Bade Hanuman / Lete Hue Hanuman Temple (Reclining Hanuman)
Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh · temple
- Days OpenOpen daily
- Entry Fee₹0
Few shrines in India cast Hanuman in the pose you find at Prayagraj's Bade Hanuman temple, better known as Lete Hue Hanuman — the Reclining Hanuman. Instead of the standing, mace-bearing warrior seen almost everywhere else, here the deity lies stretched out at rest, an enormous saffron-smeared murti reported to be roughly twenty feet long, set in a sunken sanctum below ground level. Beneath his feet are carved figures associated with episodes from the Ramayana, and worshippers file down to garland and anoint him where he reclines. The temple sits in a commanding spot on the Sangam side of the city, in the shadow of the great red-sandstone walls of Akbar's Fort, only a short walk from the confluence of the Ganga and Yamuna. For pilgrims doing the Sangam circuit, a stop here is almost obligatory.
Where to Eat Nearby
- ✦Pure-veg thali and kachori-sabzi kitchens of Loknath bazaar
- ✦Chaat, samosa and jalebi stalls around Katra and the Sangam
- ✦Vegetarian thali dhabas near Civil Lines
- ✦Plain (bhang-free) thandai and lassi stalls in summer
About
Few shrines in India cast Hanuman in the pose you find at Prayagraj's Bade Hanuman temple, better known as Lete Hue Hanuman — the Reclining Hanuman.
- Instead of the standing, mace-bearing warrior seen almost everywhere else, here the deity lies stretched out at rest, an enormous saffron-smeared murti reported to be roughly twenty feet long, set in a sunken sanctum below ground level.
- Beneath his feet are carved figures associated with episodes from the Ramayana, and worshippers file down to garland and anoint him where he reclines.
- The temple sits in a commanding spot on the Sangam side of the city, in the shadow of the great red-sandstone walls of Akbar's Fort, only a short walk from the confluence of the Ganga and Yamuna.
- For pilgrims doing the Sangam circuit, a stop here is almost obligatory.
- The temple's fame rests on a striking annual phenomenon and the belief woven around it.
- During the monsoon, when the Ganga swells, its waters are said to rise until they reach and symbolically bathe the reclining idol before receding — an event locals await eagerly and treat as an auspicious, self-completing ritual snana by the river herself.
- From this comes the deity's title as the Kotwal, the police chief or guardian, of Prayag: by tradition no pilgrimage to the Sangam is considered complete without paying respects here, and Hanuman is held to watch over the sacred city and its bathers.
- Devotees are especially numerous on Tuesdays and Saturdays, during the Magh Mela each winter and the great Kumbh, and through the Hindu month of Sawan.
- The atmosphere is one of unhurried, ground-level devotion: bells, marigold garlands, sindoor and the steady murmur of the Hanuman Chalisa, with none of the manicured grandeur of larger complexes.
- Photography of the deity is often restricted, so it is best to ask before raising a camera and to visit early to avoid the midday crush.
- Modest dress and bare feet at the sanctum are expected.
- For food, the lanes around the Sangam and the nearby Loknath and Katra bazaars are rich in pure-vegetarian eating.
- Look for the long-running pure-veg thali and kachori-sabzi kitchens of Loknath, where you can sit down to a simple satvik meal, and the chaat, samosa, jalebi and dahi-vada stalls that Prayagraj is loved for.
- Plain, bhang-free thandai and lassi are easy to find in summer, and roadside dhabas near Civil Lines serve unfussy vegetarian thalis.
- When choosing a stall, simply ask for the pure-veg counter — most Sangam-area sweet and snack shops are vegetarian by default.
Timings & Entry Fee
Verified: August 2026
Location & How to Reach
Address
Near Akbar's Fort, Sangam Road, Kila Ghat area, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, 211003
How to Reach: About 6–8 km from Prayagraj Junction railway station and the city centre; reach the Sangam/Kila Ghat area by auto-rickshaw, e-rickshaw or cycle-rickshaw, then a short walk. During Magh Mela and Kumbh, motor traffic is restricted and the final stretch is usually covered on foot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Hanuman idol lying down at this temple?
The murti depicts Hanuman in a rare reclining, resting pose rather than the usual standing warrior form. It is one of very few large reclining Hanuman idols in India, and this unusual posture is precisely what draws pilgrims. Figures linked to Ramayana episodes are carved near his feet, and devotees descend into a sunken sanctum to worship him.
Is it true the Ganga bathes the idol every year?
By local tradition, when the Ganga rises during the monsoon its waters reach and symbolically bathe the reclining idol before receding. Devotees regard this annual event as highly auspicious, a snana performed by the river herself. It is central to the belief that Hanuman here is the guardian, or Kotwal, of Prayag.
Is there an entry fee and what are the timings?
Entry is free. The temple is generally open from early morning, around 5:00 AM, until about 9:00 PM daily. Timings extend and crowds swell greatly during the Magh Mela in winter and the Kumbh, so it is best to visit early in the day and confirm current hours locally.
Where can I eat vegetarian food near the Reclining Hanuman temple?
The surrounding Loknath and Katra bazaars and the Sangam lanes are full of pure-vegetarian options. You will find sit-down pure-veg thali and kachori-sabzi kitchens in Loknath, plus chaat, samosa, jalebi and dahi-vada stalls nearby. Just ask for the pure-veg counter, as most Sangam-area sweet and snack shops are vegetarian by default.
How do I combine this temple with a Sangam visit?
The temple sits beside Akbar's Fort, just a short walk from the Sangam confluence, so most pilgrims pair the two. A common route is to take a boat to the Sangam, bathe or take darshan, then walk up to the reclining Hanuman, whom tradition says one should visit to complete the pilgrimage. Allow around 30 minutes at the temple itself.