| FACTS
& FIGURES
Population : 26,000
Languages : Himachali, Hindi, local Dialect
Altitute : 800 meters
Best time to visit : During Summer Season
STD Code : 01905
ANTIQUITY
The people of Mandi proudly boast that while Kashi (Benaras)
has only 80 temples, Mandi has 81! And it is no idle
boast. J.C. French supported their assertion when he
described the town as a miniature Benaras with innumerable
temples, old houses, long flights of steps, the streets
steep and winding and the market place with an aura
of medieval picturesque ness. In 1919 one tourist actually
counted 49 places of worship in Mandi. Built of rough
stone in a shikara (houseboat) style they could be seen
all over the town on the right and left of the river
Beas.
The town’s antiquity is established by the Triloknath
temple which was built around 1520 A.D. Mandi seems
to have derived its name from the Sanskrit word ‘Mandoika’
meaning an open hall or shed. It was also well known
to the Tibetans who called it Zahor.
TEMPLES
On a high ground is situated the temple
of Shyama Kali also known as Tarna Devi, one of the
goddesses of Hindu mythology. It is dedicated to the
consort of Lord Shiva. According to Hindu philosophy
a woman has two sides to her nature, one extremely tender
and the other highly ferocious. In this temple the divine
consort of Lord Shiva is depicted as Kali or Shakti
(power) full of fury. The legend goes that once the
goddess started dancing and the dance began slowly.
Gradually the tempo increased and reached a peak of
frenzy. In her ecstasy, her movements, which were delicate
and graceful at the start, became wild and terrifying
like the tremors of an earthquake. The earth shook and
vibrated under the impact of her movements. Panic stricken,
people ran to Shiva for help. He obliged them by lying
down in her path. Kali stepped on Shiva’s prostrate
figure but as soon as she realized who it was, she stopped
in her tracks. The idol depicts her in the Rudra Roop
or the fearsome form with a garland of human skulls
and protruding tongue.
FESTIVITIES
With a rich legacy of venerated temples,
it is natural that religious festivals like Janmastami
and Shivratri are celebrated at Mandir with much fervor.
Janmastami, the birthday of Lord Krishna, is observed
as a state function with perfect decorum. The main ceremony
takes place in the temple of Madho Raj. The idol of
the child Krishna is placed in a small cradle covered
with gold brocade and suspended from the rafters by
silken cords. The Raja himself, who arrives in procession
followed by his nobles and officials, decks up the idol
with flowers, anoints it, placing his offering of fruits
and sweets at the altar to the accompaniment of devotional
music provided by (shankh) Conch shells, temple bells
and massive drums called nagaras.
By far the most important religious festival is Mahashivratri
when the village deities are carried to Mandi to the
temple of Baba Bhootnath. This temple is dedicated to
Lord Shiva. From far-flung villages these deities are
brought in richly decorated palanquins swaying on the
shoulders of the devotees to the singing of devotional
songs and blowing of conch shells. The devotees believe
that at the time of drought, water drawn from the Beas
and poured on the idol of Baba Bhootnath, brings rain
by the time the poured water drains back in to the Beas.
The Shivratri fair lasts for about eight days and is
inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh.
The palanquins with the deities are assembled in the
main ground of Mandi. The people in their multicolored
robes and skullcaps present a glorious sight against
the backdrop of the Dhaulagiri hills. So much color
and gaiety can only be witnessed either at Mandi or
at Kullu during Dussehra in October.
THE LANDSCAPE
Mandi district comprises of two princely
states of Mandi and Suket. The district takes its name
from the principal town Mandi in keeping with the general
pattern of the hill states. Situated on the left bank
of the river Beas, Mandi town is almost in the center
of Himachal Pradesh in the foothills of the Shivalik
ranges. At one time the former state of Mandi had an
imposing array of forts, 360 in all. However, time has
taken its toll and now only about 10 are left.
INTERESTING SITES
Sati pillars called barselas in the
local dialect are erected on the left bank of the Suketi
Bridge. These six to seven feet high stone pillar are
erected in the memory of the deceased rulers of Mandi.
When one died it was required by custom to put up such
a pillar to perpetuate his memory. His likeness was
chiseled on the pillar with his name, date of death
along with the names of his wives, concubines and slave
girls who perished on his funeral pyre to provide him
company in distant world.
The most conspicuous monument is the palace of the
Raja of Mandi, which stands in the southern part of
the town and presents a number of tall white buildings,
with roofs like those of the Chinese pagoda.
About 25 km from Mandi town and 6000 feet above sea
level, on the crest of Sikandhar Dhar is the Rewalsar
Lake, a place of Pilgrimage. The lake is dotted with
seven huge masses of reeds, which give the appearance
of small floating islands when the breeze is strong.
There are three shrines by the lake, a Buddhist monastery,
a temple and a gurudwara (Sikh temple).
INTERESTING LEGENDS
It was at Rewalsar that the Buddhist
monk Padma Sambhava preached the message of the enlightened
one and made a substantial contribution towards the
spread of Buddhism in the region, carrying it as far
as Tibet. During winter Buddhist from Tibet come down
in large numbers on pilgrimage to the holy Rewalsar.
They approach the lake crawling on their hands and feet
as a mark of humility and penance. This has now become
a part of the ritual of paying obeisance to the sacred
lake.
Once when the tenth guru of the Sikhs was on a visit
to Mandi, the king of Mandi invited him to stay at the
royal palace. The guru accepted the invitation to stay
in Mandi but not with the king. He put up outside the
town in a secluded place, which had once been the hermitage
of a rishi (Indian sage). The guru was touched by the
king’s devotion and prophesized that Mandi would
ever remain safe and if any enemy tries to harm it,
bolts from heaven would crush the invader. A gurudwara
at Rewalsar was built in memory of the historic visit
of the guru. There is a small village called Bagij about
35 km from Mandi and 600 feet above sea level. A steep
trek uphill of about 3500 feet from here brings you
to Parashar Lake. An ancient temple built in pagoda
style stands here. A trek to this place can be tricky
in the wrong season as the place is quite desolate.
However one can get awarded with a beautiful sight of
the temple, the snow covered lake, Dhauladhar and the
Pin Parbati ranges towering majestically over them.
GETTING THERE
By Air Bhuntar Airport of Himachal Pradesh
is the nearest, 63 km (flight from Delhi via Chandigarh).
By Rail - Nearest station is Kiratpur
125 km away.
By Road - Approachable by road via
Chandigarh (200 km), Pathankot (205 km), Shimla (165
km), Kullu (71 km), Delhi (465 km) and Manali (107 km).
Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation runs
deluxe buses form Mandi to Manali, Kullu, Chandigarh,
Shimla and Delhi.
WHERE TO STAY
There are numbers of hotels available
to accommodate the tourists. The price range varies
widely to meet the need of different levels of tourist’s
budget.
WHERE TO EAT
Many restaurants and eateries have come
up in this place with different delicacies available
to satisfy the hunger of the tourists. The restaurants
and eateries serve foods ranging from traditional north
Indian food, south Indian and Chinese food etc.
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