Hanuman Temple, Kalimpong

This Hindu temple to Lord Hanuman stands on a high, wooded hill in Kalimpong, reached by a winding road. Hanuman, revered as the loyal and fearless devotee of Rama, is the presiding deity, and the shrine serves as a centre for local worship, festivals and community gatherings, as well as a viewpoint over the hills and valleys around the town.

A very large statue of Hanuman greets visitors near the gate. In the inner sanctum the image is dressed in marigold garlands and receives offerings of coconuts, bananas and sweets. Rituals run through the day, beginning with the morning aarti, and devotees light incense, offer flowers and recite mantras. The present temple has been renovated and enlarged over time, and tall trees and prayer flags surround the compound.