Built
along the Beas river is the historic town of Mandi,
the gateway to the Kullu valley . Literally meaning
market, Mandi was on the salt route to Tibet. This
place offers better option to break journey to the
Kullu valley . A district headquarter, Mandi is also
renowned for its 81 old stone temples with exquisite
carvings, thereby earning it the title of 'Varanasi of
the Hills'. The town also has some remains of old
palaces and notable examples of the 'colonial'
architecture.
The
Shivaratri Bhutnath celebrations in the Bhutnath
temple attract tourists every year in large numbers.
There are also two lakes near Mandi, which provide a
good breather for the visitor. About five kms from the
main town is the Tarana hills and on the top of the
hill is Rani Amrit Kaur Park. From here one gets very
good view of the nearby areas. The park has enclosed
the Syama Kali temple, which was, built some where in
the 17th century.
In the
days of yore, the pious sage, Mandavaya, performed
long and severe penance and practised unthinkable
austerities on his body, on the right bank of the
river Beas, near the present town, which, then took
his name.
TEMPLES
Triloknath
Shiva Temple:
It is built in the
Nagari style with a tiled roof. The temple at the
centre of a group of sculpted stones shrines,
overlooks the river and offers good views. Inside the
temple, Lord Shiva has been depicted as the lord of
the three worlds, at the Panchvakhra he has five
faces, expressing his five aspects.
Bhutnath
Temple:
Practically synonymous
with Mandi and located in its very heart, this temple
is as old as the town itself, dating back to the
1520's. It has a Nandi or god Shiva's bull facing the
ornamental double arch to the sanctuary. The modern
shrines nearby are brightly painted. In the month of
March, the festival of Shivratri is a major event and
Bhootnath Temple is its focus.
Syamakali
Temple:
Also known as the Tarna Devi Temple, this temple is
situated on the Tarna Hill, which rises above the
town. Raja Syama Sen built the temple in the 17th
century after a particularly trying time when the
goddess gave him success.
Ardhanarishvara
Temple:
This 7th century
specimen of temple architecture, enclosed structure of
Lord Shiva in a composite form with the right half as
male and the left half as female- symbolising the male
and female principles of cosmic evolution
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