Hanuman Garhi temple is located near Ram Janmabhoomi Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. This shrine is under the charge of Bairagi Mahants of Ramanandi Sampradaya and Nirvani Akhara. Presently, visitors reach the temple by climbing a steep staircase of over 70 steps.
According to Legend, after defeating Ravana when Lord Rama and Mata Sita along with Lord Hanuman returned to Ayodhya, the birthplace of Lord Rama, Lord Hanuman started living in a cave in Ayodhya to protect Ramkot. According to the Skanda Purana, King Vikramaditya built this Hanuman Garhi along with 360 other temples. But Aurangzeb destroyed The Hanuman Garhi and built a Mosque. The present temple was built by Nawabs of Awadh.
Locals narrate a tale that the son of the second Nawab of Awadh Safdar Jang (1739-1754) was suffering from leprosy but got cured through sacred ash from the temple. Grateful, the Nawab requested the temple Mahant to express a wish.
The Mahant said he worshipped the greatest King of all – Lord Ram – and needed nothing more. Next day, a Mantri of the Nawab again approached the temple Mahant, advising him to take up the offer, if only for the sake of the temple.
The Mahant asked for construction of a fort to house the deity. The structure is said to have been completed during the reign of the Nawab’s grandson Asaf-ud-Daula, around two hundred years ago.
Ayodhya is well connected by air, rail and land routes.
