Jakhu Temple

Jakhu Temple is the highest point in Shimla, and the 108 foot Hanuman statue on top of the hill is the thing you keep seeing from everywhere in the city. From The Ridge, from Mall Road, from your hotel window. It is always there on the skyline, saffron against blue or grey, depending on the weather. At some point during a Shimla trip, most people decide to go up and see it up close. The walk is steep, the monkeys are bold, and the view from the top is the widest you will get without leaving the city.

The short version. Jakhu Temple is an ancient Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman, sitting at about 2,455 metres on Jakhu Hill, Shimla's highest peak. The hill is about 2.5 km east of The Ridge. According to the Ramayana legend, Hanuman stopped here while carrying the Sanjeevani herb to save Lakshmana, and the temple marks where his footprint is believed to have left a mark. The 108 foot (33 metre) statue of Hanuman was completed in 2010, funded by the HC Nanda Charitable Trust, and unveiled by Abhishek Bachchan. It is visible from almost every part of Shimla and has become the city's defining landmark.

There are three ways up. Walking, which takes about 30 to 45 minutes from The Ridge on a steep uphill path through deodar forest. The Jakhu Ropeway, which opened in 2017 and covers the distance in about 5 minutes from a station near The Ridge. Or a taxi up the road to the upper parking, followed by a short walk. The walk is the most rewarding if your legs are up for it. The ropeway is the most fun, with good views over the city during the ride. The taxi is the practical option for seniors and families with small children.

One thing to know before you go up: the rhesus macaques on the trail and around the temple are bold, fast, and completely comfortable around people. They will grab food, pull at bags, and snatch loose items if you give them an opening. Read the full monkey section below before you start. Most visitors who take the basic precautions have no trouble, but this is not something to brush off.

The temple itself is modest. A small structure with paintings from the Ramayana, statues of Hanuman and Rama, and a pair of footprints in white marble that devotees believe are Hanuman's. The temple is active, not a museum. Priests perform regular aarti, and the Dussehra celebrations here are the biggest annual event in Shimla. Most visitors come for the statue and the panoramic view, not the temple architecture, but the temple has a quiet sincerity that is easy to appreciate once you are there.

The view from the top is the widest accessible panorama in Shimla. On a clear day, you can see the Shivalik ranges stretching in every direction, the city spread across the ridgeline below you, and the snow line of the greater Himalayas to the north. Early morning before 8 AM gives the sharpest visibility. Late afternoon gives the warmest light on the statue. In winter, the temple and statue under fresh snow, with the ranges behind, is the most dramatic version.

Who should go. Anyone who can handle the uphill walk or is happy to take the ropeway. Families with older children enjoy it. Solo travellers like the view. Couples like the ropeway ride. Pilgrims come for the temple and the aarti. Who should reconsider: visitors with serious mobility issues (the path is steep even from the taxi drop), anyone genuinely uncomfortable around monkeys (the encounter is almost certain), and very young children who cannot be carried through the monkey stretch. Pets are not practical here.