Sankat Mochan
Sankat Mochan
The Sankat Mochan Temple is situated a short distance away from the city centre of Shimla (about 5 miles) but it is well worth visiting. Dedicated to the Hindu deity Hanuman (the Monkey God) and having been established in 1950, the Temple is not that old but what it lacks in age it makes up for in the serenity of its setting, its decoration and its views of Shimla. It’s not surprising, then, that it’s Shimla’s second most visited Hanuman temple. As well as there being idols, carvings, etc of Hanuman, there are also idols of Lord Rama, Lord Shiva and Lord Ganesh. The day after we visited the temple, the President of India was going to the Temple so, when we were there, the Police and the Fire Brigade were in attendance.
How to Reach:
By Air
Shimla Airport (SLV) is the nearest airport, but it is not directly connected to the temple. You can fly into Shimla Airport and then take a taxi or bus to reach Sankat Mochan Temple.
By Train
Shimla Railway Station is the closest station, about 5.5 km from the temple. You can also take the Kalka-Shimla Toy Train and get down at Tara Devi station, which is closer to the temple, and then take a taxi.
By Road
The temple is located on the Kalka-Shimla National Highway (NH-22) near Tara Devi. It's a short 5 km drive from Shimla city center. You can hire taxis or cabs from Shimla to reach the temple. Public and private buses also operate on this route.