Anjaneri (Nashik — Hanuman Janmasthan)
Anjaneri is a hill and fort in the Trimbakeshwar hill range of Nashik district — about 20 kilometres from Nashik city (via Trimbak Road) and about 6-11 kilometres from Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga, at an elevation of roughly 4,200-4,264 feet. By tradition, the hill takes its name from Anjani, Hanuman's mother, and a cave here is believed to be where she gave birth to him — the hilltop temple's child-form Hanuman idol is considered unusual among Hanuman temples. Anjaneri is also known for ancient Jain cave-temples, for being a conservation reserve with one of Maharashtra's largest vulture-nesting colonies and a rare endemic plant, and as a popular trekking spot.
This year's dates (2026)
Deity and significance
The presiding deity is Shri Hanuman (Maruti) — the hilltop temple worships him in his child form, unusual compared to most other Hanuman temples. Alongside it stands the Anjani Mata temple, dedicated to Hanuman's mother, from whom the hill is believed to take its name, Anjaneri.
Anjaneri matters for three genuinely distinct reasons at once — as a site of faith (the Hanuman-birthplace tradition), as an archaeological site (its ancient Jain temples and caves), and as a nature-conservation area (vulture nesting and rare flora). All three draw different kinds of visitors — pilgrims, heritage enthusiasts, and trekkers — so the hill's importance doesn't rest on the faith-claim alone.
History and legend
Anjaneri was first recorded by John Wilson in 1851; Henry Cousens documented it in detail in 1931, and A.V. Naik's 1947 doctoral thesis, "Archaeology of the Deccan," also covers it. Some accounts say the area was once under a local Abhira ruler named Veersen, that Peshwa Raghunathrao spent a summer retreat here during his exile in the 18th century, and that Christian missionaries visited in summer during the British era — but none of these three historical details has a second independent source confirming it, so they are best read as "reportedly," not established fact.
The hill hosts a Pancha-Digambar Jain temple group — three temples and three monasteries, six structures in all. The main temple carries an inscription dated Shaka 1063 (1142 CE), recording a grant of shops by the Yadava king Seunachandra III, and is dedicated to the Tirthankara Chandraprabha. Another structure was originally a Jain Tirthankara shrine, later repurposed as a Hindu temple — it is now used for worship of Shri Chakradhar Swami, founder of the Mahanubhav Panth, who lived in the 13th century. A conservation proposal by the ASI (Aurangabad circle) some years ago described these structures as "9th-10th century," which appears to conflict with the main temple's precisely dated 1142 CE inscription — most likely because different structures within the same complex belong to different periods, rather than one date being wrong. It is safer to describe this as "roughly 9th to 12th century" rather than a single hard date; the current (2026) status of that conservation proposal has not been independently confirmed.
Archaeological documentation (Cousens, plus the ASI's own 1982-83 survey) records two rock-cut Jain caves on the hill, along with some unfinished or undocumented excavations. Popular belief, however, often cites a figure of "108 Jain caves" — this is most likely a devotional round number (108 being considered auspicious) rather than a literal count. The village as a whole is said to have around sixteen temples or shrine-mounds by Cousens-era documentation, though sources differ on exactly how many are Hindu versus Jain, so that split is not stated here as a hard figure.
At least three distinct versions of Hanuman's birth-story are told here. In one, the sage Agastya grants Anjana and her friend Adrika each a son of great radiance — Anjana is drawn to the wind-god Vayu and gives birth to Hanuman. In another, Anjani undertakes a long penance for a child — the general pattern of this version is covered in more depth on the Hanuman Jayanti page. A third version ties directly to a sthala-purana account in Chapter 84 of the Brahma Purana. These three versions are genuinely different from one another and are presented here separately — "in some versions… while in others…" — rather than blended into one telling.
The Hanuman-birthplace dispute: Anjaneri is one of at least six places in India where Hanuman's birth is popularly claimed. Besides Anjaneri (Nashik) in Maharashtra, similar claims exist for Hampi/Kishkindha and Gokarna in Karnataka, the Anjanadri hill near Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh, Anjangaon in Gumla district, Jharkhand, the Dang district of Gujarat, and Kaithal in Haryana. Nashik's case is often made by priests of the Kalaram temple, who point to Sage Agastya's ashram tradition placing Anjani in this area, and to giant footprint-shaped impressions at the hill's base and summit, offered as supporting evidence. Even the birth month is disputed — Chaitra in north India and Maharashtra, Kartik in south India — though there is broad agreement on the sunrise birth time. Given how old and unresolved this dispute is, the fair description is that Anjaneri is "believed by tradition/local faith" to be Hanuman's birthplace, without endorsing or dismissing any single location's claim.
Architecture and layout
The Pancha-Digambar Jain temple group — three temples and three monasteries — stands on the hill; its main temple, dedicated to the Tirthankara Chandraprabha, faces south and has an elaborately carved entrance. On the Balekilla (upper fort) stands another, larger Anjani temple. The Anjani Mata temple itself is built in Hemadpanti style, known for its lattice-carved stonework and its child-form Hanuman idol.
Hanuman Kund is a footprint-shaped sacred pool — tradition holds it marks the impression of Hanuman's left foot. The cave at the summit is believed to be where Anjani gave birth to Hanuman; a second cave along the path is said to be where the infant Hanuman was cared for, and some accounts mention old inscriptions there, though their exact age is unconfirmed.
