About this temple
Hanuman Setu Mandir is Lucknow’s Sankat Mochan Hanuman shrine associated with Neem Karoli Baba, also called Neeb Karori Maharaj. The temple’s distinctive devotional practice includes letters written to Hanuman, alongside worship and prasad distribution.
History
The Neem Karoli Baba ashram’s institutional account records inauguration on 26 January 1967. Its description lists two Hanuman murtis, two Neem Karoli Baba murtis and two Shiva lingas. The temple is a twentieth-century foundation, separate from the much older Aliganj Hanuman traditions.
Legends & Religious Traditions
Devotees write letters expressing difficulties, prayers and gratitude to Hanuman. The practice is associated in local accounts with Baba’s assurance that sincere prayers could be offered in this way. Such letters express faith and a personal relationship with the deity; they are not a guarantee of a particular worldly result.
Architecture / Physical Features
The ashram account describes wall murals of Rama and Sita and of Rama, Lakshmana and Hanuman’s army building the bridge to Lanka. These visual narratives connect the temple’s devotional life with the Ramayana.
Rituals, Worship and Seva
Hanuman worship, written petitions and distribution of prasad are central practices. Bring any written prayer respectfully and follow the priests’ directions for offering it. Do not assume permission to read or photograph another devotee’s private letter.
Festivals and Religious Significance
The ashram observes a Mahasamadhi bhandara in the annual Neem Karoli Baba remembrance cycle. Bada Mangal also belongs to Lucknow’s wider Hanuman devotional calendar; confirm specific events with this temple.
How to Reach
Ask for Hanuman Setu Mandir on University Road, near Lucknow University and the Gomti crossing. City transport provides access to this central area; expect a pedestrian final approach on major worship days.
Nearby Religious Places
Hanumant Dham is another Gomti-side shrine but a separate institution. Purana and Naya Hanuman Mandirs are in Aliganj and require their own stops.
Suggested Visit Duration
Allow 45–60 minutes for darshan and quiet prayer outside major gatherings. This is a planning estimate.
Contradictory Accounts and Variations
The older TourOfTemples page places construction in the 1970s. The Neem Karoli Baba institutional history gives inauguration on 26 January 1967, which this profile follows. Neem Karoli Baba Mandir and Hanuman Setu refer here to the same complex and are indexed together.
Verification Notes and Uncertainties
The bridge-related miracle stories are not used as engineering history. The verified 1967 inauguration is kept separate from devotional accounts.