Places to Visit in Mandi
Mandi is one of the fantastic hill stations in Himachal Pradesh which is famous for its natural beauty. It is the gateway to the valleys of Kullu, Manali, Lahaul, and Spiti. Mandi has over 80 temples alone, and this has made it one of the holy places in Himachal Pradesh. It is on the banks of the Beas river and is very picturesque with dense deodar forests and a view of mountains. Mandi is very close to many famous hill stations in Himachal Pradesh such as Shimla, Manali, Dharamshala, Kasol, etc. To visit the tourist places in Mandi Himachal Pradesh, you can book one of the many Himachal tour packages or even book a Mandi tour package. The best places to visit in Mandi Himachal Pradesh are shown below.
1. Parashar Lake
Parashar Lake is one of the best places to visit in Mandi. It is in fact, one of the best trekking places in Himachal Pradesh. In the Parashar Lake trek, you will have a chance to see multiple waterfalls, green pastures, deep forests, and mountains of the Dhauladhar range. Parashar Lake is a crystal clear lake and there is a temple of Sage Parashar beside the lake. There is a floating island in the center of the lake. The lake freezes in winter but is free of snow during the rest of the year.
2. Bhutnath Temple
Bhutnath Temple is one of the famous temples in Mandi Himachal Pradesh that you can visit. Lord Shiva is the Hindu god to which this temple is dedicated. The temple is decorated with intricate carvings on stone. People have great faith in this temple and visit it every year. The temple architecture is splendid and its carvings are done with intricate details. The religious festival of Shivratri is celebrated with religious devotion in this temple.
3. Rewalsar Lake
Rewalsar Lake is one of the top tourist attractions in Mandi. It is locally called Tso-Pema which translates to Lotus lake. The major attraction is the statue of Guru Rinpoche. There are temples of Lord Krishna, Lord Shiva, and Sage Lomas near the lake. A gurudwara dedicated to Guru Gobind Singh is also near the lake. Rewalsar Lake is hugely popular as a sightseeing spot and a devotional place in Mandi.
4. Pandoh Dam
Pandoh Dam is one of the major tourist places in Mandi Himachal Pradesh. It was built on the Beas river in 1977. Tourists love the lush green environs of the dam. The surrounding forests offer solitude and peace to travelers who visit this dam. There are many other attractions near the dam like Hadimba Temple, Beas Kund, Jogini Waterfalls, Solang Valley, etc. White water rafting is a popular water sport which is done here.
5. Dehnasar Lake
This high-altitude lake in Mandi is one of the best tourist places that you should visit on your Mandi trip. Dehnasar Lake is frozen in winter and due to this, people trek to this lake in the summer months. The lake is surrounded by rocky cliffs and mountains, which makes trekking all the more adventurous and exciting.
6. Barot
Barot is a beautiful village in Mandi where you can go camping, wildlife watching, trekking, and fishing. It is full of greenery of valleys, dense forests, river streams, and wildlife. Nargu Wildlife Sanctuary is in Barot and is the best place to spot black bears, Himalayan monal, and Himalayan goral. You can walk on the forest trails and experience first-hand the wildlife and tranquillity here. Uhl river which flows here is ideal for trout fishing.
7. Kamrunag Lake
Kamrunag Lake is a freshwater lake in Mandi where you can go trekking. A trek to Kamrunag Lake offers scenic views of the Dhauladhar range and the Kamrunag Temple is also near the lake. Devotees have so much faith in this lake that they offer coins and ornaments to the lake, and you can see these coins at the bottom of the lake.
8. Tattapani
Tattapani is one of the famous places which you can visit on your trip to Mandi. It is on the Sutlej river. Tattapani is famous for its hot water springs and river rafting. The hot water springs at Tattapani are believed to have healing properties and are best for relieving stress, joint pains, and skin diseases. Shiva’s cave is also famous in Tattapani. Tattapani is a place where you can do zorbing, paragliding, skiing, trekking, camping, river rafting, etc.
9. Kamlah Fort
On your trip to Mandi Himachal Pradesh, you can visit Kamlah Fort. Raja Suraj Sen built this fort in 1625 and was built in memory of a saint called Kamlah Baba. You can go trekking to this fort. The fort lies in the Sikandar Dhar mountain range, and a trek to this fort goes through lush green forests. The entrance to this fort is like that of a labyrinth. The breathtaking scenery that you can see from this fort is unbelievable.
10. Sunder Nagar
Sunder Nagar is a small town in Mandi, which has lush green forests and greenery. The man-made lake in Sunder Nagar was made by the Beas-Sutlej Project. There are temples in Sunder Nagar and the most famous are Mahamaya Temple, Murari Devi Temple, and Shukdev Vatika, which is an ancient cave. Sunder Nagar was once used as a jail but today it is one of the sightseeing places in Mandi Himachal Pradesh.
11. Bhima Kali Temple
Bhima Kali Temple is another temple that you can visit in Mandi Himachal Pradesh. It was a divine incarnation of Durga and this temple is dedicated to Goddess Bhima Kali. Bhima Kali Temple is located on the Beas river and the temple has spectacular wooden carvings. There is a museum inside where there are images of Hindu gods and goddesses. Another famous thing about this temple is that locals strongly believe that this is the same place where Lord Krishna fought with the demon named Banasura.
12. Janjehli
Janjehli is one of the many places that you can visit in Mandi. It is full of green hills and mountain valleys. It is a trekker’s paradise and there are many trekking trails here. Tourists can find some accommodation on their road trip to Janjehli and then they can go trekking on foot.
13. Shikari Devi Temple
One of the many famous temples in Mandi Himachal Pradesh that you must visit is Shikari Devi Temple. The temple is dedicated to Shikari Devi, whose stone idol is inside the temple. You can view beautiful sunrise and sunset from this temple. Shikari Devi Temple is built on top of a hill. The walk to Shikari Devi Temple goes through deodar forests and mountainous landscapes. The temple was built by the Pandavas and it is also said that Sage Markandeya meditated here for many years.
14. Kamaksha Devi Temple
In Mandi, Kamaksha Devi Temple is a temple which is dedicated to an incarnation of Goddess Durga. Kamaksha Devi Temple is a must-visit temple in Mandi and also a sightseeing place in Mandi. Kamaksha Devi Temple is famous among devotees. The wooden architecture of this temple is very eye-catching. The temple is built in the Pagoda style of architecture.
15. Triloknath Temple
Mandi is famous for its temples and Triloknath Temple is one famous temple to visit in Mandi. Triloknath Temple is a Shiva temple that was built in 1520 by Sultan Devi, the wife of Raja Ajber Sen. There is a three-faced idol of Lord Shiva in the temple. The temple architecture is typical of North Indian temples. The intricate stone carvings and sculptures of Hindu gods and goddesses on the walls are eye-catching. Triloknath Temple is a famous temple
16. Chindi
Chindi is one of the beautiful villages that you must visit in Mandi. It is full of lush greenery and deodar forests. The apple orchards here produce the finest quality apples. Chindi is in Karsog Valley in Mandi. The temples in Chindi are famous and the most famous temples are Kamakshi Devi Temple, Mamleshwar Temple, Shikari Devi Temple, etc.