Sankat Mochan Temple
Sankat Mochan Temple is a sacred temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman. This temple is one of the most popular and famous tourist attractions of Shimla. It is situated on the Kalka – Shimla highway near Tara Devi Temple between Shoghi and Shimla Town. The temple is positioned amidst lush green trees, hillocks and the mountains on the Kalka-Shimla highway. Sankat Mochan Temple offers peace and calmness to the devotees who visit the temple with pure heart. Idols of Lord Ram, Lord Shiva and Lord Ganesha have been installed here as well. Priests organise langars every Sunday for all the devotees. Visitors can see a noteworthy view of Shimla city alongside Himalayan ranges from the temple.
How
to Reach:
The temple can be
reached by hiring taxi or cabs/cars from Shimla. The Temple is at a distance of
5 km from the Shimla Town. It is situated at Tara Devi, on the NH-22, on
Kalka-Shimla Road.
History
Hindu Mythology says that the temple was
constructed by Baba Neeb Karori Ji Maharaj. Baba found this as an ideal spot
for meditation in late 1950. According to the devotees, it is a historic and a charming
spot; it also draws the attention of nature enthusiasts. When Baba Neeb Karori
Ji Maharaj came to this serene and a beautiful place, after staying here for 10
days, he had the desire to build a temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman. Baba ji
along with his devotees including the governor of Himachal Pradesh took up the mission
of building the temple on priority. A ‘Langar’ is organized every Sunday and
Tuesday that offers Prasad to all visitors there. The temple also has a small
children park where they can play and enjoy. This small temple has grown by
leaps and bounds on huge area because of the devotion of the people and by the
blessings of the God. However, the temple is mainly dedicated to Lord Hanuman,
but we can find idols of Lord Rama, Shiva and Ganesha in separate complexes. A
temple for Baba Neeb Karori Ji Maharaja is also installed inside the temple
only. The temple dedicated to Lord Ganesha has been built in the South Indian
style of architecture and is worth the visit.
