जाखू मंदिर

सत्यापित इतिहास की दृष्टि से, इस मंदिर के बारे में बहुत कम जानकारी है और इसका पहला संदर्भ कैप्टन अलेक्जेंडर जेरार्ड का है जो अगस्त, 1817 को यहां रुके थे। हालाँकि यह माना जाता है कि इससे बहुत पहले यहाँ एक छोटा सा मंदिर था। किंवदंती है कि लंका में युद्ध के मैदान में गंभीर रूप से घायल पड़े लक्ष्मण को ठीक करने के लिए आवश्यक संजीवनी पौधे की खोज करते समय भगवान हनुमान ने यहां एक चप्पल गिरा दी थी, जबकि एक भिन्नता यह है कि वह आराम करने के लिए यहां रुके थे। यह भी माना जाता है कि यह एक स्थानीय देवता, जखरा का स्थान भी था और यहीं पर कई स्थानीय मंदिरों की पवित्र लकड़ी की बीमों को क्षेत्र में अन्यत्र उनके इच्छित स्थान पर ले जाने से पहले लाया गया था।

(English to Hindi Translation by Google Translate)

Temple opening hours – 4 am

Morning Aarti – 7 am

Lunchtime – 1 – 1:35 pm

Evening Aarti – Sunset time

Temple Closing Hours in Winter – 7 pm

Temple Closing Hours in Summer – 8:30 pm

Note: Bhandara (community kitchen) every Sunday

There are a few ways to reach Jakhu temple. We visited Jakhu temple via Sanjauli. The car reaches up to the stairs of the temple. Then 125 approx. stairs to climb to reach the temple.

The other way is via The Mall nearby Christ Church. One has to walk approx. 1.5 km via Jakhu road to reach the temple.

It is up to you which way you prefer to visit the temple. The way via Sanjauli was easy, I think so.

There is an ancient temple of Hanuman ji on the precipice of the historical Jakhoo mountain of Shimla city. It is a belief that in order to save Lakshmana who fainted when Meghnath hit him with the arrow of Shakti in the battle of Lanka, Shri Hanuman ji was speeding towards the Himalayas to collect Sanjeevani Booti, from the sky suddenly his eyes fell on Yaksha sage doing penance on Jakhoo Parvat. Since time immemorial, this place has been named Jakhoo after his name only (Yaksha+Yak+Yaku = Jakhoo).

Hanuman ji got down here to know the introduction of Sanjivani Booti. Due to his velocity, the Jakhoo mountain which was very high before, half got absorbed in the earth’s womb. After receiving the introduction of Booti, ​​Shri Hanuman ji went towards Drona Parvat to achieve his goal, at the place where Hanuman ji landed, even today his footprints were kept safe in a cottage made of marble behind the temple. By promising the sage to return from this place on his way back, Hanuman ji took a short route via Ayodhya due to excessive time lost in the vicious cycle of Kalanemi. The waiting sage was distraught at the non-return of Shri Hanuman ji. At that time Hanuman ji appeared to the sage and told the reason for not coming. Immediately after his disappearance, a self-manifested idol appeared which is still present in the temple. Yaksha Rishi built this temple to keep the memory of Hanuman alive. After that, the sage disappeared leaving his footprints as memorials.

Since then till today this temple is present here. The devotee of Shri Hanuman ji who worships in this temple with a true heart, Shri Hanuman ji fulfills all his wishes and protects the devotees by killing the wicked.

We started our journey from Chandigarh at 6 am and decided to stop only at Pappi Da Dhaba at Sanjauli near Shimla for breakfast. Pappi Da Dhaba is approx. 5 km from Shimla town. We reached the Dhaba at 9:40 am and were welcomed with a smile by Rajendar Singh – the owner of the Dhaba.

We requested Aalu paratha. Cost – Rs. 35 and a cup of tea – cost Rs. 10.

Upon query, Rajendar Singh said – Dhaba has been since 1980 and is visited by many prominent personalities including Preity Zinta – a famous Bollywood actress, Kalyan Singh – former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Rocky and Mayur from NDTV, and many others.

The paratha was delicious and large enough to have only one.

A must-visit Dhaba (opp. police chowki) for sure, especially if the owner is very friendly, welcoming guests with a smile. Click to watch.

Sita Ram & Son is at Lakkar Bazar near Christ Church. It is a 70-year-old shop serving mouth-watering Channa Bhatura.

Cost – Rs. 40 per plate.

Bihari Lal Sharma’s at Takka Bench is – The first fruit chat seller in Shimla (Himachal Pradesh). Serving since 1948 – proudly written at his stall. Bihari Lal Sharma was the man who started selling fruit chat and bhel puri for the first time in Shimla. Now his son Ram Pal Sharma has been taking care of the business of chat since 30-32 years. His stall is at the entrance of Jakhu Road. If you are walking to Jakhu Temple near Christ Church in Shimla, the very first stall of fruit chat is Bihari Lal Sharma’s stall.

Upon query about the Takka bench, Ram Pal Sharma enhanced knowledge – earlier there was one Takka fee to enter a park nearby, thus, the area is known as the Takka bench.

We requested a plate of fruit chat. Rs. 30/- the charges and taste – delicious.

Persimmon – National Fruit of Japan – This photo was taken at The Mall in Shimla (Himachal Pradesh).

Cost – 12 pieces for Rs. 600.