Bade Hanuman Ji Temple, Prayagraj — The Only Reclining Hanuman
Shri Bade Hanuman Ji Mandir, near the Triveni Sangam by the Prayagraj Fort, is believed to be the only temple in the world where Lord Hanuman is worshipped lying down. The great idol rests in a sunken chamber six to seven feet below ground level, which produces the phenomenon the temple is famous for: every monsoon the rising Ganga and Yamuna reach the idol and submerge it. Devotees do not treat this as flooding — they see it as the rivers coming to bathe Hanuman. Darshan is free, the temple is open roughly 5 AM to 9 PM, and Tuesdays and Saturdays are busiest.
- Timings
- ~5:00 AM – 9:00 PM daily
- Unique
- The only reclining Hanuman idol
- Every Monsoon
- The rivers submerge the idol
- Entry
- Free · no ticket
Bade Hanuman Ji
Prayagraj · The Reclining Hanuman at the Sangam
4.9 / 5 · Prayagraj Darshan Help
Sangam · Temples · Aarti
- Timings
- ~5:00 AM – 9:00 PM, daily
- Deity
- Lord Hanuman, in a reclining posture
- Unique Feature
- Believed the only reclining Hanuman in the world
- Monsoon
- The idol is submerged by the rivers each year
- Entry
- Free · no ticket required
- Location
- Near the Triveni Sangam, by Prayagraj Fort
What Are the Bade Hanuman Temple Timings?
Bade Hanuman keeps long hours, roughly 5:00 AM to 9:00 PM, and darshan is free. Tuesdays and Saturdays — the traditional days of Hanuman — bring the heaviest crowds. The one thing to be aware of is seasonal rather than daily: during a strong monsoon the chamber floods and the temple closes until the water recedes, so confirm before travelling in July, August or September.
Early Morning (Best)
Shortest queue; pairs with a Sangam sunrise
Daytime
Open throughout
Evening
Aarti; busy and atmospheric
Tuesday & Saturday
Hanuman's days; heaviest crowds
July – September
Rising rivers flood the chamber
During Submersion
The idol is under water
After the Water Recedes
Cleaned and reopened for darshan
October – June
The safe months to plan a visit
Tip: if you are travelling in the monsoon months, check before you go — the rivers can close this temple for days at a time, and it is the one thing that will stop your darshan. WhatsApp us and we will confirm whether the chamber is open on your date.
When Is the Best Month to Visit Bade Hanuman? (2026)
Unusually for a temple, the river level decides whether you can have darshan at all. October to June is reliable; the monsoon months are a gamble.
The annual submersion is the temple's most famous event, but it means no darshan while it lasts. If you are travelling between July and September, always confirm before setting out.
Why Does Hanuman Lie Down at This Temple?
What Is Bade Hanuman Ji Mandir?
Shri Bade Hanuman Ji Mandir — known throughout Prayagraj as Lete Hue Hanuman, the reclining Hanuman — stands near the Triveni Sangam beside the Prayagraj Fort. It is believed to be the only temple in the world where Lord Hanuman is worshipped lying down rather than standing or kneeling.
Why Is the Idol Below Ground?
The great reclining idol rests in a sunken chamber, six to seven feet below ground level. Visitors descend to reach it, which already makes the darshan unlike any other Hanuman temple — you go down to the deity rather than up. It is also the reason for everything that happens here in the monsoon.
What Happens Every Monsoon?
This is what the temple is famous for. As the Ganga and the Yamuna rise through the monsoon, the water reaches the sunken chamber and eventually submerges the idol entirely. Local devotion does not treat this as a flood or a misfortune. It is understood as the rivers themselves coming to bathe Hanuman — an annual abhishek performed by the Ganga and Yamuna rather than by any priest.
What Happens to Darshan Then?
The temple closes while the water is high, and reopens once it recedes and the chamber has been cleaned. For a few weeks each year there is simply no darshan. Crowds gather outside to watch the water reach the idol, and the moment is reported across India when it happens.
Why Is Hanuman So Important at Prayag?
Because he is the guardian. Hanuman is invoked for protection, strength and the removal of obstacles, and at a confluence that draws tens of millions of pilgrims, a great Hanuman shrine beside the water carries obvious weight. For most pilgrims, Bade Hanuman is part of the Sangam visit itself rather than a separate stop.
How Is This Different From Hanumat Niketan?
They are entirely separate temples and visitors confuse them constantly. Bade Hanuman is this ancient reclining shrine beside the Sangam. Hanumat Niketan is a modern three-and-a-half-acre complex in Civil Lines, founded in 1958, with a gymnasium, library and weaponry museum. Both are worth visiting; they have almost nothing else in common.
