At
an altitude of 8,00m and 15-kms to the south of Kangra,
is the town of Masrur. Here are 15 Shikhra Temples, cut
out of solid rok and built in the 10th century. Built in
the Indo-Aryan monolith style, these temples have got a
great resemblance with the Ajanta-Ellora temples.
The
temples of Masrur though slightly damaged, are very
beautiful. The images, however, are badly damaged. The
images of Lord Rama, Lakshmana and Goddess Sita are
particularly striking. An artificial lake and a
well-maintained and sculpted lawn flank the temples.
These richly ornamented cave temples are the only rock
shrines in the northern part of India.
Only a
few of the original shikharas stand and some of the most
beautifully carved panels are now in the state museum,
Shimla. The main shrine dominates the centre. Although
the remote location of these temples protected them from
the invading army of Mahmud Ghazni and their stone
construction prevented severe damage in the 1905
earthquake.
Since
they are situated on a ridge, their position on top
commands a superb view of the fertile verdant
countryside.
EXCURSIONS
Nadaun:
48-kms from Kangra is Nadaun, which, it seems was
designed by nature for providing peace of mind. When
Kangra was attacked by Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the then
Raja of Kangra moved his capital to this place,
overflowing with beauty. On the left bank of the river
Beas, he built a palace, which soon grew into a centre
for Kangra's culture, art and business. A temple
dedicated to Lord Shiva was also erected here so that
the Raja could mediate there in peace. An ideal place
for a quite weekend, Nadaun also offers fishing
opportunities for enthusiasts in the river Beas
