A Hill Older Than the Town That Worships It
Jakhu Temple crowns the highest peak of Shimla at about 2,455 meters above sea level, yet its story predates Shimla itself by many centuries. Local tradition holds that this shrine existed long before the British declared Shimla their summer capital in 1864. Ascetics are believed to have settled here when the region was still dense cedar forest, using the summit as a place of isolation and meditation. Early colonial travel accounts mention a “forest shrine to the monkey god” but note that no European structure was ever erected on the summit out of respect for native belief. In this way, Jakhu became a rare space where imperial planning stopped at the edge of faith, leaving the hilltop culturally untouched while the town below transformed into a colonial city.
Jakhu temple mythology story
Jakhu Temple is associated with a fascinating legendary story. It is widely believed that during the battle of Ramayana, Ram’s younger brother Lakshmana was struck by a powerful arrow and rendered unconscious. He could not be revived after several tries. Then a famous priest persuaded Lord Rama that he needed a specific Sanjeevani plant to bring him back to life. Hanuman was assigned the responsibility of transporting the plant from the Himalayas.
As he journeyed towards the Himalayas, he came upon sage Yaaku on a mountaintop. Hanuman stood atop the mountain, answering his inquiries about the herb. The mount could not support its weight and was levelled, losing half of its height. He assured Yaaku that he would see him on his way back to Lanka after he had learned enough about the plant.
However, on his journey back, he had to fight a demon named “Kalnemi” who was attempting to deceive him and had spent a lot of his valuable time. He eventually opted not to heed the sage and took the quickest route available. When the sage became upset, he thought of addressing him in person and asking him why he broke his word.
As Hanuman was leaving the location, an idol of himself emerged on the hill. Yaaku constructed a temple in honor of the Lord’s visit. The temple is thought to have Hanuman’s footprint, and the monkeys who reside surrounding the shrine are descended from Lord Hanuman.
A Temple Without a Monumental Past
Architecturally, Jakhu Temple is modest compared to major North Indian shrines, and this is part of its historical character. For most of its existence, it consisted of a small wooden and stone structure maintained by forest-dwelling priests and villagers from the lower slopes. It did not receive royal patronage or courtly embellishment, which spared it from the cycles of destruction and rebuilding that affected many larger temples. This absence of political association allowed the shrine to survive quietly through medieval and colonial periods. The massive Hanuman statue visible today was added only in the twenty-first century, but the core sanctum still preserves the intimacy of a hilltop hermitage rather than the grandeur of a state temple.
The Sacred Monkeys
Jakhu’s monkeys are not a modern nuisance but part of its religious ecosystem. Local belief treats them as Hanuman’s companions rather than wild animals, and their presence has been ritually accepted for generations. Historical travelers in the nineteenth century recorded the monkeys stealing food from soldiers and pilgrims alike, yet these incidents were described as expected behavior rather than disorder. Temple caretakers traditionally interpreted such acts as symbolic offerings taken directly by the deity’s attendants. This relationship created a rare form of shared sacred space where humans and animals interact under religious codes rather than civic rules. Even today, disputes between visitors and monkeys are settled more like moral conflicts than wildlife management problems.
Jakhu as a Watchtower of the Western Himalaya
Long before it was a tourist viewpoint, Jakhu served as a natural lookout post. The summit offers commanding views of the surrounding ridges and valleys, and village traditions speak of fires being lit here in times of danger to signal settlements below. Its height also exposes it to unusual wind currents and sudden cloud formations, giving rise to folk ideas about the hill’s ability to “sense” weather changes. Elderly residents of Shimla still recall how the temple flag was watched to predict snowfall or storms, blending devotional practice with environmental observation. In this way, Jakhu functioned as both spiritual shrine and informal meteorological station.
Colonial Perceptions and Quiet Distance
British officers were aware of Jakhu Temple but avoided converting it into a scenic pavilion or military post, as they did with many other hilltops. Journals and letters describe the summit as “wind-beaten, sacred, and crowded with monkeys,” making it unsuitable for colonial leisure architecture. This hesitation preserved Jakhu as one of the few hilltops in Shimla without Victorian buildings. The colonial decision not to dominate the summit unintentionally protected its indigenous identity, leaving the temple as a cultural marker older than the town’s European layer.
