Sankat Mochan Temple

Shimla, the capital of Himachal is known for its natural beauty. And, among its range of tourist attractions, Sankat Mochan Temple catches the attention of every tourist due to its presence in the amazing valley of the town. It is only 5 km away from the capital city. The Mandir is also known for its tranquility. Thus, except for having a religious mind, tourists visit this place to spend some relaxing time on the hills. It has a magical appearance by remaining covered with light mists and lush greenery around it.

Traveler Tips:

• Sankat Mochan Temple, Shimla remains open between 7 AM and 7 PM.
• The temple premises include a famous Ayurvedic clinic for the visitors.
• There are also 30 well-maintained toilets in the temple premises.
• If you want to avoid the crowd, visit the temple except for Tuesday and Saturday.
• People love to visit here on Sundays due to Bhandara happens here.

History:

Neeb Kirodi baba, who was a saint, has his ashram in Nainital which is popularly known as ‘Kanchi Dham’. He is also called as ‘Neem Karauli baba’ among the locals. In 1950, he came on the Tara Devi hills of Shimla and stayed there for a week or two in a cottage. One day, during his meditation session, he received a thought of constructing a hanuman temple here. Finally, twelve years later, in the year 1962, he started the entire construction with the permission of Lieutenant Governor of that time, Raja Bajrang Bahadur Singh. His devotees and all the devotees of Lord Hanuman of Himachal Pradesh came to his help. apart from constructing the idol of Bajrangbali, they also planned to build the statues of Lord Ram with Devi Sita, Lord Lakshman, Ganesha, and Mahadev.

Architecture:

The entire Sankat Mochan temple has a three-storied structure. People here are familiar to use a part of the temple premises for organizing their personal holy events such as marriage ceremonies. The temple asks for a minimal fee for renting the temple area for the event. The rest of the temple building is dedicated as the residence of the priests of the temple and the other maintenance staff who serve the temple 24×7.
All the idols of gods and goddesses are kept in such a way inside the shrine that all forms a circle together. The design pattern of the idol of Lord Ganesha has the architectural impact of South India. Later, the Himachal Pradesh Government actively participated in expanding the popularity of the Hanuman Temple from the tourism point of view.
There is a small temple of Baba Neeb Karori inside the main temple premises, which was built a few years back. Local people believe that coming here and offer your prayers with a true feeling can wipe out sad things from your life.

Best Time to Visit:

Most of the tourists consider the capital of Himachal as the best summer retreat of the state. If you love snowfall, come here during winter. The mesmerizing snow-laded view of the entire Shimla city from the Sankat Mochan temple is an unforgettable experience.

How to Reach?

The popular Sankat Mochan Temple, Shimla is situated at an altitude of 1975 mt from the sea level. It lies on the Shimla State Highway 22. Thus, you may reach this Mandir before reaching the capital city of Himachal Pradesh. So, on your Shimla trip, you may visit the temple after reaching Shimla or before entering the capital city. Make your own choice!

Interesting Facts and Trivia About:

After being constructed 1962, four years later in 1966, on 21st June, the temple of Sankat Mochan was inaugurated once again. After that, the temple started to gain the attention of the tourists visiting Shimla and achieved recognition on a huge level. As the temple is dedicated to Lord Hanuman, it remains crowded on Tuesdays and Saturdays of every week. Every Sunday, Langar happens here to offer a meal to people on a large scale.
The temple is visible from all parts of Shimla. And, from the temple, you can see the entire city.

Nearby Attractions:

• Summer Hill
• The Mall Road
• The Ridge
• Viceregal Lodge
• Prospect Hill
• Jakhoo Temple, and many more

Sankat Mochan temple, Shimla is considered a sacred place here. If you are not a spirited soul, the nature lover instinct is a good source to visit this place. Happy Journey!