Top Tourist Attractions in Mandi
Mandi is a significant town and municipal municipality in the Mandi District of Himachal Pradesh, India. It is located 145 kilometres north of Shimla, the state capital, in the northwestern Himalayas, at an average elevation of 764 metres, and has nice summers and chilly winters.
Best Places to Visit in Mandi
- Ghanta Ghar
- Victoria Bridge
- Gurudwara
- Photo Art Gallery
- Aadi Purkha Temple, Tihri – Uttarsal Mandi
- Devidarh
- KAMRUNAG LAKE
- Barot
- Rewalsar
- Prashar
- Janjehli – Shikari Devi Temple
Mandi is also known as “Chotti Kashi” because of its resemblance to Varanasi in terms of Ghats on the bank of the Beas River and Lord Shiva shrines near the Ghats. Because of its rich culture, traditions, and temple architectural heritage, the region is sometimes referred to as Himachal Pradesh’s cultural capital. Mandi was a cultural exchange centre in ancient times, as well as a business centre on the historic silk route to Tibet. Mandi, Baba Bhoot Nath’s home, was known as Mandavya Nagari because Mandav Rishi mediated on a rock known as Kolsara in the Beas river. Every year in February/March, the world-famous International Shivratri Fair is held.
During the fair, dieties from all over the District descend on this village. The people of Mandi are noted for their vibrancy and distinct way of life, which is rooted in faith and culture. Many temples can be found in Mandi Town, including the Triloki Nath Temple at Purani Mandi, the Raja Madhav Temple in the DC Office Complex, the Bhoot Nath Temple at the famous Chouhata Bazar, the TarnaShayamkali Temple on Tarna Hills overlooking Mandi Town, the Panchvaktra Mahadev Temple at the Suketi and Beas River confluence, the Ardhanareshwar Temple at Samkhe Aside from it, several more temples of archaeological and religious significance can be visited. Other notable attractions in the town are the historical Ghantaghar, Indira Market, Victoria Bridge, and Gurudwara. It serves as a base camp for visiting tourist attractions such as Prashar, Barot, Joginder Nagar, Kamlah Fort, Shikari Devi, and Kamrunag.
Ghanta Ghar
In 1939, the historic bell house was built in the heart of the city. The three-story pagoda-style architectural legacy is placed in the core of the Indira Bazar shopping complex. Many bells chime on the first floor. A tiny park called Subhash Garden has been constructed around the Gharat residence and the famed temple of Goddess Siddhi Kali.
Victoria Bridge
Victoria Birdge is the town’s first bridge, connecting Purani Mandi and Mandi town. It was built in 1877 by the King of Mandi, Raja Vijayi Singh Sen, with the assistance of Britishers. This bridge was built in the style of England’s Hanging Victoria Bridge on the Tames River. This bridge was built in the style of the Jhulla bridge and is currently in use for small vehicles.
Gurudwara
In Mandi, there is a Gurudwara in front of the Paddal ground with NH-21, which is a significant religious site. Guru Nanak Dev Ji visited Mandi, while Guru Gobind Singh Ji stayed at Geely for over six months. Raja Ajabar Sen started building the Mandi gurdwara in 1527 AD, and it was later rebuilt by King Jogindra Sen, Rani Amrit Kaur, and Dinsha Nath, the Chief Secretary of the Mandi State. Guru Gobind Singh Ji had given the king of Mandi several gifts, which he then donated to the gurudwara. The gurudwara still houses Guru Gobind Singh Sahib’s sacred bed, holy ram, sacred gun, holy gun kapi, and holy flute. At the Beas river, there is also a rock known as the Kolasara, on which Guru Gobind Singh used to meditate daily during his stay in the Saheb Mandi.
Photo Art Gallery
A picture art gallery sits around 5 kilometres from Mandi town on NH-21 towards Kullu, and tourists visiting the area can stop in for a few minutes to get a peek of Himachal’s history and notable places through the photographs and artefacts displayed in the art gallery.
Sundernagar
Sundernagar is in the Mandi District. The Beas-Sutlej Project’s waters have created a man-made lake. Other nearby sites include the Mahamaya and Sukhdev Vatika temples. Sundernagar’s picturesque town is noted for its pleasant stroll among towering trees. The town is well-known for its temples, the most important of which is the Mahamaya Temple. Sundernagar, located at an elevation of 1,174 metres, is known for its shady walks among towering trees. Sukhdev Vatika is a lovely garden in this area. It is also home to Asia’s largest hydro-electric project, the Beas-Stulej hydro-electric project, which irrigates approximately one-fourth of India’s northern plains and has brought Sudernagar extraordinary riches. The Beas-Sutlej link colony is Himachal Pradesh’s largest colony.
