Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple Varanasi is open daily 5:00 AM to 10:00 PM. The idol is covered for bhog between 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM. Mangala Aarti is at 5:00 AM; Sandhya Aarti at 8:00 PM. Entry is free – no ticket, no VIP system. The temple was founded in the 16th century by Goswami Tulsidas, 3 km from BHU and 11 km from Varanasi Junction. Experience My India includes Sankat Mochan in all Varanasi guided packages from ₹5,999. WhatsApp +91-7302265809 for a confirmed itinerary.
Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple is not one of the hundreds of lesser-known shrines in Varanasi. It is one of the three most revered temples in the entire city – alongside Kashi Vishwanath and Annapurna Devi – and for Hanuman devotees, it is the reason to visit Kashi. The name means “Reliever of Troubles.” Pilgrims from across India come specifically to this temple when everything else has failed – job loss, illness, family conflict, Shani-related difficulties – and leave with the conviction that Hanuman Ji heard them.
I am Gurudutt, born and raised in Braj Bhoomi and founder of Experience My India. Our team has guided 50,000+ pilgrims through Varanasi’s temple circuit and Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple is on every itinerary we build. What makes it different from most guides online is what happens before and after the darshan – the right timing, the correct aarti to attend, the prasad to carry and the three-temple walking circuit that turns a single temple visit into a complete spiritual morning.
By the end of this guide you will know the exact aarti timings by name, the darshan window to avoid (12 PM-3 PM), the honest answer to the VIP darshan question, how far the temple is from BHU and Varanasi Junction and which Varanasi package from Experience My India fits your travel style. WhatsApp +91-7302265809 to plan your Varanasi yatra.
Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple – Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple (संकट मोचन हनुमान मंदिर) |
| Location | Saket Nagar Colony, near Assi River, Varanasi – 221005 |
| Dedicated To | Lord Hanuman – worshipped as Sankat Mochan (Reliever of Troubles) |
| Founded By | Goswami Tulsidas – poet-saint and author of Ramcharitmanas |
| Founded | 16th century (early 1500s); temple structure built in early 1900s by Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya |
| Distance from BHU | 3 km |
| Distance from Varanasi Junction | Approximately 11 km |
| Distance from Assi Ghat | 2 km |
| Distance from Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport | 25 km |
| Entry Fee | Free – no ticket required |
| VIP Darshan | No VIP or paid darshan system exists at this temple |
| Photography | Permitted outside – restricted near the main idol |
| Famous Prasad | Besan ke Laddu, Lal Peda |
| Most Auspicious Days | Tuesday and Saturday – significantly crowded |
Sankat Mochan Temple Darshan Timings 2026
The temple follows a structured opening schedule with a midday break during which the idol of Hanuman Ji is covered for bhog (food offering) and rest. Pilgrims who arrive between 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM can enter the temple complex but cannot view the idol directly.
Standard Darshan Timings (All Days)
| Session | Timings | Notes |
| Morning Darshan Opens | 5:00 AM | Idol available for darshan; Mangala Aarti at 5:00 AM |
| Bhog Break (Idol Covered) | 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM | Temple premises open but no idol darshan |
| Evening Darshan Opens | 3:00 PM | Resumes after bhog break |
| Temple Closes | 10:00 PM | General darshan closes |
Extended Timings on Tuesday and Saturday
| Session | Timings |
| Opens | 4:30 AM |
| Noon Closure | 12:00 PM |
| Evening Reopens | 3:00 PM |
| Late Night Aarti | 10:30 PM – 12:00 AM (midnight) |
| Temple Closes | 12:00 AM midnight |
Experience My India plans all Varanasi temple tours around these exact windows. First-time pilgrims who arrive at Sankat Mochan between 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM without knowing the bhog break miss the idol darshan entirely. Our guides ensure morning and evening windows are used correctly – WhatsApp +91-7302265809.
