01Older than New Delhi
When Lutyens laid out New Delhi this temple already stood among the villages of Raisina, and the planners kept it. The temple tradition says it was founded by Raja Man Singh I of Amber in the time of Akbar and rebuilt by Sawai Jai Singh II of Jaipur in 1724, the years when he was building the Jantar Mantar nearby. The Hanuman murti is in bal roop, the child form. On the spire stands a crescent moon in place of the usual kalash, which the pujaris say goes back to the time of the rebuilding. The bhakta-poet Tulsidas is held by the temple to have visited Delhi and prayed here.
02The unbroken chant
Since 1 August 1964 a team of devotees has kept up the Ram-naam chant, Shri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram, day and night without a gap. Tuesdays and Saturdays are Hanuman’s days, and the lane outside fills with stalls of flowers, sindoor and laddoos; Hanuman Jayanti is the great festival. Many Delhi families come here first thing on the morning of a new venture.
The life of this place
- 1724Sawai Jai Singh II rebuilds the temple (temple tradition).
- 1 August 1964The unbroken chant of Shri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram begins.
On Baba Kharak Singh Marg, a short walk from Rajiv Chowk Metro; busiest on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
