturdays, Hanuman Jayanti and Ram Navami. The calmest time is reported as 6–8 AM.

Best time to visit

Early morning (about 6–8 AM) is calmest. Winter (October to February) is comfortable. Avoid Tuesdays, Saturdays and festival days if you have elders.

Festivals

Hanuman Jayanti (Chaitra Purnima (March–April))

The largest single-day crowd of the year, according to a travel source.

Ram Navami (Chaitra Shukla Navami (March–April))

Ayodhya's biggest festival; the whole town is crowded.

Bada Mangal (Tuesdays of Jyeshtha (May–June))

Listed on Wikipedia among the temple's festivals.

Dussehra and Deepavali (October–November)

Large crowds all over Ayodhya.

How to reach Hanuman Garhi

• By air: Maharishi Valmiki International Airport, Ayodhya, about 10 km (travel site).
• By rail: Ayodhya Dham Junction, about 1.5–2 km (travel site).
• By road: E-rickshaws and autos run from the station and bus stand. Vehicle entry near the temple is restricted on busy days, so expect to walk the last stretch.

Road safety

A short city trip in Ayodhya. The hazards are the steep 76-step climb (the descent is the riskier part), narrow crowded approach lanes, and heavy crowds on Tuesdays, Saturdays and festivals.

City lanes in central Ayodhya, then a flight of 76 stone steps with handrails to the temple. Vehicles generally cannot go to the base on busy days; expect to walk the last stretch.

Full road-safety guide

Where to stay

Hotels and dharamshalas are spread across Ayodhya. Book early for Ram Navami, Deepotsav and weekends.

• Hotels and dharamshalas in Ayodhya – Wide range; check online. Book directly with the property or through a known travel site.

Suggested plan

Half a day in Ayodhya

• Reach Hanuman Garhi by about 6:30 AM and climb the 76 steps.
• After darshan, walk to the Ram Janmabhoomi temple.
• Visit Kanak Bhawan during the midday break.
• Evening aarti at the Saryu ghats.

Tips

• Wear sturdy footwear that is easy to remove; the steps and stands are crowded.
• Elders can use the palanquin service reported at the base of the steps.
• Arrive 30–40 minutes before the evening aarti if you want to attend.

Frequently asked questions

How many steps are there?

76, according to Wikipedia and several travel sources.

Do I visit Hanuman Garhi before or after Ram Mandir?

The custom is to visit Hanuman Garhi first.

Is there an entry fee?

No. Darshan is free.

Is there an official website?

We could not confirm any. The address hanumangarhiayodhya.com that appears in some references did not load when we checked in October 2026.

Temples nearby

• Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir, Ayodhya – Ram Janmabhoomi, Ayodhya, Ayodhya district (about 1 km by road)
• Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple – Vishwanath Gali, Varanasi (Kashi), on the western bank of the Ganga (about 211 km by road)
• Shri Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple – Sankat Mochan Road, near the Assi river and Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi (about 213 km by road)
• Maa Vindhyavasini Temple – Vindhyachal, Mirzapur district (on the Ganga, between Varanasi and Prayagraj) (about 218 km by road)

More Hanuman temples

• Salasar Balaji Temple – Salasar, Sujangarh tehsil, Churu district
• Mahavir Mandir – Near Patna Junction railway station, Patna
• Shri Mehandipur Balaji Temple (Ghata Mehandipur) – Ghata Mehandipur, Sikrai tehsil, Dausa district
• Neem Karoli Baba Ashram, Kainchi Dham – Kainchi, on the Nainital–Almora road, Nainital district (about 17 km from Nainital)

All Hanuman temples

No official website: No working website of the temple's own could be confirmed; the temple is run by its mahants and is walk-in.

Sources

• Wikipedia – Hanuman Garhi
• The Divine India – Smart Crowd Management at Hanuman Garhi (6 Jan 2026)
• Ayodhya Varanasi Tourism – Hanuman Garhi darshan guide (tour operator page; used cautiously)

Last checked: 2026-10. Timings and fees change – confirm with the temple before you travel.