Main festivals and pilgrimage
| Festival | Tithi | 2026 date | In short | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hanuman Janmotsav (Anjaneri) | Chaitra Shukla Purnima | 2 April (Thursday) | Thousands of devotees gather; 5 AM aarti and kirtan, all-night kirtan, mahaprasad distribution | 2 April day page |
| Akhand Harinam Saptaha begins | Ram Navami | 26 March (reference) | A week-long continuous kirtan is said to begin from Ram Navami through to the Janmotsav, per one report (single-source) | 26 March day page |
This date is the same as the general Hanuman Jayanti tithi, and a large Janmotsav takes place at Anjaneri itself on this day. Confirm the exact programme and schedule with local organisers. Planning ahead for parking and crowds is worthwhile on this day.
Darshan and aarti timings
No official temple trust or devasthan website could be found or confirmed for Anjaneri, unlike Jejuri or Trimbakeshwar, so there is no reliable source for regular darshan or aarti timings. The only specific detail found (single-source) is a 5 AM aarti on Hanuman Janmotsav day. Being a hill, darshan is generally possible during daytime trekking hours — that is the only general information available at present. It's best to confirm exact timings with the local management committee or gram panchayat before visiting.
According to a dedicated field report, an eleven-foot statue stands at the foot of the hill for devotees unable to make the climb. Some other sources mention a 108-foot statue on the hill itself, but this most likely conflates with a separate, under-construction statue project at the Anjanadri hill near Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh — a different hill entirely. Only the eleven-foot base statue, from that single report, is used here.
Rituals here
The Janmotsav features continuous kirtan, mahaprasad distribution, fund collection, and shelter/water arrangements for devotees. General Hanuman-worship practices such as offering sindoor and oil, or reciting the Hanuman Chalisa, are followed here too — these are already covered in depth on the Hanuman Jayanti page. Devotees who keep a regular weekly Hanuman practice can also read about Mangalvar Hanuman Vrat, a separate year-round observance.
How to reach
Anjaneri is about 20 kilometres from Nashik city via Trimbak Road, roughly a 30-minute drive, and about 6-11 kilometres from Trimbakeshwar (sources vary slightly). The road to Anjaneri village is good; from there a road continues to the base of the plateau, and the climb from there is on foot via steps or a trek trail. The nearest railway station is Nashik Road (about 20 kilometres), connected to Mumbai, Pune, and Nagpur. The nearest airport is Nashik's Ozar airport (about 25 kilometres).
Nearby places
- Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga — one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, about 6-11 kilometres away.
- Brahmagiri hill — source of the Godavari river; a ropeway connecting it to Anjaneri is currently only at the proposed stage, not yet built.
- Nashik city (Panchavati, Ramkund, Kalaram temple) — priests of the Kalaram temple are themselves prominent advocates of Anjaneri's birthplace claim.
- Anjaneri Conservation Reserve — a separate trip is possible for vulture-nesting and rare-flora sightings.
Traveller tips
Sources vary widely on trek duration — some say two to three hours, others five to six, depending on route and pace — so plan with a flexible window rather than one fixed figure. Winter (October-March) is considered the best season for weather; the monsoon is popular for greenery and waterfalls, but steps and rocks get slippery then, so extra care is needed.
The Anjaneri plateau is a conservation reserve — home to the rare endemic plant Ceropegia anjanerica and a large vulture-nesting colony — so avoid leaving plastic or litter, and avoid noise or disturbance near nesting areas. The proposed new road and ropeway to the plateau face opposition from environmental groups and remain at the proposal stage only; use the existing road and steps for now.
Good to know
Thousands of devotees gather at Anjaneri for Hanuman Janmotsav, so plan for parking and timing well in advance on that day. Since no official temple trust or devasthan website exists for this site, it's especially worth phoning the local management committee or gram panchayat to confirm current darshan timings and facilities before visiting — more so here than at most other temple destinations.
FAQ
- Why is Anjaneri believed to be Hanuman's birthplace?
- By local and traditional belief, Mata Anjani gave birth to Hanuman in a cave on this hill. However, at least five other places in India make the same claim — it's an old, unresolved dispute.
- How far is Anjaneri from Nashik?
- About 20 kilometres, via Trimbak Road.
- How far is Anjaneri from Trimbakeshwar?
- About 6-11 kilometres (sources vary slightly).
- What is Anjaneri's elevation?
- Roughly 4,200 to 4,264 feet (about 1,300 metres).
- Are there Jain caves or temples at Anjaneri?
- Yes — a Pancha-Digambar Jain temple group from roughly the 9th to 12th century (the main temple's inscription is dated 1142 CE), plus two rock-cut Jain caves per archaeological documentation. The popular figure of "108" is considered a devotional number, not a literal cave count.
- How long does the Anjaneri trek take?
- Roughly two to six hours, depending on route and pace — there's no single fixed figure.
- When is Hanuman Janmotsav celebrated at Anjaneri?
- On Chaitra Shukla Purnima — 2 April, Thursday, in 2026. This is the same tithi as the general Hanuman Jayanti, and thousands of devotees gather.
- Is there a dispute over Hanuman's birthplace — what other places in India claim it?
- Yes; besides Anjaneri in Maharashtra, similar claims are made for Hampi/Kishkindha and Gokarna in Karnataka, Tirupati/Anjanadri in Andhra Pradesh, and locations in Jharkhand, Gujarat, and Haryana.
- How do I reach Anjaneri?
- By road from Nashik Road railway station (about 20 kilometres) or Nashik's Ozar airport (about 25 kilometres), via the Nashik-Trimbak road.
- What is the Anjaneri Conservation Reserve?
- A wildlife conservation reserve declared in 2017 — known for having Maharashtra's largest vulture-nesting site and the rare endemic plant Ceropegia anjanerica.