The Village Upset with Hanuman: Dronagiri’s Unique Ramayana Legend
Dronagiri village Hanuman story : A Unique Story of Dronagiri Village, Nestled in Nature’s Enchanting World.
Dronagiri village Hanuman story : Dehradun, 1 august 2025 : The village of Dronagiri is upset with Lord Hanuman. Eras have changed, from Treta to Dwapar, and now Kali Yuga, but the resentment continues unabated. Why? We’ll get to that, but first, let’s set the scene.
Dronagiri is nestled in the enchanting embrace of nature within the Niti Valley, located in the Chamoli district on the China border. On one side stand the gleaming peaks of the Himalayas, while on the other, a vast expanse of greenery creates a unique sense of enchantment. The majestic Dronagiri mountain towering over the village is not just a hill; it is their revered deity. This means the protection of nature is a cherished inheritance, one that has been woven into their very DNA for centuries.
Reaching Dronagiri village, situated at an altitude of 12,000 feet, is no easy task. After a 256 km journey from Rishikesh to Joshimath, you must travel another 50 km to reach Jumma. From Jumma, a six-and-a-half-kilometer unpaved road gives way to a four-kilometer steep climb, and voilà, you are welcomed into Dronagiri village. Diwan Singh Rawat, the priest of the mountain deity and a village resident, shares that there were once 125 families here, but now only 55 to 60 remain. However, those who have moved to other cities still visit the village regularly.
So, why is the village so angry with Hanuman? When asked, Diwan Singh’s son, Uday Singh Rawat, explains that during the battle in the Ramayana era, Lakshman was gravely injured by Meghnad’s attack. To save his life, Sushain Vaidya (the physician) advised that he needed the Sanjeevani herb. To get this herb, Hanuman went to the Dronagiri mountain. The villagers are upset because Hanuman, instead of taking just the Sanjeevani, uprooted a whole part of the Dronagiri mountain and carried it away to Lanka, even though the mountain is their revered deity.
The villagers say that when Hanuman came for the Sanjeevani, an old woman from the village showed him the exact spot where the herb grew and told him how to get there. Despite this, he took a piece of the mountain itself. However, they hold no resentment towards Lord Rama and worship him with great reverence. The Ramlila here is performed for only three days. After the birth of Lord Rama and Sita’s swayamvar, the play skips directly to Rama’s coronation. The part featuring Hanuman is never staged. The villagers believe that performing the complete Ramlila would bring some misfortune. It is also believed that after his victory in Lanka, Lord Rama himself came to Dronagiri to appease the mountain deity. A small hill in the village where his footsteps are said to have been imprinted is worshipped as a pilgrimage site named ‘Ram Patal.’ The surrounding forests are a treasure trove of rare medicinal herbs, including Bhojpatra.
It is widely believed that the mountain named ‘Sri Pada’ on the southern coast of Galle in Sri Lanka is the very piece of the Dronagiri mountain that Hanuman carried away from the Himalayas for the Sanjeevani. This mountain is also known as ‘Adam’s Peak,’ while the Sri Lankans call it ‘Rahumshala Kanda.’ It is located in the Ratnapura district.