Sankat Mochan Aarti Timings – Full Schedule
There are three main aartis at Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple each day. The Mangala Aarti at 5:00 AM is the most spiritually charged – the temple fills with incense, the sound of bells and the chanting of the Hanuman Chalisa before Varanasi’s wider crowds arrive.
| Aarti | Time | Significance |
| Mangala Aarti (Pratah Aarti) | 5:00 AM | Opening prayer – devotees chant Hanuman Chalisa; bells and conch mark the beginning of the temple day |
| Bhog Aarti (Noon Aarti) | 12:00 PM | Offering of food to the deity – idol covered after this aarti for 3 hours |
| Sandhya Aarti (Evening Aarti) | 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM | The most crowd-heavy aarti; bhajans and lamps are offered to Hanuman Ji as the day closes |
| Shayan Aarti (Tuesday & Saturday only) | 10:30 PM – 12:00 AM | Night prayer before the deity rests – extended on the most auspicious days |
Which aarti is best to attend? For peaceful attendance: Mangala Aarti at 5:00 AM on a weekday (Tuesday/Saturday excepted). Queue time is 10-20 minutes. The atmosphere is calm, the chanting is continuous and the incense smoke in the morning air makes the experience genuinely different from an afternoon visit.
For atmosphere and energy: Sandhya Aarti at 8:00 PM – the temple fills with hundreds of devotees, lamps are offered and the collective bhajan creates an overwhelming devotional atmosphere. Queue time on weekdays: 30-45 minutes. On Tuesdays and Saturdays: 90-120 minutes.
Experience My India includes Sandhya Aarti at Sankat Mochan in all multi-day Varanasi itineraries. WhatsApp +91-7302265809 to include it in yours.
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Sankat Mochan Temple History & Significance
Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple was established in the early 16th century by Goswami Tulsidas – the poet-saint who wrote the Ramcharitmanas, the most widely read retelling of the Ramayana in the Awadhi language. According to tradition, Tulsidas was living in Kashi and composing the Ramcharitmanas when he received a divine vision of Lord Hanuman at this precise location on the banks of the Assi River.
The legend carries further depth. Tulsidas would daily cross the Ganges to water a dry acacia tree and a spirit residing in that tree offered him a boon. When Tulsidas expressed his singular desire – to have a darshan of Lord Rama – the spirit directed him to Hanuman. It was through this meeting with Hanuman, at the spot that became Sankat Mochan Temple, that Tulsidas received Lord Rama’s darshan.
The idol within the temple is believed to be svayambhu – self-manifested – rather than carved or installed. The deity faces Lord Rama rather than devotees, reflecting Hanuman Ji’s eternal posture of devotion rather than authority.
The physical temple structure was built in the early 1900s by Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, the same visionary who founded Banaras Hindu University (BHU) – which is why the temple’s most famous geographic reference point is its proximity to the BHU campus, 3 km away.
Spiritual significance of the name: Sankat (संकट) means trouble, crisis, obstacle. Mochan (मोचन) means remover, liberator. Lord Hanuman is worshipped at this temple specifically in his role as the one who removes the hardest, most persistent difficulties in a devotee’s life – including planetary afflictions from Shani (Saturn) and Mangal (Mars). Thousands of pilgrims come specifically when facing career obstacles, health crises or family difficulties that other temples have not resolved.
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The Idol, Prasad & Rituals at Sankat Mochan
The Idol: The idol of Lord Hanuman at Sankat Mochan faces Lord Rama – not the devotees – reflecting Hanuman Ji’s eternal role as sevak (servant) rather than sovereign. The idol is smeared with a thick paste of sindoor (vermilion) and decorated daily with fresh marigold garlands. Devotees commonly offer sindoor and flower garlands as part of their personal puja.
A notable secondary statue in the main courtyard shows Lord Hanuman in reverence before Lord Rama, Sita Ji, Lakshman and the Vanara army – all paying homage to Lord Shiva. This sculptural grouping is unique to this temple.
Prasad: The most famous prasad offering at Sankat Mochan is Besan ke Laddu (gram flour sweet balls) – considered Hanuman Ji’s preferred sweet. Shops selling besan laddu and Lal Peda (a reddish milk sweet) are located immediately outside the temple gates. Prices range from ₹50 to ₹200 for a packet of 6-8 laddus depending on size.