Did you know? When the rivers submerge the idol each monsoon, devotees regard it as the Ganga and Yamuna performing abhishek on Hanuman themselves — the only temple in India where the deity is bathed annually by two rivers rather than by a priest.
What Is Darshan at Bade Hanuman Like?
A short darshan, but one that is genuinely unlike any other Hanuman temple in India.
- 1
Reach the Sangam Area
The temple stands near the Triveni Sangam beside the Prayagraj Fort, minutes from the confluence. Most pilgrims come straight from the snan.
- 2
Check It Is Open
In the monsoon months the chamber may be flooded and the temple closed. Confirm before travelling between July and September.
- 3
Buy Laddoo and Sindoor
Besan ke laddoo and sindoor are the traditional offerings to Hanuman, sold at the stalls outside.
- 4
Leave Footwear at the Stands
Racks are provided. On Tuesdays and Saturdays the area is very crowded, so note where you leave them.
- 5
Descend to the Chamber
The idol lies six to seven feet below ground level. You go down to reach the deity, which is unusual in itself.
- 6
Have Darshan of the Reclining Hanuman
The great idol lying at full length — believed to be the only reclining Hanuman worshipped anywhere in the world.
- 7
Look at the Water Marks
Ask the priests how high the rivers reached last monsoon. The marks tell you how completely the water takes the chamber.
- 8
Continue to the Sangam
The confluence is minutes away, along with Akshayavat inside the fort and the Shankar Viman Mandapam.
When Should You Visit Bade Hanuman Temple?
Two things decide your visit here — whether the chamber is above water, and which day of the week you come.
Reliable Months — October to June
The rivers are low enough that the chamber is open and darshan is certain. November to March combines that with comfortable weather.
Best Time of Day — Early Morning
Come between 5 and 8 AM, ideally straight after a Sangam sunrise and snan. The queue is shortest and it fits the natural order of a Prayagraj morning.
Most Special — Hanuman Jayanti
Hanuman Jayanti in April is the greatest day of the year here, with the temple open long hours and enormous crowds. Tuesdays and Saturdays are the weekly high points.
What Can You See at Bade Hanuman Temple?
One extraordinary idol, and a story written on the walls by the rivers.
The Reclining Hanuman Idol
Top PickUnique in the World
The great idol lying at full length in the sunken chamber — believed to be the only reclining Hanuman worshipped anywhere.
The Sunken Chamber
Top PickBelow River Level
The pit six to seven feet below ground that you descend into, and which the rivers claim each monsoon.
The Water Marks
The Annual Submersion
Evidence of how high the Ganga and Yamuna reached in previous years — the temple's own record of its most famous event.
The Sangam Setting
Beside the Confluence
The temple stands minutes from the Triveni Sangam and beside the Prayagraj Fort, at the heart of the pilgrimage area.
The Tuesday Crowds
Living Devotion
Hanuman's day, when the queue runs long and the atmosphere is at its most charged.
Why Is Bade Hanuman Unlike Any Other Hanuman Temple?
Almost every Sangam pilgrim comes here, and most do not realise quite how unusual it is.
The Only Reclining Hanuman
Hanuman is worshipped standing, kneeling or flying across India. Lying down, at full length — only here.
Bathed by Two Rivers Every Year
The Ganga and Yamuna rise into the chamber each monsoon and submerge the idol. Devotees call it the rivers' own abhishek.
You Descend to the Deity
The chamber sits six to seven feet below ground. Going down to Hanuman rather than up is a different kind of darshan.
Minutes From the Sangam
It sits within the confluence area beside the fort, so it costs nothing to add to a Sangam morning.
Is There an Entry Fee at Bade Hanuman Temple? (2026)
Darshan is completely free — there is no ticket and no paid queue, even on Hanuman Jayanti. Only offerings carry a cost.
The darshan is free and the temple is minutes from the confluence. What we add is confirming the chamber is open — which genuinely matters in the monsoon — and sequencing it properly with the Sangam snan, Akshayavat and the Shankar Viman Mandapam in one morning. Pricing confirmed in writing.
Auto fares are indicative and vary with traffic, season and the mela calendar.
What Do Devotees Say About Bade Hanuman Temple?
1,352 verified reviews
Every Tuesday for thirty years. Watching the water rise to touch Baba's feet each monsoon is something you never get used to — the whole city comes to see it. This is our temple.
