Reclining Hanuman
Official sources describe the unusual reclining idol and long tail.
Temple Photograph
Photograph Not Published
Shri Chamatkari Hanuman Mandir, Pandupol
Pandupol, Sariska Tiger Reserve, Alwar, Rajasthan
Distinctive reclining Hanuman with a long tail, revered inside the Sariska forest
Meaning / Spiritual Importance: Pandupol joins Hanuman’s humility lesson to Bhima with a sacred passage through the Aravalli landscape.
A forest-controlled pilgrimage shrine whose access rules are as important as its temple hours.
Temple Description: The reclining image, Bhima-Hanuman encounter and rock-passage tradition create an unusual darshan deep within Sariska.
Forest access can change; confirm the gate, vehicle system and same-day entry before travel.
Darshan Start Time
6:00 AM
Permitted pilgrimage days only
Crowd Expectation
Plan extra time
Highest on Tue/Sat, Poornima and Lakhi Mela
Best Darshan Window
Early daylight after gate confirmation
Use the current published schedule and posted temple notices.
Darshan Options
No temple darshan booking; reserve/gate process may apply
Reserve entry and vehicle fees/rules can change
Official Notice / Visitor Information: Ministry hours are 6:00 AM–7:00 PM, while the conservation plan restricts pilgrim movement to sunrise–sunset on Tuesday, Saturday and full-moon day. Gate controls prevail.
Forest access can change; confirm the gate, vehicle system and same-day entry before travel.
Exact identity
Temple-specific locality and map pin
Own source
Latest supplied DOCX retained
Current checks
Operational conflicts clearly labeled
Sacred time
Daily sun and moon calculations
Visit ready
Compact access and route planning
See darshan process & planning guide
Overview
Pandupol Hanuman Ji is inside Sariska Tiger Reserve and its critical tiger habitat. Forest rules therefore control when and how pilgrims reach the shrine.
Official tourism and Devasthan sources identify a reclining Hanuman image with a long tail. The source’s Bhima-Hanuman encounter, Pandupol rock passage and Lakhi Mela are retained as sacred tradition.
The source phrase “approximately 5,000 years old” is presented as temple belief, not as an archaeological age.
Main Deity and Sacred Forms
Sant Nirbhaya Das
Rajasthan Devasthan attributes the shrine to the saint and records his memorial nearby.
Orientation
The source supplied east-facing details, but an authoritative current cardinal-direction record was not found.
Forest setting
The temple lies within protected habitat; wildlife rules govern the pilgrimage approach.
Name and Meaning
“Pandupol” refers to the sacred rock passage associated in local Mahabharata tradition with the Pandavas. “Chamatkari” expresses devotees’ belief in the shrine’s miraculous grace.
Sacred Story and Legend
In the supplied Mahabharata tradition, Bhima encounters an aged monkey blocking his path. Unable to move the monkey’s tail, Bhima recognizes Hanuman, learns humility and receives his blessing.
Local tradition connects the nearby opening through the rock with the Pandavas’ passage. These accounts are devotional geography rather than archaeological proof of a 5,000-year construction date.
History and Timeline
Temple tradition
Devasthan uses ancient devotional language; this page does not convert it into a verified construction year.
Nirbhaya Das
The government temple profile links the shrine with Sant Nirbhaya Das and a nearby cenotaph.
Protected habitat
Sariska’s conservation plan formalizes limited pilgrimage movement through critical tiger habitat.
Current transition
Court-directed consultation and transport proposals remain phased; no private-car or shuttle promise is made.
Architecture and Temple Layout
Reclining sanctum form
The horizontal Hanuman image is the shrine’s clearest documented visual feature.
Aravalli passage
The rock passage and forest valley shape the sacred approach.
Direction unconfirmed
Temple and entrance orientation are not publicly documented in a current authoritative source.
Low-impact access
Forest management prioritizes controlled traffic, no overnight use and habitat protection.
Spiritual Importance
The Bhima encounter teaches that physical strength must be guided by humility, devotion and recognition of divine power.
Pilgrimage here also carries a duty of non-harm: protecting wildlife, avoiding plastic and waste, and following the forest route are part of responsible darshan.
Special Features and Facts
Reclining icon
Confirmed by government and official tourism sources.
Inside Sariska
Reserve evidence overrides a contradictory tourism distance phrase.
Controlled access days
Tuesday, Saturday and Poornima within sunrise–sunset controls.
Lakhi Mela
The source records a major Chaitra Navratri fair drawing large regional crowds.
Quick Decision
Devotees and heritage visitors
Use the exact map pin and read the temple-specific access note before travel.
Allow 45–75 minutes
Add time on Tuesdays, Saturdays, festival days, or where security and forest controls apply.
Morning or early evening
Choose daylight and a published opening window; avoid relying on unverified ritual times.
Verify changing operations
Check locally for festival hours, transport controls, photography, and accessibility.
Darshan Process
Arrive prepared
Use the exact map pin and follow site-specific entry, footwear, security, or forest rules.
Enter respectfully
Leave footwear where directed and keep offerings simple unless the temple publishes another practice.
Take darshan
Keep the queue moving, observe local worship, and follow instructions near the sanctum.
Complete calmly
Receive prasad if offered, use the approved exit, and continue to the compact circuit only if time permits.
