| Sightseeing Highlights:
Mandi has around 300 temples, with 81 stone temples known for their intricate carvings. Most of these temples are built for Shiva and Kali. Some of the temples to visit are Panchvaktra Temple, Ardhnareshwar Temple and Triloknath Temple, all declared as protected monuments by the Archaeological Survey of India. Also visit the anceint Bhootnath Temple, dating back to the 1520s.
The famous Gurudwara Gobind Singh, named after the great Guru who is said to have blessed the town, draws thousands of pilgrims each year. The Sunken Garden, also known as the Ghantaghar is another place you can explore.
Excursions:
Head for the Rewalsar Lake, 25 kms away, and known for its floating reed islands. Also located at Rewalsar is a Buddhist Monastery, three shrines, a gurudwara and a temple.
Visit the temple styled like a pagoda and three storeys high at Prashar, 40kms from Mandi.
Sunder Nagar is a beautiful valley located at a height of 1,174 mts (26 kms from Mandi) and is known for its temples, especially Sukhdev Vatika and Mahamaya.
Activities:
Mandi has some beautiful treks, one of them being the trek through Barot to Kullu Valley through dense pine forests. For some adventurous hiking, head to Janjheli, 67kms away.
Angling is another activity you can enjoy at the trout breeding center in Barot.
Mandi is famous for its silver jewelry and stone carvings, that can be purchased at reasonable rates from the state government owned shop.
Also if you are lucky to visit Mandi in the month of March, you could see the famous Shivratri festival, held for 7 days.
Tourism Info:
H.P. Tourism Development Corporation Ltd
Ritz Annexe, Shimla
Himachal Pradesh - 171 001
Tel: 0177- 2652704
Originally called Mandav Nagar named after a Great Sage Mandav, Mandi is a city and a district in Himachal Pradesh. Located on the riverbanks of Beas,
it's an important commercial center and known for the many old temples.
Infact it has been called the 'Varanasi of Hills'. Mandi is also the
gateway to many important tourism destinations in Himachal Pradesh, the most important being Kullu-Manali. |