Ravi Shankar Dubey
Prayagraj
We came straight from the Sangam snan. I had no idea it was the only reclining Hanuman in the world until our guide explained it. Descending into the chamber is a completely different feeling from an ordinary darshan.
Sunita Kaushik
Delhi
Visited on Hanuman Jayanti. Enormous crowd but extremely well managed, and the atmosphere was wonderful. Go very early on that day — by seven the queue was already long.
T. Krishnan
Madurai
We went in August and the temple was closed with the idol under water. Disappointing, but seeing the rivers actually reach it was extraordinary in itself. Do check before you travel in monsoon.
Pooja Rastogi
Kanpur
Important temple right by the Sangam, free entry and easy to combine with Akshayavat. Do not confuse it with Hanumat Niketan in Civil Lines — completely different place, we nearly went to the wrong one.
Mahesh Gupta
Bhopal
How Do You Fit Bade Hanuman Into a Sangam Day?
It sits within the confluence area, so it belongs in the same morning as the snan. Here is the day we plan.
Sunrise at the Triveni Sangam. Begin at the confluence for first light on the water.
Sangam boat ride & snan. The holy dip at the meeting of the Ganga, Yamuna and the invisible Saraswati.
Bade Hanuman Ji darshan. Straight from the snan to the reclining Hanuman — the traditional order, and the shortest queue of the day.
Akshayavat & Patalpuri Temple. The immortal banyan inside Prayagraj Fort, next door. Carry photo ID for every adult.
Shankar Viman Mandapam. Climb the four floors for the only elevated view over the confluence.
Veni Madhav & Nag Vasuki, Daraganj. The chief of the twelve Madhavs, and the temple of the serpent king.
Evening Ganga Aarti at Saraswati Ghat. Close the day on the riverfront with lamps and bells.
Which Tour Package Covers Bade Hanuman Ji?
Bade Hanuman Ji sits within the wider Prayagraj circuit, and the Sangam, the temples and the sites out of town need a vehicle and a sensible order to do properly. These are the itineraries our guests book most — each with the Triveni Sangam snan and boat ride, a certified local guide, transport and pricing confirmed in writing.
- 1 Day1 Day Prayagraj Tour PackageTriveni Sangam snan and boat ride with the main temples of the confluence.
- 2 Days2 Days Prayagraj Tour PackageThe Sangam, Akshayavat and the Daraganj temples without rushing any of them.
- 2 Days2 Days Varanasi Prayagraj Tour PackageKashi Vishwanath and the Ganga Aarti with the Triveni Sangam.
- 2 Days2 Days Ayodhya Prayagraj Tour PackageRam Mandir and the Sangam, tightly planned for a short trip.
- 3 Days3 Days Varanasi Prayagraj Tour PackageKashi and the confluence, with time for the ghats and the Sangam boat ride.
- 4 Days4 Days Ayodhya Varanasi Prayagraj Tour PackageAll three cities — Ram Mandir, Kashi Vishwanath and the Triveni Sangam.
- 5 Days5 Days Ayodhya Varanasi Prayagraj Tour PackageThe complete sacred circuit at a comfortable, senior-friendly pace.
Want Bade Hanuman Ji built into a custom itinerary? We plan around your dates, your pace and what you actually want to see.
See all Prayagraj, Ayodhya & Varanasi packagesHow Do You Reach Bade Hanuman Temple?
The temple stands near the Triveni Sangam beside the Prayagraj Fort, within the confluence area. It is one of the easiest sites in the city to reach.
On Foot From the Sangam
The confluence is minutes away, and most pilgrims simply walk up from the snan — the traditional way to do it.
By Road / Auto
Autos and e-rickshaws reach the Sangam area directly. During the Magh Mela, expect diversions and a walk at the end.
By Train
Prayagraj Sangam station is very close and Prayagraj Junction about 7 km. Both connect to Delhi, Varanasi, Lucknow and Ayodhya.
By Air
Prayagraj Airport (Bamrauli) is roughly 18 km away, with taxis at the terminal. Varanasi (~120 km) is the larger alternative.
Where Is Bade Hanuman Temple Located?
Shri Bade Hanuman Ji Mandir stands near the Triveni Sangam beside the Prayagraj Fort, within the confluence area. Use the map below to navigate.
Prayagraj
- Area: Near the Sangam, beside Prayagraj Fort
- PIN: Prayagraj 211003
- From the Triveni Sangam: ~1 km
- From Akshayavat: ~500 m
- Note: May close in the monsoon when submerged
Where Should You Stay Near Bade Hanuman Temple?
The temple is within the Sangam area, so any base convenient for the confluence works well.
