Hanuman Garhi Fort

Hanuman Garhi, a massive four-sided fort with circular bastions at each corner and a temple of Hanuman inside, is the most popular shrine in Ayodhya. Situated in the centre of the town, it is approachable by a flight of 76 steps. Its legend is that Hanuman lived here in a cave and guarded the Janambhoomi, and Ramkot. The main temple contains the statue of Maa Anjani with Bal Hanuman seated on her lap. 

The idol of Hanuman ji in Hanuman Garhi faces south. According to religious beliefs, by visiting here and offering red robe to Hanuman ji, one gets freedom from all kinds of defects and by the grace of Hanuman ji, one gets prosperity and success in life.

It is a tradition that before going to the Ram temple, one should first visit Lord Hanuman temple.  This temple is under the Bairagi Mahants of Ramanandi sect and Nirmohi Akhara.

When Lord Rama returned to Ayodhya after conquering Ravana, Hanumanji started living here. That is why it was named Hanumangarh or Hanuman Kot. It was from here that Hanumanji used to protect Ramkot. 

It is believed that this temple was first built by Vikramaditya and it is located near Ram Janmabhoomi. Later, the construction of the temple is linked to Sultan Mansur Ali, the administrator of Lucknow and Faizabad.

There is an interesting story behind the construction of Hanuman Garhi. Baba Abhayram had saved the life of Nawab Shujauddaula's prince, and then on repeated request of the Nawab, he asked the Nawab to re-build Hanuman Garhi, which the Nawab happily accepted.

In 1822, Hafizullah, a judicial officer of Faizabad, said that the mosque built by Babar was built on the Ramjanmabhoomi. He also said that this mosque was near Sita Rasoi. Thirty-three years later, a fierce battle took place at Hanuman Garhi. In 1855, the British Resident defeated the Nawab of Awadh. British Resident wrote in a letter that Sunni Maulvi Ghulam Hussain was provoking Muslims by speaking from the mosque to attack Ram Janmabhoomi. The Maulvi claimed that there was a mosque inside Hanuman Garhi and the Muslims should capture it. The Nawab did not pay any attention to the repeated requests of the British Resident to send forces. Initially a small skirmish took place and then after a few days in July within a month, it turned into a bloody conflict. Ghulam Hussain along with a group of Jihadis attacked Hanuman Garhi, to which Hindu recluse sadhus gave a strong response. Seventy Sunni Jihadis including Ghulam Hussain were killed in this attack.

In the month of February 1857, Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah had gone to Faizabad to avenge the death of this Ghulam Hussain. There he was arrested for giving an inflammatory speech in a mosque. In May, even before the revolution, orders were given to hang him. Suddenly when the rebellion broke out, he disguised as the jail doctor and fled. Later he became a revolutionary.