City, lying on the former salt route leading to Tibet, it is the "gate" to the Kulu Valley. By setting out to climb the narrow gorge of the Beas River, we will leave a gray and gloomy landscape on the way, then to please the eye with the beautiful green valley of Kulu. Because Mandi is only high 760 m, the temperature is much higher here. The name of the town means "market", which points to this, that there are many roads here.
The greatest celebration in Mandi is the festival of Shivarati ( at the turn of February and March), probably the most interesting event in all of Himacal Pradesh. For the celebrations, lasting a whole week, images of deities from all over the area are brought down to the town. The faithful gather at the Bhutnath temple, to experience dar-slian (seeing the deity).
Accommodation and gastronomy
The path behind the bus stop leads to the Mandav Hotel (22/123) hosted by HPTDC. The building is on the other side of the river, opposite the city center. The rooms in the old annexe with a bathroom and a constant supply of hot water cost money 150-200 INR. However, the rooms with satellite TV are much nicer, in the new part of the hotel. You pay for the night here 350 INR. There is also a fairly good restaurant on site.
Cheap hotels are situated on the other side of the river. Standard is considered the best, at the main square. Double room with bathroom costs only here 65 INR.
On the opposite side of the square is the somewhat dilapidated Raj Mahal (22/401), quirky old building with a little temple in the garden. Prices vary within limits 97-125 INR for a room with bathroom as well 200-275 INR for a bigger room. The Copacabana Bar located here is very popular, and the open-air restaurant is famous for tasty meals.
The most expensive hotel in town is the new Mayfair Hotel (IR22/750). For a room with a bathroom, TV and constant hot water supply have to be paid for 330 INR. The hotel is also on the main square. There is a restaurant on the top floor.
Connections
Mandi is lying down 202 km north of Candigarhu i 110 km south of Manali. Dharamsala is about 150 km and lies to the northwest of the city, on the road to Pathankot.
There are five buses leaving for Dharamsala every day (6 time., 50 INR), Cost (3 time.) i Manali (5 time.). Bus departures run every hour. Mandi also has a bus connection with Śimla and Pathankot.
LAKE REWALSAR
At distance 24 km southeast of Mandi, high in the mountains, Lake Rewalsar is hidden. Every year, many Hindu pilgrimages come here, Buddhists and Sikhs. This small mountain lake is a place of worship, especially for Tibetan Buddhists. Annual pilgrimages have become a tradition, starting right after the New Year (sometimes also in March). Most of the pilgrims are the inhabitants of Dharamsala.
The festival of Tso-Pema is the highlight of the year of the Monkeys, which occurs every twelve years. Thousands of people come to the town for the celebrations. Everyone wants to participate in prayer (puja) Give the Lamas, and then take part in the procession around the lake with him. This colorful festival will be celebrated again in 2004 r.
Run by HPTDC Tourist Inn offers accommodation in a dormitory too 45 INR.
Double rooms with shared bathroom cost money 150 INR, while with a bathroom 200-300 INR. Lo-mush hotels also invite you, Lake View Shimla. Buses run from Mandi every half an hour (8 INR, 1 time.).
KANGRA VALLEY
The picturesque Kangra Valley begins in the Mandi area and continues north, then turns west as far as Shahpur near Pathankot. On the northern side, the valley is surrounded by the Dhauladharu range, below which is Dharamsala. The valley hides many beautiful villages, one of them is the famous Dharamsala.
The main road connecting Pathankotku and Mandi crosses the valley. Route from Pathankot to Dzogindarnagar (Joginder Nagar) it is connected by a narrow-gauge railway line. The Kangra Valley is also home to the famous Kangaroo school of painting.
Bajdnath (Baijnath)
The small town of Bayjnath lies only 16 km to Palampurem. The old temple of Shiva located here has been a destination of numerous pilgrimages for many years. The building was probably erected in 804 r. neither. Accommodation can be found at PWD Rest House.
Palampur
Palampur, charming town surrounded by tea plantations, lies 35 km of Dha-ramsalą, On the height 1260 m. The town is a great starting point for trips around the area. One of the routes leads through the Waru Pass to Holi. This route can be covered in four days. Getting to Palampur is not difficult, because the town is situated on the main road.
Accommodation and gastronomy In the distance 1 km from the bus stop there is Ż / ote / T-Bud, hosted by HPTDC. The rooms cost money 400 INR, You can also buy lunches on site. SilverOaks Motel offers much cheaper accommodation, 2.5 km after the stop. It is worth staying here mainly because of the wonderful scenery or in the cheaper Sawney Hotel, near the bus stop.
We will get cheap and tasty meals at Joy Restaurant, at the main bazaar. HPTDC's Neugal Cafe is located 1.5 km for Hotel T-Bud.
Kangra
The history of Kangra goes back to antiquity, but now the city itself, layed 18 km south of Dharamsali, It does not stand out with anything special. The temple of the goddess Bazresvari, located here, possessed great wealth, which passed from hand to hand of subsequent invaders. W 1009 r. Mahmud of Ghazni brought a lot of gold away from here, silver and jewelry. W 1360 r. the plunder was carried out by Shah Tughlak. Luckily, the items stolen by him were recovered. To prevent further thefts, Jahangir ordered the silver gathered in the temple to be melted down and used to cover the floors of the temple.
Earthquake in 1905 r. it destroyed almost the entire temple. The reconstruction work has already been completed. The ruins of the fort have been preserved on the Baner and Manhi rivers, the second important building of Kangra. Like the temple, the fort also plundered Mahmud, a w 1620 r. Jahangir won it. W 1905 r. the stronghold was almost completely destroyed by an earthquake. On the road connecting the bus stop with the center, there are several cheaper dormitories, one of them is PWD Rest House.