Near the Sangam & Daraganj
Dharamshalas and guesthouses within walking distance of the confluence and the temple — the traditional pilgrim base.
Civil Lines
Prayagraj's main hotel district, with branded and mid-range properties and good restaurants, about 25 minutes away.
Near Prayagraj Junction
Convenient if you are continuing to Varanasi, Ayodhya or Chitrakoot by train, with plenty of budget options.
What Else Can You Visit Near Bade Hanuman Temple?
The temple sits at the heart of the Sangam circuit — everything is within a couple of kilometres.
Triveni Sangam
The sacred confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and the invisible Saraswati — the snan that precedes this darshan.
Akshayavat
The immortal banyan inside the underground Patalpuri Temple at Prayagraj Fort, ~500 m away. Photo ID required.
Shankar Viman Mandapam
The four-storey South Indian temple with the only elevated view over the confluence.
Veni Madhav Temple
The chief of the twelve Dwadash Madhav at Daraganj, whose darshan completes a Sangam snan.
Nag Vasuki Temple
The temple of the serpent king at Daraganj, one of the few performing Kaal Sarp Dosh nivaran puja.
Hanumat Niketan
The other great Hanuman temple of Prayagraj — a modern complex in Civil Lines with an akhara and museum. Not the same place.
Hanuman Jayanti & the Annual Submersion at Bade Hanuman
Hanuman Jayanti, in April, is the greatest day of the year at Bade Hanuman. The temple stays open long hours, chola is offered, the Hanuman Chalisa is recited continuously and the queue near the Sangam runs for hours. Tuesdays and Saturdays bring the weekly crowds throughout the year.
The other great annual event is not a festival at all. Each monsoon the Ganga and Yamuna rise into the sunken chamber and submerge the idol, and crowds gather to watch. Devotees treat it as the rivers coming to bathe Hanuman. Darshan stops while the water is high and resumes once it recedes — so plan around it if you are travelling in July or August.
What Should You Know Before Visiting Bade Hanuman?
A short darshan, with one seasonal issue that can stop it entirely.
Check before travelling in the monsoon
Between July and September the chamber can flood and the temple closes. This is the single thing that will prevent your darshan, and it is worth a message the day before.
Do not confuse it with Hanumat Niketan
Bade Hanuman is this ancient reclining shrine at the Sangam. Hanumat Niketan is a modern complex in Civil Lines. Visitors mix them up constantly.
Come straight from the Sangam snan
The temple is minutes from the confluence and this is the traditional order — bathe first, then darshan.
Avoid Tuesday and Saturday for a quick visit
Hanuman's days bring the heaviest crowds. Wonderful atmosphere, but go very early or choose another day.
You descend to the idol
The chamber is six to seven feet below ground. There are steps down, which is worth knowing for anyone with mobility difficulty.
Buy laddoo and sindoor outside
Besan ke laddoo and sindoor are the traditional offerings to Hanuman, and the stalls at the entrance sell everything you need.
Ask about the water marks
The priests can show you how high the rivers reached last monsoon. It makes the submersion story real in a way photographs do not.
Expect diversions during the Magh Mela
The whole Sangam area is under heavy crowd control in January and February. Allow far more time.
It is a short darshan
Fifteen to twenty minutes outside the busy days. Treat it as part of the Sangam morning rather than a destination in itself.
Dress modestly
Standard temple etiquette applies, with footwear removed at the entrance.
Bade Hanuman Temple Prayagraj — Frequently Asked Questions
The questions pilgrims ask us most about Bade Hanuman — the reclining idol, the annual submersion, timings and how it differs from Hanumat Niketan.
Shri Bade Hanuman Ji Mandir, also called Lete Hue Hanuman, stands near the Triveni Sangam beside Prayagraj Fort. It is believed to be the only temple in the world where Lord Hanuman is worshipped in a reclining posture, in a chamber six to seven feet below ground level.
Still have a question?
Our local team replies within 30 minutes.
Written & verified by the local Prayagraj guide team at Ayodhya Varanasi Guides
Our government-certified guides bring pilgrims from the Sangam snan to Bade Hanuman throughout the year, and know exactly when the monsoon closes the chamber. Last updated: July 2026. River levels vary from year to year — message us before travelling between July and September and we will tell you honestly whether darshan will be possible.
See the Only Reclining Hanuman at Bade Hanuman Ji
Let Ayodhya Varanasi Guides plan your Prayagraj darshan — the Triveni Sangam snan and boat ride, then Bade Hanuman in the traditional order, with Akshayavat and the Shankar Viman Mandapam — and honest advice on whether the chamber will be above water on your dates.