Hanuman Garhi Temple

Hanuman Garhi Temple tickets and tours: which one to book

Hanuman Garhi has no ticket and nothing for it alone is sold online. Entry is free, there is no separate gate for visitors, and the routine is simple: leave shoes at one of the stands at the bottom of the steps, buy a box of laddus or a garland from the sweet shops in the lane if you wish to make an offering, and join the queue climbing to the sanctum. Mobile phones are usually allowed but may be restricted at busy times, so carry as little as possible. The temple stands in the centre of Ayodhya, a short walk from the new Ram Mandir, and by custom many pilgrims call on Hanuman here before going on to Rama's temple.

Ayodhya is reached by train to Ayodhya Dham Junction, by road from Lucknow in about three hours, or by air to the city's airport; e-rickshaws then cover the last stretch, as the lanes around the temple are closed to cars at busy times. Day trips and pilgrimage packages from Lucknow or Varanasi typically combine Hanuman Garhi, the Ram Mandir, Kanak Bhawan and the Saryu ghats with a car, driver and sometimes a local guide; offerings and any boat ride on the river are paid separately. A local guide helps on a first visit to manage queues and security rules. The page lists any GetYourGuide tours whose route passes the temple.

Visiting Hanuman Garhi Temple: what to see and how to behave

Hanuman Garhi is the most visited Hanuman shrine in Ayodhya, perched on a mound in the old town and reached by a flight of 76 steps. Its name means Hanuman's fort, and the building looks the part: a four-sided enclosure with round bastions at the corners, painted in bright colours and crowded with devotees from dawn. According to local tradition, Hanuman settled here after Rama's return from Lanka to guard the city and Rama's home. The present temple goes back to the 18th century, when the Bairagi ascetics of the Ramanandi order gained the site with support from the nawabs of Awadh, and it is still run by their mahants. At the top of the stairs a courtyard leads to the sanctum with its silver-covered doors and carvings.

The image inside is small and unusual: Hanuman as a child, seated in the lap of his mother Anjani, wearing a silver garland inscribed with Rama's name. Look out also for the verses of the Hanuman Chalisa written on the walls, and for the views over the rooftops of Ayodhya from the ramparts. Expect noise, bells and pushing at the sanctum, and keep a firm grip on food and glasses, as monkeys are bold here. Shoes come off at the foot of the steps, so be ready for hot stone in summer. Dress modestly, avoid photographing inside the sanctum and accept prasad with the right hand. From the temple it is a few minutes' walk to Kanak Bhawan and about 1 km to the Ram Mandir; the Saryu ghats lie a little farther north.

Hanuman Garhi Temple: opening hours, ceremonies and the best time to go

The temple opens before dawn and stays open until late evening, with a short closure around midday on some days; local hours vary with the season, so ask at your guesthouse. Early morning is best, when the air is cool and the queue still moves quickly. Tuesdays and Saturdays, the days of Hanuman, are always crowded, and since the opening of the Ram Mandir in 2024 weekends and holidays bring very long lines. October to March is the most comfortable time to visit;

May and June are extremely hot. The big occasions are Hanuman Jayanti, Ram Navami in spring, Dussehra and Diwali, when Ayodhya's Deepotsav lights the ghats with hundreds of thousands of lamps. The Bada Mangal Tuesdays of May and June draw huge crowds. Allow an hour in normal times, more on festival days. Combine the temple with the Ram Mandir, Kanak Bhawan and the evening aarti at Ram ki Paidi on the Saryu.