There is no dearth of temples and shrines in Jaipur. Whether you want to visit a Hindu temple or a Jain temple, you can explore all in your Jaipur tour. Nevertheless, it is important to stress that all temples are not equally popular like Khole Ke Hanuman Ji Temple.
So, what is special about Hanuman Ji Temple in Khole?
Sitting in the valley of Laxman Dungari hills, the Hunaman Ji temple in Khole is popular not only because of its history but also due to its spectacular view offering location. Unlike, Govind Dev Ji temple Jaipur, this temple is not an initiative of any maharaja of Jaipur and is not a famous historical monument.
Still, it is very famous and people from all across the globe come to visit the temple. Some are devotees while many are tourists who come here due to its popularity. Take a look at the following points that tell you why this temple is so popular in Jaipur.
Its unique story
The most interesting part is the story of the temple and how it was unraveled by a Brahman. Long back a Brahmin named Pandit Radhelal Choubey Ji from Ramgarh village found an idol of Lord Hanuman, which was a deserted place and even inhabitants of the city didn’t go there due to the fear of getting attacked by wild animals.
He started praying and took even his last breath here. In 1961, Choubey Ji established Narwar Ashram Seva Samiti which developed the Khole Ka Hanuman Ji temple.
The term Khola comes because it is situated in the valley through which once rainwater used to flow like a river from the cave present in the mountain. Especially to all Bajrangbali bhakt (Lord Hanuman devotees), this is quite a popular temple.
Its location on the highway
The location of the Khole Ke Hanuman Ji temple Jaipur plays a pivotal role in attracting tourists. It is situated on the Jaipur-Delhi highway which forms a spot that allows any tourist passing by to take a look at the beautiful temple of Hanuman Ji.
Its scenic beauty
Any place which is surrounded by greenness and offers you tranquility becomes tempting, especially when it has become difficult to find peaceful areas. The valley of Laxman Dungari hills offers the temple an idyllic surrounding and an ambiance which is hard to resist for even the non-devotees.
The idol itself
The statues of Lord Hanuman which is found in the temple is so attractive that you are attracted to take a look at it. Carved from stone, the statue was not built by a temple foundation and even now no one knows how old the idol is and who made it. However, one thing is certain that the idol was carved from stone and before Chaubey Ji, a few centuries back, Baba Nirmal Das worshipped it.
Other impressive statues of Lords
The temple has other beautiful statues of Lord Rama, Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesha, and Goddess Durga. This way the devotees come to pray to all these Lords and seek their blessings. Recently, a very intriguing addition has been made in the Khole Ke Hanuman Ji Temple.
12 replicas of the famous Shivlings from 12 Jyotirlingas in India were added to the Lord Shiva temple present here. This has been the major attraction among the devotees, especially the locals.
The Temple Kitchen
With 24 impressive kitchens, the Khole Ke Hanuman Ji temple serves Prasad to 5000 people every day in its dining halls. The food is served in a traditional Indian way where the devotees sit on the carpet while consuming food.
However, considering the eating style of tourists from other countries, some dining halls of the temple now have the facility of eating food on tables and chairs. The food of the temple is famous for many tasty food items which are a specialty of Jaipur Rajasthan.
In the Rasoi’s (kitchen), which is known as Sawamani, the most popular food of Jaipur Dal Baati Churma Prasad is served. The term “Sawamani” comes from the word “Sawa”, which means one & quarter, and the other word “Mann” that refers to the unit of measurement Maund or Mann, which was used during the British Rule in India and that is why 47-51 Kg.
Here another Prasad is organized – Posh Bada Prasad that includes Indian sweets like Ladoo, which are offered by devotees to the deity. In order to allow the accommodation to more 2500 vehicles big parking has been made recently and even ten new kitchens apart from many guest houses have been added.
What is the difference between Khole Ke Hanuman Ji Temple and Galta Ji Temple?
There are many people who get confused with Khole Ke Hanuman Ji Temple as the famous monkey temple of Jaipur, i.e. Galta Ji Temple. You must remember that even though this is a Lord Hanuman temple still it has nothing to do with the monkeys.
Galta Ji temple is an ancient temple that has seven kunds or water reservoirs. However, Khole Ke Hanuman Ji temple even being one of the most popular temples of Lord Hanuman among the locals and the idol dates back to many centuries; it is not an ancient heritage temple. Galta Ji temple is dedicated to Lord Rama and is a historic heritage site in Jaipur.
The architecture of the temple
The architecture of the Khole Ke Hanuman Ji temple is made up of Dholpur stone, which is a popular sandstone of Rajasthan. The architecture style is an imitation of a bygone era and people who like to visit offbeat places come here to enjoy its tranquil environment. The temple has three-storey and a large open square in the front.
Conclusion
If you are not a devotee but want to enjoy some quality time and have fun, then you can visit this temple. Located just 2 Km from National Highway 8, this place is easy to visit when you are staying in Jaipur city.
So, what do you say about visiting Khole Ke Hanuman Ji Temple in Jaipur? Plus, it is also suggested to visit Monkey Temple Jaipur which is just 20 minutes away from here.
- Address: Laxman Dungri, Natata Mode Delhi Road, Kunda, Jaipur, Rajasthan
- No Entry Fees
- Visiting Hours: 6.00 am to 8.30 pm