Jakhoo
Jakhoo Temple is an ancient temple in Shimla, dedicated to Hindu deity, Hanuman.[1]
It is situated on Jakhoo Hill, 2.5 km /1.3 miles east from the Ridge, Shimla at a height of 2,455 m (8,000 feet) above sea level.[2] Shimla's highest peak offers a panoramic view of the Shivalik Ranges and the town of Sanjauli.
An ancient "Lord Hanuman" temple is there and every year a big festival is held on Dushera . You can go to the temple by foot (a steep climb) from Ridge (path behind the church) or can hire a pony/horse. Taxis are available too.
The legend
One legend goes that Lord Hanuman stopped there to rest while he was searching for the Sanjivni Booti to revive Lakshman in the Epic Ramayana. On arrival at the temple signs advise visitors to secure all personal belongings and beware of the monkeys, which are everywhere. This is appropriate as the temple is in honour of the Monkey Lord. Visitors must remove shoes (and leave them in the "shoe house") before entering the temple.
There are several eateries at the temple site. Local visitors ring the bell for good luck before making the descent back into Shimla.
In media
9 Jakhoo Hill, is a play set in a home in 1950's Jakhoo Hill, directed by Sunit Tandon. World's tallest statue of Lord Hanuman was unveiled to public by Abhishek Bachchan on November 5th 2010..
Hanuman Statue
Just on the outskirts of this erstwhile summer capital of the British raj, a giant 108-feet-high idol of Hanuman (the Monkey God) was unveiled at Jakhoo Hanuman temple in 2010, overlooking the entire city. Given its titanic size, it would not be out of place to say that monkeys will be omnipresent in this famous tourist destination which already has a large monkey population. At 108 feet at the highest altitude of over 8100 feet and constructed at a cost of Rs 1.5 crores, it surpasses the statue of 'Christ the Redeemer', which measures at 98 feet and stands at an altitude of 2296 feet in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jakhoo. |
- ↑ Jakoo Temple Himachal Official website.
- ↑ Jakhoo Temple Himachal Pradesh Tourism, Official website.