Christ Church
temple · 834 m away
temple16 min from Shimla
Jakhoo Temple
Jakhoo Temple, at 2,455 m on Shimla's highest point, holds a 108-foot Hanuman statue unveiled in 2010, reached by a demanding walk, taxi or the Jakhu Ropeway.
What it is
On Jakhoo Hill, Shimla's highest point at 2,455 m, Jakhoo Temple is an ancient Hanuman shrine. Local legend, drawn from the Ramayana, holds that the deity paused here while making his way towards the mountains — the reason the temple stands on this exact summit. A 108-foot statue of Hanuman, unveiled in 2010 at a substantial construction cost, dominates the site.
Photos: VasuVR (CC BY 4.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.
Getting there
About 16 minutes by road from the edge of Shimla, roughly 8 km, though many visitors reach it on foot instead — a demanding 2-km walk from Christ Church, taking 30 to 60 minutes. Taxis and the Jakhu Ropeway, an aerial tram opened in 2017, are both real alternatives.
The visit
The temple and its statue offer views over the town and, on a clear day, the snow-capped peaks of the Western Himalaya visible far to the north — though trees and vegetation keep the view from being fully panoramic. The hillside is home to aggressive, cunning monkeys; sticks to ward them off can be rented at the entrance for a few rupees, and cameras, glasses and food all need real care.
> genuinely bold, and the temple's own advice to rent a stick at the entrance is worth taking.
When to go
Any time of year for the temple itself, though the walk up is more comfortable outside the heaviest monsoon months. A festival is held here every Dussehra.
Around it
The Ridge and Christ Church, back towards town, and the Indian Institute of Advanced Study fill out the one-day loop.
Plans that include this
All 3 plans that stop here →
Day plan · First visitClassic
One day in Shimla — the Ridge, Christ Church and Jakhoo
A single-day Shimla loop: the Ridge, Christ Church, the former Viceregal Lodge, and Jakhoo Temple's giant Hanuman statue. Free, copyable itinerary.
Best Apr–Jun · Sep–Oct
See the plan →
1 night · 2 days · First visitClassic
Two days in Shimla — the Ridge and Kufri
A two-day Shimla plan: the Ridge, Christ Church and Jakhoo Temple on day one, then Kufri and Tara Devi Temple on day two. Free, copyable plan on HimLocal.
Best Apr–Jun · Sep–Oct
See the plan →
2 nights · 3 days · First visitClassic
Three days in Shimla — the full circuit
A three-day Shimla plan: the colonial town core on day one, quieter temples and a waterfall on day two, Kufri and Tara Devi Temple on day three.
Best Apr–Jun · Sep–Oct
See the plan →Nearby places
Questions people ask
How tall is the Hanuman statue at Jakhoo Temple?
108 feet, unveiled on 4 November 2010 at a substantial construction cost. The public unveiling was officiated by the well-known film actor Abhishek Bachchan, and it's widely described as the largest statue of Hanuman anywhere in the world today.
Why is Jakhoo Temple significant?
Local legend, drawn from the Ramayana, holds that Hanuman paused on this exact hilltop while making his way towards the Himalayan peaks, which is why the temple stands here rather than on any of Shimla's other six hills, or elsewhere nearby.
How do I get to Jakhoo Temple?
On foot from Christ Church, a demanding 2-km walk of 30 to 60 minutes; by taxi or self-drive, though parking is limited at the top; or via the Jakhu Ropeway, an aerial tram opened in 2017, for ₹250.