Aadi Purkha Temple, Tihri – Uttarsal Mandi
Another temple devoted to Lord Brahma in Himachal Pradesh is the Aadi Purkha Temple in Uttarsal Mandi. The temple is located in Tihri Village, across the street from Parashar Hill, in the northwestern direction. The rest cottages at the top of Parashar Hill are readily visible from TihriVillage on a bright sunny day. Both the Tihri and Khokhan Villages were previously part of KulluRiyasat, and the residents of both villages worshipped the Khokhan Brahma. However, a territorial dispute arose between Mandi and Kullu, resulting in their split. The Tihri people decided to build their own Aadi Brahma Temple, which they called Aadi Purkha Temple. The new temple shares not just its name but also its architectural style with the Khokhan Temple.
Devidarh
The area is endowed with stunning natural beauty, including beautiful green fields, meadows, and a dense deodar forest. The last village in the Jiuni valley, it is located at an elevation of 7800 feet. Mata Mundsan Temple is located here. Devidarh is on the Janjhali-Shikri Devi-Devidarh-Kamrunag trek route. Tourists can stay at Devidarh’s forest rest house.
KAMRUNAG LAKE
KAMRUNAG Kamrunag, located at a height of 3,334 metres, is well-known for its lake and temple. The scenic charm of the area where the lake and pent roof temple of Dev Kamrunag are surrounded by thick deodar trees is enhanced by views of the Dhauladhar Range and Balh Valley. According to legend, Kamrunag is Mahabharta’s King Yaksha and was adored by the Pandavas. Devotees have a practise of throwing gold, silver, and currencies into the lake in exchange for Dev Kamrunag fulfilling their wishes. It is impossible to estimate the amount of gold, silver, and other metal coins that lie at the bottom of the lake. For nature enthusiasts, a trip to Kamrunag is a trip to heaven. The on-foot journey from Rohanda to Kamrunag takes 3 to 4 hours on a difficult mountain path of roughly 6 kilometres.
Barot
Barot, located at an elevation of 1835 metres, is a lovely spot on the banks of the Uhl River. It is well-known for its Trout Fish Farm. It is managed by the Fisheries Department, and an annual Angling Meet is held there. The reservoir of the British-built Shanan power facility is located here, adding to the scenic charm of Barot. Barot is also the gateway to the Nargu Wildlife Sanctuary, which covers an area of 278 square kilometres. Monal, Wild Cats, Monkeys, and the Black Bear call it home. Brot is also the starting point for treks to the Kullu and Kangra Valleys. This region is also well-known for its vegetable and pulse cultivation. It has gorgeous scenery all around that draws people in. Every year, thousands of tourists visit this location.
Rewalsar
Rewalsar is a sacred site for Hindus, Sikhs, and Buddhists alike. Rewalsar’s natural lake is well-known for its floating reed islands and fish. Along the lake’s rim, Hindu, Buddhist, and Sikh shrines can be found. According to legend, the great teacher and scholar Padmasambhava used his vast skills to fly to Tibet from Rewalsar. The spirit of Padamasabhava is said to be embodied in tiny floating reed islands in Rewalser Lake. Rewalsar also has an outstanding statue of Padamsambhava. Sage Lomas is said to have undertaken his penance here to satisfy Lord Shiva. The Gurudwara Shri Rewalsar Sahib is linked to the tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh ji, who urged Pahari Rajas to band together in his fight against the Mughals. On Baisakhi, people of all faiths flock to Rewalsar for a Holy bath. Rewalsar is home to three Buddhist monasteries.
It features a Gurudwara established by Raja Joginder Sen of Mandi in 1930. Along the lake, there are Hindu temples devoted to Lord Krishna, Lord Shiva, and guru Lomas. Temple of Naina Devi Ji: A shrine dedicated to Naina Mata can be found on a hilltop 10 kilometres from Rewalsar. It is said that Sati’s eye fell on the site, and a shrine to Naina Devi was built on this hallowed site. Throughout the year, devotees from all across the state flock to the temple. The location is surrounded by pine trees and offers a panoramic view of the Balh and Sarkaghat Valleys. People also enjoy trekking to this location from Rewalsar. On our way to the Naina Devi temple, we pass by KuntBhayo, which is named after Kunti, the Pandavas’ mother.
