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
