Quick answer: Jakhu (Jakhoo) Temple is a Hanuman temple on Jakhu Hill, Shimla’s highest point, about 2.5 km uphill from the Ridge. Himachal Pradesh Tourism gives its altitude as 2,445 m. A 108-foot statue of Hanuman, unveiled in November 2010, stands beside it and can be seen from much of the town. You can walk up from the Ridge in about half an hour, take a taxi via Circular Road, or ride the Jakhu Ropeway. Darshan is free, but we could not confirm current temple or ropeway timings on an official source, so check locally before you go.
Jakhu Temple at a glance
| Detail | What we verified (October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Location | Top of Jakhu Hill, Shimla, about 2.5 km from the Ridge (6 km by Circular Road) |
| Altitude | 2,445 m (Himachal Pradesh Tourism) |
| Deity | Lord Hanuman |
| Hanuman statue | 108 feet (about 33 m), unveiled 4 November 2010 |
| Ways up | On foot from the Ridge, by taxi, or by the Jakhu Ropeway (opened 2017) |
| Entry fee | No fee for darshan; ropeway tickets are separate |
| Timings | Not published on an official source we could find; check locally |
| Main festival | Dussehra |
The legend of Jakhu Temple
According to the Ramayana tradition told at the temple, Lakshmana, Lord Rama’s brother, was gravely wounded in the battle with Ravana’s forces. Hanuman was sent to the Himalayas to fetch the Sanjeevani herb that could save him. Local belief holds that on his way, Hanuman stopped to rest on Jakhu Hill, and that the hilltop was flattened under his weight. The temple is built around a spot believed to bear Hanuman’s footprints.
Tradition also names a sage, Yaksha, as the temple’s founder. Treat these stories as local belief rather than recorded history.
The 108-foot Hanuman statue
The giant orange statue of Hanuman beside the temple is about 108 feet (33 m) tall and was unveiled on 4 November 2010. It is visible from many parts of Shimla. An earlier version of this article said it was unveiled on 5 November 2010 and called it “the world’s tallest” Hanuman statue. Published records give 4 November. It was not the world’s tallest either: the 135-foot Veera Abhaya Anjaneya Hanuman statue at Paritala, Andhra Pradesh, was installed in 2003, seven years earlier.
How to reach Jakhu Temple
- On foot: Himachal Pradesh Tourism describes the climb from the Ridge as a “daunting half-an-hour uphill climb” of about 2.5 km. The path is steep, so wear good shoes and take it slowly.
- By taxi: the road route via Circular Road is about 6 km. Taxis drop you near the temple.
- By ropeway: the Jakhu Ropeway, built by Jagson International and opened in 2017, links a point near the town centre with the temple and cuts the climb to a few minutes. An earlier version of this article gave ropeway fares of ₹250 for adults and ₹200 for children, and hours of 9:30 am to 6 pm. We could not confirm these on an official source, so check fares and timings at the ropeway’s base station.
- Pony: ponies have traditionally been available for the climb; ask at the Ridge.
Shimla itself is reached by road from Chandigarh, by the Kalka–Shimla toy train, or by air via Shimla Airport at Jubbarhatti, with Chandigarh as the larger airport.
Tips for visiting
- Watch out for monkeys. Jakhu Hill is known for its monkeys, which snatch food, glasses, phones and bags. Keep food out of sight, hold on to your belongings and do not feed or tease them.
- Do not litter; use the bins on the temple premises.
- Remove your footwear before entering the shrine.
- The hilltop is colder than the Mall, so carry a warm layer, especially from November to February.
- Allow one to two hours for the climb, darshan and the views.
- Clear mornings give the best views of the surrounding hills and snow peaks.
Best time to visit
The temple is open all year. Spring and early summer (March to June) and autumn (September to November) usually bring clear views and comfortable walking weather. The monsoon (July to September) makes the path slippery. Winter can bring snow, which is beautiful but can make the climb harder. Dussehra is the temple’s main festival, and the hill is very crowded then.
Places to visit nearby
The walk down from Jakhu leads straight to the Ridge and Christ Church, then on to Scandal Point and the Mall Road. For another of Shimla’s major Hanuman shrines, visit Sankat Mochan Temple on the Kalka–Shimla highway.
Frequently asked questions
How high is Jakhu Temple?
Himachal Pradesh Tourism gives the altitude as 2,445 m. Jakhu Hill is the highest point in Shimla.
How tall is the Hanuman statue at Jakhu?
About 108 feet (33 m). It was unveiled on 4 November 2010.
How long does it take to walk to Jakhu Temple from the Ridge?
About half an hour for the 2.5 km climb, depending on your pace. It is steep.
Is there a ropeway to Jakhu Temple?
Yes. The Jakhu Ropeway opened in 2017. Check current fares and hours at the base station.
Is there an entry fee for Jakhu Temple?
There is no fee for darshan. The ropeway and any taxi or pony ride are paid separately.
Location, altitude and access were checked in October 2026 against Himachal Pradesh Tourism, with the statue and ropeway details from published records. Confirm temple and ropeway timings locally before visiting.
