Mandi, Himachal Pradesh - WIth around 300 temples, it is called 'Varanasi of the Hills''

About Mandi Tourism

Mandi is a city located in the district of the same name in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh on the banks of the river Beas. It is popular for being the main commercial centre of Himachal Pradesh. Earlier Mandi was named as Mandav Nagar after the Sage Mandav and there are several ancient temples here.  

There are about 300 temples here dedicated to Lord Shiva and Kali, out of which, around 81 temples are the oldest ones made of stone with intricate carvings. Some of the popular ancient temples located here are Panchvaktra Temple, Ardhnareshwar Temple and Triloknath Temple. All the monuments that are present inside the temples are under the authority of the Archaeological Survey of India.

The ancient temple of Bhootnath located here is one of the oldest temples that belong to the 1520s. Around thousands of pilgrims come here every year to visit Gurudwara Gobind Singh, which is named after the Guru who blessed this town years ago.

Other attractions here include the Sunken Garden, which is also known as the Ghantaghar. Around 25 kilometres from the region is the Lake of Rewalsar, which is a popular excursion spot.    

Other than the ancient temples, Mandi is popular for its festivals and fairs, among them Mahasivratri is the main festival as most of the temples here are dedicated to Lord Shiva. The Nalwar Mela held here is one such popular event.  

The geographical area of Mandi is covered with green forest cover, which includes pine and deodar forests and tea plantations. The climate of Mandi remains warm and pleasant in the months of April, May and June. The best time to visit Mandi is in between the months of March and October.  

The nearest airport is located in Bhuntar, which is about 59 kilometres from Mandi. There is no major airport near Mandi except for Delhi airport that is 460 kilometres away. Taxis are available from Bhuntar airport that connect Mandi easily.

The nearest railway station is located in Kiratpur, 125 kilometres from Mandi and is connected to other cities through Chandigarh. Mandi is connected by regular bus service, which includes private deluxe bus services that operate regularly.