Today, Hanuman Garhi Temple in Nainital is known for its peaceful surroundings, towering Hanuman idol and sweeping views of the valley. But local accounts describe a very different past. Before the temple complex took shape, the hill was associated with a children’s burial ground, and stories of children’s voices added to the fear surrounding the place. Then, in 1950, Neem Karoli Baba arrived at the hill. What followed became part of the temple’s local story, from a community feast and the construction of a small shrine to the installation of the famous Hanuman idol. The site later developed into a much larger religious complex.