The Emotional Geography of the Summit
Reaching Jakhu is not merely a physical climb but an emotional transition. The ascent passes through thick deodar forest, gradually muting the sounds of the town below. By the time one reaches the summit, Shimla appears distant and miniature, while the mountains expand in scale and silence. This spatial transformation reinforces the Ramayana story associated with the place, where motion gives way to pause. Visitors often describe a feeling of suspension rather than arrival, as though the hill is meant to interrupt routine travel and impose stillness. Jakhu thus functions as a psychological threshold between urban life and Himalayan vastness.
Why Jakhu Temple Is More Than a Scenic Stop
Jakhu Temple is not significant because of architectural splendor or ritual complexity, but because of its layered meanings. It preserves a myth of hesitation rather than conquest, an indigenous shrine rather than a royal monument, and a living relationship between humans, animals, and landscape rather than a fenced sacred precinct. It stands as Shimla’s oldest remembered point, a place where mythology, geography, and everyday life overlap without fully merging. For the traveler, Jakhu is not just the highest point of the town but its deepest memory, offering not spectacle alone but a rare moment of historical and spiritual pause.
How to Reach Jakhu temple
The Jakhu Temple is about 2 kilometers from Mall Road and the Ridge, however, the travel time will entirely depend on the kind of transportation used, such as a taxi, cable car, or even just walking.
The fastest and simplest way to get to Shimla is by Jakhu Ropeways, a cable car trip that takes just 5 minutes. 500 per person will be required for the roundtrip cable car travel to Jakhu Temple.
The second simplest method of getting to Jakhu Temple is by strolling along the well-traveled and cushioned roadways. However, depending on the time of year, it may be more cost-effective to walk through Jakhu Temple from the Ridge.
| Category | One-Way Ticket (approx.) | Round-Trip Ticket (approx.) | Timings |
| Adults | Rs 250 | Rs 467 | 09:30 AM to ~5:30 PM / sunset (varies with weather) |
| Children (3–12 yrs) | Rs 200 | Rs 381 | 09:30 AM to ~5:30 PM / sunset (varies with weather) |
| Children under 3 yrs | Free | Free | 09:30 AM to ~5:30 PM / sunset (varies with weather) |
Prices may include base fare only; GST (approx. 5%) is extra as per official ticket rates.
Tickets can generally be purchased both at the counter near The Ridge and online via the ropeway’s official platform.
The ride duration is around 5–6 minutes each way.
FAQ’s
Q: Why does Jakhu Temple experience sudden weather changes even when Shimla is clear?
Jakhu Hill stands higher than most surrounding ridges, which makes it directly exposed to shifting Himalayan air currents. Moist winds from lower valleys often rise and condense around the summit, creating sudden fog, drizzle, or strong gusts even when the rest of Shimla remains sunny. This microclimate effect is why visitors sometimes find themselves above the clouds at the temple while the town below stays visible, giving the site its dramatic atmosphere.
Q: What is the significance of the giant Hanuman statue at Jakhu Temple?
The 108-foot statue was installed to symbolize protection over Shimla and to mark the temple as a visible spiritual landmark from almost every part of the town. Its height is not arbitrary; in Hindu tradition, the number 108 represents cosmic completeness. The statue’s positioning allows it to be seen from long distances, functioning like a spiritual compass for the city rather than just a decorative monument.
Q: Are there any special rituals performed only at Jakhu Temple?
Jakhu Temple is known for its simple and direct style of worship compared to major urban temples. Devotees often offer coconuts, sindoor (vermilion), and flags instead of elaborate pujas. A local custom involves tying small red cloth strips near the shrine, symbolizing requests for strength and courage rather than wealth or success. This reflects Hanuman’s association with endurance and loyalty rather than material prosperity.
Q: Why do many visitors prefer walking to Jakhu Temple instead of using the ropeway?
The walking trail to Jakhu Temple passes through dense deodar and pine forests, where bird calls and wind replace city noise. This gradual climb is considered part of the spiritual experience, allowing visitors to feel a physical transition from urban Shimla to a forested summit. The ropeway offers convenience and views, but the footpath preserves the older pilgrimage route and creates a sense of arrival rather than instant access.
Q: Is Jakhu Temple important only for religious travelers?
Jakhu Temple attracts not only pilgrims but also photographers, trekkers, and nature observers. The summit provides layered views of the Western Himalayas and frequent cloud formations that create dramatic light conditions. The surrounding forest supports Himalayan bird species and seasonal flowering plants, making the site appealing to travelers interested in ecology and landscape as much as devotion.