Sankat Mochan Hanuman Mandir
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
Sankat Mochan Hanuman Mandir is a well-loved temple of Hanuman in southern Varanasi, near the Assi area and Banaras Hindu University. The name means 'reliever from troubles', and people come here for relief from worries and obstacles. Tradition credits the poet-saint Tulsidas with founding the temple in the 16th century after a vision of Hanuman at this place.
What to see and do
- Have darshan of Hanuman
- Offer besan ladoos, the traditional prasad, along with flowers and sindoor
- See the calm temple grounds, with monkeys around
- Combine it with the Tulsi Manas Mandir nearby
Ideal for
- Devotees of Hanuman
- People seeking relief from troubles and fear
- Readers of the Ramcharitmanas and Tulsidas
Good to know
- Tuesdays and Saturdays are the busiest days, with large crowds in the morning and evening
- One listing gives timings of about 5 am to 10 pm, but check locally
- Monkeys live in the grounds, so keep food and belongings safe
- Security is tight, and rules on phones and bags can be strict, so ask at the gate
Spiritual significance
Hanuman is the great devotee of Rama, and the temple is connected to Tulsidas, who wrote the Ramcharitmanas in Varanasi.
Why it matters
- Reliever of troubles: the name itself is the promise people come for
- Tulsidas's temple: tradition links it to the author of the Ramcharitmanas
- A living temple: the Tuesday and Saturday crowds show how deeply it is loved