What to carry:
- Marigold flowers: available outside the temple – ₹20-₹50 per bunch
- Sindoor: sold in small packets outside – ₹10-₹30
- Besan ke Laddu: for prasad offering – ₹50-₹100
- Cash in small denomination for prasad shops – digital payments not universally accepted at street stalls
What NOT to carry inside:
- Leather items (bags, belts) – leave at cloak room
- Footwear – shoe racks located 100 metres before main gate
- Large bags – cloak room available, small fee applies
Monkeys: Sankat Mochan Temple has an active monkey population within the premises. Do not carry open food, visible plastic bags or snacks. Keep spectacles on your face or inside a bag – not on top of your head. Monkeys actively approach pilgrims near the prasad area.
Sankat Mochan Sangeet Samaroh – The Classical Music Festival
The Sankat Mochan Sangeet Samaroh is one of India’s oldest and most respected classical music festivals. Established in 1923, it is held annually in April, coinciding with Hanuman Jayanti, within the temple premises.
| Detail | Information |
| Established | 1923 |
| Held | Annually in April – Hanuman Jayanti period |
| Duration | 5-7 days of continuous performances |
| Entry | Free – no ticket required for audience |
| Performers | Top Hindustani and Carnatic classical musicians and dancers from across India |
| Performer Fee | Artists perform without charging a fee – as a form of bhakti |
| Atmosphere | Overnight performances – temple grounds become a venue for India’s finest classical arts |
The Sangeet Samaroh is unusual in Indian classical music: performers of national and international reputation donate their performance as seva (devotional service) to Hanuman Ji. No artist charges a fee. The audience pays nothing. The festival has been continuous – including through wars, floods and political upheaval – since 1923.
Hanuman Jayanti at Sankat Mochan: On Hanuman Jayanti (April 2026 – date varies with lunar calendar), a large Shobha Yatra (procession) departs from Durgakund Temple and arrives at Sankat Mochan. Thousands of devotees join the procession. The temple remains open through the night. Experience My India plans Varanasi tours around Hanuman Jayanti for pilgrims who want to attend both the procession and the Sangeet Samaroh.
How to Reach Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple Varanasi
Location address: Saket Nagar Colony, Nagwa Lanka, Varanasi – Uttar Pradesh 221005 (Near Assi River, adjacent to the Durgakund Temple complex, 3 km from BHU main gate)
From Varanasi Junction (Railway Station): Distance: 11 km | Time: 30-45 minutes by auto or cab depending on traffic
| Mode | Cost | Time |
| Auto-rickshaw (shared) | ₹20-₹40 per person | 40-50 minutes |
| Auto-rickshaw (private) | ₹150-₹200 | 35-40 minutes |
| App-based cab (Ola/Uber) | ₹120-₹180 | 30-40 minutes |
| Cycle rickshaw | ₹80-₹120 | 60+ minutes |
From Assi Ghat: Distance: 2 km | Time: 10-15 minutes by auto If you have attended Ganga Aarti at Assi Ghat, Sankat Mochan is a 2 km ride – making it the natural next stop on any morning itinerary.
From Dashashwamedh Ghat (main Ganga Aarti ghat): Distance: 7 km | Time: 20-30 minutes by cab
From BHU campus: Distance: 3 km | Time: 10-15 minutes by auto or e-rickshaw Students and faculty of BHU make up a significant portion of the temple’s regular weekday visitors.
From Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport: Distance: 25 km | Time: 45-60 minutes by cab
Experience My India arranges Varanasi airport pickup and hotel-to-temple transfers for all Varanasi packages. WhatsApp +91-7302265809 for a pre-arranged cab with a guide who knows which route avoids the congestion near Lanka (BHU junction).