Arjun is claimed to have built the lake to relieve his mother’s thirst. In this area, there are six other legendary lakes known as “Sar.” During the rainy season, the majority of the water in these lakes is collected.
Prashar
Prashar, located at an elevation of 2730 metres, is notable for its Prashar lake, sloppy meadows, deep woodland, and a panoramic view of the Dhauladhar hills. The “Prashar Lake,” which has a radius of roughly 300 metres, is adorned with a floating island. Its crystal pure water adds to the allure of this picturesque location. Traditionally, the lake is thought to have originated as a result of Rishi Prashar striking a rod (Gurj), causing water to spill out and take the shape of the lake. Along the lake is an ancient Pagoda-style temple dedicated to Rishi Prashar, the patron God of the Mandi region.
The temple was built by King Ban Sen in the 13-14th century, with the Rishi present in the guise of a Pindi (stone). It is also believed that the entire temple was made from a single deodar tree and that it took 12 years to finish. A walk around the lake provides a wonderful impression of the tranquillity of the surroundings. A visit to Parashar is an ideal combination of spiritual exploration and exploration of the tranquil and majestic Himalayan mountains. There are several camping areas nearby, and it serves as the starting point for a number of easy and difficult excursions. People from Mandi and other neighbouring districts come to worship Prashar Rishi, believing that the Rishi’s blessings will grant their wishes.
The “Saranauhali” fair is held in June and is attended by a huge number of locals from Mandi and Kullu Districts. A forest rest house, an HPPWD rest house, and a temple committee Sarain are all available for overnight stays.
Janjehli – Shikari Devi Temple
Shikari Devi temple is around 18 kilometres from Janjehli and is accessible by a jeepable forest road. It is 3359 metres above sea level. The thick woodlands on the climb to Shikari mountain are breathtaking. Because it is the highest point in Mandi District, it is also known as the Crown of Mandi. This location is a popular among nature enthusiasts due to its vast green pastures, breathtaking sunrise and sunset views, and panoramic view of snow peaks. During the winter, the area receives a lot of snow. The location may be reached from Karsog, which is only 21 kilometres from Shikari Devi. On Shikari peak, there is a roofless temple dedicated to Shikari Devi, the Goddess of Hunters, which is supposed to have been built (Sathapit) by Pandavas.
It is reported that the sage Markanday meditated here for many years. Despite the fact that the temple has no roof, no snow has been seen in the temple grounds during winters when the entire region around this temple is covered in snow up to several feet deep. Visitors can trek from Shikari to Chindi, Karsog, and Janjehli using various trek routes. Adventurists can explore Kamrunag by hiking the large spread meadows on this hill top path with magnificent panoramic beauty and perfect peacefulness for a day.
Best Time to Visit Mandi
The best months to visit Mandi are October to November, followed by March to May, when the temperature is mild.
How to Reach Mandi
Mandi
Mandi is one of Himachal Pradesh’s main cities and is well linked to all of the state’s major cities, as well as Punjab and Delhi.
Rail
The nearest railway stations are in Punjab’s Kiratpur Sahib. Outside the train station, taxis to Mandi are readily accessible. You may also take a wide gauge railway to Chandigarh or Kalka, which are both connected by regular bus and taxi services.
Road
Shimla, Chandigarh, Pathankot, and Delhi are all accessible by road from Mandi. It is connected to nearby towns like as Manali, Palampur, and Dharamshala by regular bus services.
Air
The Kullu Airport in Bhuntar is the closest airport to Mandi, located around 60 kilometres away. Flights from Delhi to Kullu take around 90 minutes.
From Delhi
Buses depart regularly from ISBT (Interstate bus terminus at Kashmiri Gate) for Manali or Mandi. There are also governmental buses and private buses that run to Mandi.
From Chandigarh
Because buses from Delhi travel through Chandigarh, the frequency of buses from Chandigarh is excellent. Chandigarh is also the starting point for many government and private buses. At Sector 43 Bus Stop, TATA AC and Volvo buses are available. Traveling a taxi from Chandigarh to Mandi is another convenient option. Chandigarh and Mandi are 200 kilometres apart. By bus, this journey may be reached in around 5 hours. It might take up to 4 hours to get there by taxi.