MANDI, District: Mandi, H.P.

Location : The capital of erstwhile kingdom is now the district head quarter of Mandi district. The town is situated at 800 M on Shivalik range at the junction of NH 20 and NH21. The river Beas flows north of the town. Pathankot is 210 KM, Chandigarh 203 KM and Shimla 130KM. Mandi is the gateway of Kullu valley and at the south end of Kangra valley.

General description : It was built by Ban Sen in 1278 A.D. as an important religious center. The place is called "Varanasi of the Hill. Mandi with Rewalsar, Jogindernagar and Swarghat makes a popular religious circuit. While coming from Chandigarh, the road passes through mountain ranges and gains altitude. Due to its location almost at the center. of the State, all the buses pass through The Mandi Bus stand. Now a days it has turned to a large commercial center. Even in earlier days the traders used to travel to Tibet via Mandi.

Safety : Safe. Roads: All weather motorable highway. Road traffic: Traffic is more during tourists' season. Careful and slow driving in hill roads suggested. Medical support: Available. Fuel Pumps: Available; Car repairing: Facilities available for common brands. Market & Shopping Center.: Tourist Information Center.: Himachal Tourism Department of the State Government. Railway & Air Ticket: No; Hotels & Restaurants: Many, Sports & Game Centers: Indoor games parlour available. Cyber cafe: Available.

Places of interest : Minimum days of stay: Three days. There are numerous old temples at Mandi depicting the people's spiritual inclination. On other side of the river Beas near old bus stand, there is a beautifully carved Temple of Tarna mata or Shyamakali. The idol is made of Black stone. The temple was built by the King Shyam Sen in 17th Century. The beautiful architecture of Triloknath Temple where the deity is Lord Shiva. Within a walk of 5 minutes from the bus stand, the Ardhanarishwar temple built in 7th Century is the composite form of Lord Shiva with one half as man and left half as woman symbolizing the principle of evolution. The Bhootnath Temple situated at the center. of the town was built in 1520 AD. Legend has it that a cow among the cattle of the village used to wash the surface of a Shivalinga-like stone with milk releasing from her udder on its own regularly. Raja Ajbar Sen, the ruler of Mandi heard the miracle and witnessed the same. Thereafter, Lord Shiva appeared in dream and told the King that it was manifestation of Bhoothnath in that stone linga. The Bhoothnath Temple was built around the stone treating this as a divine blessings. The Shivaratri festival is celebrated elaborately for a week at the temple premises.