Varanasi Temple Circuit – Where to Go Before and After Sankat Mochan
Sankat Mochan sits in the southern Varanasi cluster – the same 2-3 km zone as Durgakund Temple, Tulsi Manas Mandir and Assi Ghat. Experience My India builds a half-day morning circuit around this cluster that most pilgrims complete in 3 to 4 hours.
| Temple / Ghat | Distance from Sankat Mochan | Best Time | Time Needed |
| Durgakund Temple (Durga Mandir) | 500 metres walking | 7:00-10:00 AM | 30-45 mins |
| Tulsi Manas Mandir | 300 metres from Durgakund | 7:00-10:00 AM | 20-30 mins |
| Assi Ghat | 2 km – 10 mins by auto | Sunrise or evening aarti 6:30 PM | 30-45 mins |
| Sankat Mochan Temple | Starting point | 5:00-9:00 AM or 6:00-9:00 PM | 45-60 mins |
Recommended morning sequence:
- Arrive at Sankat Mochan by 6:00 AM – Mangala Aarti complete, darshan with manageable crowd (20-30 minutes)
- Walk 500 metres to Durgakund Temple – 30-minute darshan
- Walk 300 metres to Tulsi Manas Mandir – 20-minute darshan
- Cab 2 km to Assi Ghat – 30 minutes at the ghat, chai, watch the river
- Finish by 9:30-10:00 AM – before the midday heat and post-temple lunch
This circuit covers three significant Varanasi temples plus one of its most peaceful ghats in under 4 hours. Experience My India includes this exact sequence in our Varanasi day tour – from ₹5,999 per person with guide, cab and hotel. WhatsApp +91-7302265809.
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Ground Truth – What Nobody Tells You About Sankat Mochan Temple
There is no VIP darshan system – anyone telling you otherwise is a tout. Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple has no paid darshan, no VIP line, no “temple trust pass” for faster access. Entry is free for all. Touts near the temple gate sometimes approach pilgrims – especially from other states – offering “special darshan” arrangements for ₹500-₹1,500. This money goes to the tout, not the temple and does not accelerate your darshan. Experience My India’s guide meets you at the gate and takes you directly to the correct entry point.
The midday 3-hour closure catches most first-time pilgrims unprepared. Between 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM, the main idol is covered and not visible for darshan. Pilgrims who arrive at 1:00 PM or 2:00 PM after Kashi Vishwanath darshan often discover they cannot see the idol. Build your Sankat Mochan visit into either the morning block (5:00 AM-11:30 AM) or the evening block (3:00 PM-9:30 PM).
Tuesday and Saturday queues are 2-3 hours longer than weekdays. On a weekday morning at 6:30 AM, queue time is 15-25 minutes. On a Saturday morning at 8:00 AM, the same queue runs 90-150 minutes. Experience My India always recommends Monday, Wednesday or Thursday for Sankat Mochan if your travel dates are flexible.
Monkeys at Sankat Mochan are active and bold – not decorative. The temple has a significant monkey population that approaches visitors carrying visible food, open bags and spectacles resting on foreheads. This is not a quirk – three to four incidents occur daily involving snatched items. Carry a zippered bag, keep food inside it and keep your glasses on your face or in a closed bag. Experience My India guides brief every group on this before entering.
The Sangeet Samaroh is one of India’s greatest free cultural events – almost no tourists know it exists. The Sankat Mochan Sangeet Samaroh, established 1923, draws India’s finest classical musicians for 5-7 nights every April. Free entry. Performers donate their time. The audience sits on the temple grounds under open sky. If your Varanasi visit falls in April, Experience My India will confirm the exact dates and include it in your itinerary. WhatsApp +91-7302265809.
Frequently Asked Questions – Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple Varanasi
Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple is open daily from 5:00 AM to 10:00 PM. The idol is covered for bhog (rest) between 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM – pilgrims can enter the premises but cannot view the idol during this period. On Tuesdays and Saturdays, the temple opens at 4:30 AM and stays open until midnight. Mangala Aarti is at 5:00 AM; Sandhya Aarti is from 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Experience My India plans all darshan around these exact windows.
There is no VIP darshan or paid darshan system at Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple. Entry is free for all devotees. The fastest way to a short queue is timing: arrive by 6:00 AM on a weekday for a 15–25 minute queue. On Tuesdays and Saturdays, the same queue runs 90–150 minutes. At Kashi Vishwanath Temple, a VIP/special darshan pass is available – Experience My India arranges this for all guests. WhatsApp +91-7302265809.
Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple is approximately 3 km from the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) main gate. Travel time by auto-rickshaw or e-rickshaw is 10-15 minutes. The temple is in the Saket Nagar colony, near the Assi River – the same cluster as Durgakund Temple (500 metres from Sankat Mochan) and Tulsi Manas Mandir (800 metres). Experience My India includes the BHU-cluster temple circuit in all Varanasi guided packages.
Two morning aartis are worth planning around. Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat happens at sunrise (5:30-6:30 AM) – the largest and most photogenic. Mangala Aarti at Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple is at 5:00 AM – more intimate, deeply devotional, with Hanuman Chalisa chanting. Experience My India recommends attending Sankat Mochan Mangala Aarti first (5:00 AM), then reaching Dashashwamedh Ghat by boat for sunrise. WhatsApp +91-7302265809 to plan the timing.
Entry is completely free. No ticket, no donation requirement, no VIP pass. Devotees who wish to book a special seva (Rudrabhishek, Hanuman Chalisa recitation by priests) pay a nominal seva charge at the temple counter – typically ₹200-₹500 depending on the seva type. For general darshan, carry only cash for prasad (besan ke laddu from outside shops – ₹50-₹100) and flower offerings (₹20-₹50). Experience My India guides handle all temple logistics for our pilgrim groups.
Besan ke Laddu (gram flour sweet balls) is the signature prasad at Sankat Mochan – believed to be Hanuman Ji’s preferred sweet. Lal Peda (a reddish milk sweet) is also widely offered. Both are sold by shops immediately outside the temple gate, priced ₹50-₹200 per packet depending on size. The prasad shops are open from before temple opening until after closing. Experience My India guides recommend buying prasad before entering so you carry it to the deity directly.
The Sankat Mochan Sangeet Samaroh is one of India’s oldest classical music festivals, established in 1923 and held annually in April within the temple premises during Hanuman Jayanti. India’s finest Hindustani and Carnatic musicians and dancers perform for 5-7 consecutive nights. Entry is free. Performers donate their art as seva – no artist charges a fee. Experience My India includes the Sangeet Samaroh in April Varanasi packages – WhatsApp +91-7302265809 for April 2026 tour availability.
Yes, but prepare for significantly larger crowds. Tuesday and Saturday are the most auspicious days for Hanuman worship, drawing thousands of additional devotees. Queue time at 8:00 AM on Saturday can be 90-150 minutes compared to 15-25 minutes on a weekday. Security is present throughout. Experience My India recommends weekday visits for elderly pilgrims and families with children. If your schedule requires a Tuesday or Saturday visit, arrive by 5:30 AM – crowds are manageable for the first hour. WhatsApp +91-7302265809.
Three significant temples are within walking distance of Sankat Mochan. Durgakund Temple (dedicated to Goddess Durga) is 500 metres away – 10 minutes on foot. Tulsi Manas Mandir (dedicated to Lord Rama, built at the site where Tulsidas composed sections of the Ramcharitmanas) is 800 metres away. Assi Ghat, where evening Ganga Aarti is also held, is 2 km – 10 minutes by auto. Experience My India includes all four in a single 4-hour morning circuit in our guided Varanasi packages.
Two full days covers Kashi Vishwanath, Sankat Mochan, Durgakund, Tulsi Manas Mandir, Dashashwamedh Ghat aarti, Manikarnika Ghat and a Ganga sunrise boat ride. Three days adds Sarnath (15 km from Varanasi – Buddhist pilgrimage site), Ramnagar Fort and a more relaxed ghat walk. Experience My India recommends a 3-night Varanasi stay for first-time pilgrims from South India, with the package from ₹5,999 per person. WhatsApp +91-7302265809 for a day-wise itinerary.
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Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple is one of those places where the experience entirely depends on timing. The 5:00 AM Mangala Aarti on a quiet Wednesday morning, standing before an idol that devotees have believed in for over 500 years, is categorically different from arriving at 2:00 PM on a Saturday to find the idol covered and a 150-minute queue forming. Experience My India plans the timing correctly – every time, for every pilgrim group.
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