Magnificent Mandi, an important historical, cultural, and religious center COM nestles on the left banks of the river Beas. It was the capital of the erstwhile princely state of Mandi and also a major commercial center. Mandi, also known as Varanasi of Hills’, has 81 exquisitely carved temples. The most important is of Bhutnath, Triolknath (built-in 1520), Panchvaktra, and Shyamakali at Tarna Hill. Mandi is also associated with saint Mandva, who is believed to have meditated here. The town is famous for its unique celebrations of the Shivaratri Festival. The celebrations last for eight days and during this time images of the deities of the nearby temples are brought in a colorful procession to the shrine of Lord Bhutnath (Shiva).
Around Mandi
Rewalsar (25 kms.)
The holy lake with floating islands is equally sacred to Sikhs, Hindus, and Buddhists. A Buddhist monastery, gurudwara, and a temple are built on the banks of the lake. It is believed that sage Padma Sambhava, a Buddhist preacher, went to Tibet from here to preach the doctrine of “the enlightened”. Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru visited Mandi and stayed here.
Parashar Lake (40 kms.)
The serene lake surrounded by mountains is located near Baghi village. The three-storied pagoda like the shrine of sage Prashar is said to be built by Raja Ban Sen of Mandi in the 14th century amidst tranquil surroundings.
Sunder Nagar (26 kms.)
The beautiful town is noted for its scenic beauty and temples of Sukhdev Vatika and Mahyama.
Joginder Nagar (56 kms.)
It is famous for the large hydro-electric project. The reservoir is located at Barot, which can be reached by an electric trolley.
