Jakhu Temple

{{Short description|Hindu temple in Shimla, India}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}

{{Use Indian English|date=February 2017}}

{{More citations needed|date=May 2007}}

{{Infobox Hindu temple

| name = Jakhu Temple

| native_name =जाखू मंदिर

| image =Jakhoo temple.jpg

| alt = हनुमान मंदिर

| caption = Front view of the temple

| map_type = India Himachal Pradesh

| map_size =

| map_alt =

| location = Jakhu Hill, Shimla

| coordinates = {{coord|31.1011706|77.1818317|display=inline,title}}

| deity =Lord Hanuman

| country =India

| functional_status =

| website = https://jakhumandir.online/

| founded_by = Yaksha Rishi

| year_completed =

| native_name_lang= Hindi

|religious_affiliation=Hinduism

|state=Himachal Pradesh

|festival=Dussehra

|district=Shimla

|height_max=

|organisational_status=

|elevation_m=

|architecture_style=Kath kuni architecture

}}

Jakhu Temple (also Jakhoo Temple) is an ancient temple in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India, dedicated to the Hindu deity Lord Hanuman.[http://hpshimla.nic.in/sml_temples.htm#Jakhoo%20Temple Jakoo Temple] Himachal Official website. It is situated at Jakhu Hill, Shimla's highest peak, {{convert|2.5|km|mi|abbr=on}} east of the Ridge at a height of {{convert|2,455|m|ft|abbr=on}} above sea level.[http://himachaltourism.nic.in/shim.htm Jakhoo Temple] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080604204939/http://himachaltourism.nic.in/shim.htm |date=4 June 2008 }} Himachal Pradesh Tourism, Official website. Every year, a festival is held on Dussehra, before 1972 the festival used to be held at Annadale.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/|title=The Tribune, Chandigarh, India : Latest news, India, Punjab, Chandigarh, Haryana, Himachal, Uttarakhand, J&K, sports, cricket|website=tribuneindia.com|access-date=2019-11-29}} Shri Hanuman Ji's statue is situated in the temple premises which is known as one of the tallest in the world.{{Cite news|last=Yogendra|first=Kanwar|date=2010-11-03|title=Giant Hanuman statue to be unveiled in Shimla|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/Giant-Hanuman-statue-to-be-unveiled-in-Shimla/article15673486.ece|access-date=2021-03-18|issn=0971-751X}}

A giant 108-feet-high idol of Hanuman was unveiled at Jakhu Hanuman temple on 4 November 2010. At {{convert|108|ft|m}}, it surpasses the statue of Christ the Redeemer, which measures at {{convert|98|ft|m}}, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The cost of construction was Rs 1.5 crores. The public unveiling was officiated by Abhishek Bachchan.

The temple is accessible by foot, horse, taxi or ropeway. The Jakhu Ropeway is an aerial lift that links a point near the centre of Shimla to the temple. It was developed by Jagson International Limited and opened in 2017.{{cite news |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/himachal/community/take-shimla-ropeway-to-reach-jakhu-from-ridge-in-5-minutes/390182.html |title=Take Shimla ropeway to reach Jakhu from Ridge in 5 minutes |work=The Tribune |date=11 April 2017 |accessdate=6 November 2019 |archive-date=16 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180716111828/https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/himachal/community/take-shimla-ropeway-to-reach-jakhu-from-ridge-in-5-minutes/390182.html |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://www.jakhuropewayshimla.com/ |title=Jakhu Ropeway |publisher=Jakhu Ropeway |accessdate=6 November 2019}}