Sarangpur Hanuman Temple (Kashtabhanjan Dev): Timings, History, Location and Darshan Guide

The Sarangpur or Salangpur, Hanuman temple is one of the most powerful and visited Hanuman shrines among Gujarat's temples. This guide, from the team behind Somnath Dwarka Tour Package, a unit of Experience My India, answers everything a pilgrim needs: what makes it special, its timings and aartis, how long darshan takes, its history and famous miracle, its exact location and district, the nearest railway station, how to reach it and what to see nearby. Every fact is drawn from official and authoritative sources, listed at the end.

What is special about Sarangpur Hanuman Temple?

Its name says it all. Kashtabhanjan means the destroyer of difficulties and the temple is famous across India as a place of healing and relief. What sets it apart:

• A deity who removes troubles: devotees come to be freed of hardship, mental distress, evil spirits and astrological afflictions and the temple is known for its exorcism prayers, the Bhut Badha Nivaran Pooja.

• A powerful idol: Hanuman stands in a commanding posture, traditionally shown subduing Shani and the demoness Panvati beneath his feet, a symbol of crushing all troubles.

• The living idol legend: it is said that when Gopalanand Swami installed the idol, he touched it with a sacred rod and it stirred to life, which became the charter for the temple's healing tradition.

• The 54-foot statue: a giant metal Hanuman statue unveiled in 2023 now towers over the complex, visible from several kilometres away.

Sarangpur Hanuman Temple timings

The temple is open daily in two sessions, with a midday rest and a night close. Darshan pauses briefly during the Rajbhog Thal offering:

The main aartis and rituals through the day are:

Timings can shift slightly on festival days, so confirm before a special visit.

How much time does darshan take at Sarangpur Hanuman Temple?

On a normal weekday, darshan usually takes about 30 to 60 minutes, including the walk through the complex. On Saturdays, which are the most auspicious day for Hanuman and on festival days like Kali Chaudas, crowds are very large and the wait can stretch to two or three hours or more. If you want a calm, quick darshan, visit early on a weekday morning right after the 5:30 AM opening.

Sarangpur Hanuman Temple history

The temple's history is more than 175 years old and rooted in the Swaminarayan tradition:

• Founding: the idol of Kashtabhanjan Dev Hanuman was installed by Sadguru Gopalanand Swami, a senior disciple of Bhagwan Swaminarayan, in 1848, in Vikram Samvat 1905. Many websites wrongly give the year as 1905 AD; the correct date is 1848 CE.

• The miracle: tradition holds that Gopalanand Swami touched the newly installed idol with a sacred rod and it moved and came alive, marking it as a jagrut or awakened, deity.

• Later renovation: the shrine was expanded and renovated around the turn of the twentieth century and it is administered under the Vadtal Gadi of the Swaminarayan Sampraday.

• Modern era: the complex has grown steadily, culminating in the 54-foot statue of 2023 and large new pilgrim facilities.

Where is Sarangpur Hanuman Temple and in which district?

The temple is in the village of Salangpur, also spelt Sarangpur, in the Barwala taluka of Botad district, in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat. Its PIN code is 382450 and it sits on the Barwala Botad Highway. Key distances:

Which is the nearest railway station for Sarangpur Hanuman Temple?

The nearest railway station is Botad Junction, about 10 to 11 km from the temple. Botad Junction connects to several Gujarat cities and from there you can take a taxi, auto or local bus to Salangpur in around 20 to 30 minutes. Bhavnagar is the next major railhead for travellers coming from the east. There is no large station in Salangpur village itself, so Botad Junction is the practical arrival point by train.

How do you reach Sarangpur Hanuman Temple?

Salangpur is well connected by road and easy to reach from across Gujarat:

• By road: it lies on the Barwala Botad Highway, about 153 km from Ahmedabad, 82 km from Bhavnagar and 105 km from Rajkot, with regular buses and taxis from all three; a Somnath Dwarka taxi service is easiest if you are combining it with other temples.

• By train: Botad Junction, about 10 to 11 km away, is the nearest railway station, then a short road transfer.

• By air: Bhavnagar Airport, about 84 km away, is the nearest, while Ahmedabad Airport, about 150 km away, has far more flights.

The 54-foot Hanuman statue at Salangpur

The complex's newest landmark is a towering metal statue of Lord Hanuman, unveiled on 6 April 2023. It stands 54 feet tall, weighs about 30,000 kg, is visible from around 7 km away and was crafted at a cost of about ₹11 crore. It has quickly become the temple's most photographed spot and a striking sight as you approach Salangpur.

Facilities at Sarangpur Hanuman Temple

The temple is well set up for pilgrims, including those staying overnight:

• Bhojnalaya: a dining hall serving free vegetarian prasad meals to visitors.

• Yatri Niwas and Dharamshala: guest rooms and pilgrim accommodation, with room booking available, including large new pilgrim housing; on a wider trip we can also arrange Somnath Dwarka hotels for a comfortable stay.

• Gaushala: a cow shelter near the temple where devotees can donate or feed the cows.

• Clean, spacious complex: built in traditional marble and stone, with the idol adorned in orange sindoor and silver ornaments.

What to see near Sarangpur Hanuman Temple?

Salangpur makes a good base for a wider Saurashtra trip. Worth adding nearby:

• The 54-foot Hanuman statue: right at the complex, the obvious first stop.

• Botad town: about 11 km away, the district headquarters, useful for stays and food.

• Velavadar Blackbuck National Park: a grassland reserve famous for blackbuck and wolves, a drive away in the wider region.

• Bhavnagar: about 82 km, with the Takhteshwar temple, palaces and the Victoria Park.

• Palitana and Shatrunjaya: the great Jain temple hill, a longer drive south for those with more time.

• Vadtal: the main Swaminarayan temple of the same Vadtal Gadi, a meaningful add-on for devotees.

With a few more days, many pilgrims continue west to the great coastal shrines of Somnath and Dwarka. It is worth reading the Somnath temple history before you go, planning your stops with these sightseeing places in Somnath, exploring Krishna's city with our Dwarka city guide and adding the Nageshwar Jyotirlinga near Dwarka, turning Salangpur into the start of a fuller Gujarat pilgrimage that Experience My India can arrange end to end.

Tips for visiting Sarangpur Hanuman Temple

A few simple pointers make the visit smoother:

• Visit early on a weekday morning for the shortest queues; Saturdays and Kali Chaudas are extremely busy.

• Dress modestly, as befits a major temple.

• Plan around the midday closure from 12:00 PM to 3:30 PM so you do not arrive to a closed shrine.

• Free prasad meals and pilgrim rooms are available if you wish to stay for a full day of darshan.

Sarangpur Hanuman Temple at a glance

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