An unusual incident in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, has grabbed attention after a 170-year-old Hanuman idol remains firmly in place despite repeated attempts to shift it for road-widening work.
The standing Hanuman idol at the historic Khade Hanuman temple is scheduled to be relocated as authorities are going to widen the road between Kanthal Square and Chhatri Chowk for the pilgrimage of pilgrims.
This is a part of preparations for Simhastha 2028 when Ujjain will see a large number of pilgrims.
One report stated that officials tried to move the idol using cranes, JCB machines and other equipment but the idol remained in its original position.
After a series of attempts, the authorities stopped using heavy machinery because more force might destroy the revered structure.
The temple structure around the idol has already been dismantled as part of the road project but the idol stands at the site. A temporary canopy has been put over it to protect it while officials decide on the next step.
The unusual development has generated much discussion among devotees and on social media. Some people said it was a divine sign, while others suggested there is a scientific reason behind the idol’s difficulty to move, and officials and experts are looking for an explanation for why this was so difficult to move.
MIRACLE 🚨 Machines stopped and the cranes could not move it, but the 170-year-old Hanuman idol in Ujjain remained firmly in place.
— News Algebra (@NewsAlgebraIND) September 10, 2026
Attempts to shift the sacred idol for road widening did not succeed.
Now, the site has been handed over to IIT for scanning and further study.…
Authorities have now turned to experts for help in examining the idol and the ground beneath it. Specialists are currently carrying out scanning and ground investigations with a view to seeing how deep the structure is and what could be the structural reason for the stability of the idol.
The investigation could help determine whether the idol can be relocated without any structural or historical damage.
They had even considered moving it to another location near Tanki Chowk, but the failed attempts have made further scrutiny necessary.
The age of the site is also something that has aroused interest in the incident. Although the temple is estimated to be around 170 years old in the literature, there are also claims of a historical connection to the area, and such statements must be verified through archaeological evidence.
For now, the Khade Hanuman idol remains at its original location. Whether its immovability is explained by the structure beneath it, its foundation or another engineering factor will become clearer after the expert examination.
The incident has created an unusual intersection of faith, heritage and modern engineering as authorities balance the development of Ujjain’s infrastructure with the need to guard an important religious icon.