How to Reach
Use the exact map pin and choose the approach that best fits your journey.
By Rail
- Alwar Junction is the official railhead; Devasthan records about 35 km but road routing varies
- Use the exact map pin for the final auto, taxi, bus, or walking leg.
By Road
- Approach through the currently designated Sariska Sadar or Tehla-side gate arrangement
- Tuesday, Saturday and Poornima; forest gate controls apply
By Air
- Jaipur International Airport is the principal official air approach; Delhi is another long-distance option
- Recheck current flight and onward-road schedules before departure.
Darshan and Aarti Timings
| Service | Days / status | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Visitor window | Ministry of Tourism listing | 6:00 AM–7:00 PM |
| Forest pilgrimage access | Tuesday, Saturday and Poornima | Sunrise–sunset only |
| Conflicting Devasthan schedule | Legacy government temple profile | 5:00 AM–10:00 PM — not a safe access promise |
| Overnight stay | All days | Not permitted at the temple |
Current public hours are separated from source-recorded ritual details wherever the temple does not publish a shrine-specific timetable.
Festivals and Important Days
Lakhi Mela
The source records a major fair with very heavy pilgrimage demand; use only announced forest arrangements.
Hanuman Jayanti
Hanuman worship coincides with a full-moon access day, subject to reserve controls.
Ram Navami
Source-supported Rama and Hanuman devotional observance.
Diwali
Source-supported festival context; exact current temple programme is not published.
Tuesday and Saturday worship
The two principal weekly pilgrimage days named in the conservation plan.
Poornima
A permitted pilgrimage day in the official forest plan, subject to current gate operation.
Daily Worship, Seva and Mantras
Reclining Hanuman darshan
Approach quietly and keep the forest-controlled queue moving.
Hanuman Chalisa
A general devotional recitation appropriate to Hanuman; no shrine-specific text was published.
Bhima-Hanuman remembrance
The sacred story emphasizes humility and disciplined strength.
Forest-responsible worship
Do not feed wildlife, litter, carry prohibited plastic, or remain overnight.
Mantras and Chant Material
General Hanuman Moola Mantra
Om Hanumate Namah
Transliteration / meaning: Salutations to Lord Hanuman.
No temple-specific mantra publication was found; the standard Moola Mantra is identified explicitly as a general Hanuman chant.
Offerings and Prasad
Simple offerings
Flowers, fruit, coconut, or sweets only where locally accepted.
Hanuman worship
Sindoor, jasmine oil, or a garland only where temple staff permit them.
Prasad
Temple-published prasad arrangements were not found; accept only what is distributed on site.
Best Time to Visit
Daily window
Early daylight after gate confirmation
Weekly pattern
Highest on Tue/Sat, Poornima and Lakhi Mela
Season and weather
Prefer comfortable daylight hours; carry water and allow extra time in summer or monsoon conditions.
Nearby Sacred Places and Landmarks
About 22 km in the source route
Neelkanth Mahadev Temple
An ancient Shiva sacred and heritage stop in the wider Sariska–Alwar circuit.
Open map →
About 25 km from the prior stop
Bhartrihari Nath Temple
A regional Nath pilgrimage shrine associated with Guru Bhartrihari.
Open map →
About 32 km in the source route
Narayani Mata Temple
A goddess shrine in the Alwar sacred landscape.
Open map →
Alwar city stop
Jagannath Temple, Alwar
A city shrine for Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra.
Open map →Recommended Sacred Circuit
Pandupol Hanuman Ji
Enter only through the current forest-controlled arrangement and finish before the permitted closing window.
Route map →Neelkanth Mahadev
Continue only if road and reserve conditions permit.
Route map →Bhartrihari and Narayani Mata
Treat these as separate regional stops and allow substantial drive time.
Route map →Jagannath Temple, Alwar
Finish in Alwar city rather than attempting a late forest return.
Route map →Visitor Information
- Pilgrim movement is limited to Tuesday, Saturday and Poornima, sunrise to sunset, under the official conservation plan.
- No overnight stay, plastic, littering, garbage disposal or wildlife feeding; observe reserve speed and convoy instructions.
- Do not promise private-car entry, an operating e-bus shuttle, free entry, or a fixed current fee; implementation and fees have changed.
- Alcohol, meat and eggs are prohibited in the Devasthan record.
- Foreign-visitor, ID, camera, bag and wheelchair procedures are not publicly documented; verify before travel.
- Sariska control-room number published by Rajasthan Forest: 9462881277.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ministry hours are 6:00 AM–7:00 PM, while the conservation plan restricts pilgrim movement to sunrise–sunset on Tuesday, Saturday and full-moon day. Gate controls prevail.
No temple darshan booking; reserve/gate process may apply
Use the exact same-temple map button on this page; coordinates also drive the daily sacred timings.
Recorded tradition is clearly attributed. Facts not supported by a current primary or temple-specific source are labeled as tradition or not publicly documented.
Contact Sariska control room before a long journey and never plan an overnight stay at the shrine.
Reference Notes
- Rajasthan Devasthan profile: Open source
- Ministry of Tourism guide: Open source
- Official Sariska Tiger Conservation Plan: Open source
- Supreme Court order of 11 December 2024: Open source
- Supreme Court office report naming the trust: Open source
- Rajasthan Forest control-room list: Open source