Prachin Hanuman Mandir, Connaught Place
Hanuman as Bala Hanuman (Hanuman as a child) temple · New Delhi (Connaught Place), New Delhi, Delhi, India
The Prachin (ancient) Hanuman Mandir stands on Baba Kharak Singh Marg, formerly Irwin Road, about 250 m south-west of Connaught Place in New Delhi. It is dedicated to Hanuman in his child form, Bala Hanuman, and draws large numbers of worshippers from across the city.
Local tradition links the site to the Mahabharata, but the present temple is far later: Wikipedia records that it was rebuilt in 1724 by Maharaja Jai Singh II of Amber. Its spire carries an unusual crescent-moon finial, and Tuesdays, Saturdays and Hanuman Jayanti draw very large crowds.
Faith & Tradition
Religious Significance of Prachin Hanuman Mandir, Connaught Place
The main image is of Bala Hanuman, worshipped as Sri Hanuman Ji Maharaj, and faces south, according to Wikipedia. The sanctum also holds images of Radha and Krishna and of Rama, Lakshmana and Sita. Devotees believe the Hanuman image to be swayambhu (self-manifested), ETV Bharat noted in its 2026 Hanuman Jayanti report.
Wikipedia records a local belief that the temple is one of five in Delhi dating from the days of the Mahabharata. Tuesday and Saturday, the days traditionally sacred to Hanuman, are its busiest days, and Wikipedia notes that shops in the complex sell offerings and bangles and that the temple is popular with women for mehndi (henna).
The temple is a major centre of Hanuman Jayanti in Delhi. On the festival in April 2026, ETV Bharat reported queues outside the temple from the early morning hours and waits of two to three hours as devotees chanted 'Jai Shri Ram' and 'Jai Bajrangbali'.
Heritage
History of Prachin Hanuman Mandir, Connaught Place
According to Wikipedia, the temple was rebuilt in 1724 by Jai Singh II of Amber, around the same time as the nearby Jantar Mantar, and some accounts credit an earlier temple on the site to Raja Man Singh I. The building has been altered and renovated several times since.
A well-known legend explains the crescent moon on the spire. Wikipedia relates the story that the poet-saint Tulsidas visited the temple and performed a miracle before the Mughal emperor, who then presented the crescent finial; tradition holds that the symbol protected the temple in later centuries. These accounts are traditions and are not documented in contemporary records.
In May 2003 the Archaeological Survey of India issued a preliminary notification proposing to declare the temple a protected monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, Hinduism Today reported, with a two-month period for objections. The temple does not appear in the ASI's current alphabetical list of centrally protected monuments in Delhi. The New Delhi Municipal Council, which Wikipedia says added several subsidiary shrines to the complex, announced in 2022 a redevelopment of the complex with new flooring, drainage, drinking water, toilets and a shoe house.
Architecture and sacred features
The temple's most distinctive feature is the crescent moon on its shikhara, in place of the Om or sun emblem found on many Hindu temples. Wikipedia notes that the ceiling of the main mandapa is painted with scenes from the Ramayana, and that shrines of Shiva and Parvati, Durga, Lakshmi Narayan, Ganesha and Santoshi Mata have been added in the complex.
Plan Your Visit
Darshan and Visitor Information
Expect long queues on Tuesdays, Saturdays and especially on Hanuman Jayanti, when crowds begin before dawn. Leave footwear at the shoe counter, dress modestly and follow the instructions of temple staff and police. Confirm current darshan timings locally before visiting.
Timings and arrangements change with seasons and festivals. Confirm current details with the temple administration before travelling. Last reviewed 1 November 2026.
Sacred Calendar
Festivals at Prachin Hanuman Mandir, Connaught Place
Hanuman Jayanti
The temple's biggest festival, with processions and devotees in Hanuman masks according to Wikipedia; ETV Bharat reported queues from 4–5 am in 2026.
Tuesdays and Saturdays
Days sacred to Hanuman, when Wikipedia notes large crowds at the temple.
Location
How to Reach Prachin Hanuman Mandir, Connaught Place
The temple is on Baba Kharak Singh Marg, a short walk from Connaught Place. Wikipedia names Rajiv Chowk as the nearest Delhi Metro station and Shivaji Stadium as the nearest bus terminal.
Location: New Delhi (Connaught Place), New Delhi, Delhi, India
Nearest railway station: Rajiv Chowk metro station (per Wikipedia)
More in Hindu temples in Delhi · Hanuman as Bala Hanuman (Hanuman as a child) temples · Temples in New Delhi District
Questions
Prachin Hanuman Mandir, Connaught Place: Frequently Asked Questions
Which form of Hanuman is worshipped at Connaught Place?
Bala Hanuman, Hanuman as a child, worshipped as Sri Hanuman Ji Maharaj. The image faces south.
How old is the Hanuman Mandir in Connaught Place?
Tradition links it to the Mahabharata era, but Wikipedia records that the present temple was rebuilt in 1724 by Jai Singh II of Amber, with some accounts crediting an earlier temple to Man Singh I.
Why is there a crescent moon on the temple spire?
According to legend, a Mughal emperor presented the crescent finial after the poet-saint Tulsidas performed a miracle. This is a tradition, not a documented event.
Is the temple a protected monument?
The ASI issued a preliminary notification to protect it in May 2003, Hinduism Today reported, but it is not in the ASI's current list of centrally protected monuments in Delhi.
What is the nearest metro station?
Rajiv Chowk on the Delhi Metro, a short walk away.
When is the temple most crowded?
On Tuesdays, Saturdays and above all on Hanuman Jayanti in Chaitra (March–April).
Sources and attribution
- Wikipedia — Hanuman Temple, Connaught Place
- Hinduism Today (Hindu Press International, 25 May 2003) — ASI notification to declare Connaught Place Hanuman temple a protected monument
- Archaeological Survey of India — Alphabetical List of Monuments – Delhi
- ETV Bharat (2 April 2026) — Watch: Massive crowd at Delhi's ancient Hanuman temple on Hanuman Jayanti
- India Infra Hub (17 January 2022) — New Delhi Municipal Corporation to redevelop Hanuman Mandir complex in Connaught Place
Further reading: Prachin Hanuman Mandir, Connaught Place on Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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