In the sacred city of Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh, atop a small hill in the heart of the town, stands Hanuman Garhi — among the most important and most visited temples of Lord Hanuman, the devoted servant of Sri Rama. Reached by a climb of some seventy-six steps, the fort-like temple enshrines Hanuman as the guardian deity of Ayodhya; tradition holds that he dwells here watching over Rama's birthplace, and that pilgrims to Ayodhya should seek Hanuman's blessing first.
The image of the seated Hanuman with his mother Anjani is worshipped with great devotion, and the temple resounds with the chanting of the Hanuman Chalisa, especially on Tuesdays, Saturdays, and at Hanuman Jayanti. Hanuman Garhi is a beloved and ever-thronged shrine at the very heart of Rama's city.
