Mani Parvat

Mani Parvat is a small sacred hillock in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, rising about 65 feet above the surrounding plain near the city centre. Revered in Hindu tradition as a fragment of the Sanjeevani mountain dropped by Lord Hanuman, it also contains remains of an ancient Buddhist stupa. The mound offers panoramic views of Ayodhya and is visited for pilgrimage, sightseeing and its archaeological interest alongside nearby Sugriva Parvat.

Visitors can expect a short climb via concrete steps to the top of a 65-foot high artificial mound. The summit is an open flat area offering panoramic views of Ayodhya city. The surroundings are relatively quiet with nearby temples and residential areas. There is no large temple structure on top, but the site is revered and often visited together with adjacent Sugriva Parvat. The visit involves walking and climbing stairs in an exposed outdoor setting.

Mani Parvat is traditionally believed to be a fragment of the Sanjeevani hill dropped by Hanuman while carrying it to Lanka for Lakshmana. Archaeologically, the mound contains remains of a stupa, attributed by some sources to the Mauryan or Kushan period, indicating an ancient Buddhist presence in Ayodhya. The mound is an artificial structure and has been noted by the Archaeological Survey of India.

The hillock holds religious importance for Hindu pilgrims as part of Ayodhya's sacred geography linked to the Ramayana. It is visited as a place of reverence associated with Lord Hanuman and Lord Rama, and is often included in the Ayodhya pilgrimage circuit along with Sugriva Parvat and other nearby shrines.