Rewalsar

Rewalsar

About 25 km from Mandi, 14 km from Ner Chowk is the Rewalsar lake, famous for its floating islands of reed. It is believed that all of them can be moved by prayer or breeze. The place is held sacred by Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhist alike. Legend has it that the great teacher and "tantric", Padmasambhava used his enormous powers to take flight to Tibet from Rewalsar. Also known as Guru Rimpoche, the precious Master, it was under Padmasambhava's influence that Mahayana Buddhism took root in Tibet and at Rewalsar waters, his spirit is said to reside in the tiny island of floating reed that drift over the waters. There are three Buddhist monasteries at Rewalsar.

Commemorating the month-long stay of Guru Gobind Singh in 1738, Rewalsar has a Gurudwara that was built in 1930 by Raja Joginder Sen of Mandi. Rewalsar has three Hindu temple which are dedicated to Lord Krishna, Lord Shiva and sage Lomas. The Lake of Kunt Bhayo (1750 m above sea level) lies above Rewalsar, which is also visitable and there are also six other lakes of legend. These are associated with the escape of the Pandava's from the burning palace od waxan episode from the epic Mahabharata. 

Tourist inn maintained by HPTDC provide accomodation and Indian cuisine. Besides, private hotels, guest house and rest house are available at Rewalsar.  

Mandi

Mandi

The historic town of Mandi (800 m) is built along the banks of the river Beas. It has long been an important commercial centre and the sage Mandva is said to have meditated here. This one time capital of the princely state of Mandi is a fast developing town that still retains much of its original charm and character. Today, it is a district headquarters. Mandi is renowned for its 81 old stone temples and their enormous range of fine carving, it is often called the 'Varanasi of the Hills'. The town has remains of old palaces and notable examples of 'colonial' architecture. The temples of Bhutnath, Trilokinath, Panchvaktra and Shyamakali are among the more famous ones. The week long international Shivratri fair in Mandi is the major attraction of the area every year. In the year 2011 the fair was celebrated from 3rd-9th March. In the fair the activities like cultural programmes in the evenings, exhibitions, sports etc. are the major attractions for the tourists as well as locals. 

Prashar Lake
This lake lies 45 km north of Mandi, with a three storied pagoda like temple dedicated to the sage Prashar. The Lake is located at an height of 2730 m above sea level. With deep blue waters, the Lake is held sacred to the sage Prashar and he is regarded to have meditated here. Framed by snow-capped peaks and looking down on fast flowing river Beas, the Lake can be approached via Drang. Every year in the month of June, famous traditional fair is held here. Several camping sites are also located here and it is the base for numerous easy & hard treks.

Pangna fort
In a pleasant and open valley of Pangna a village in Karsog Tehsil of Mandi District stands the Pangna fort. It is a tower-like structure on a fifty foot stone platform overlooking the little village spread on its either side. The seven storeyed tower-like fort-palace has an old-world grandeur. It is just 60 feet high and is built in typical hill architecture in which only wood and stone are used. The woodcarvings are decorative and look new and fresh even after so many centuries of wear and tear. In the open courtyard there is a Mahamaya temple. 

 



































 Pangna fort-palace has two incidents attached to it because of which the rulers abandoned the palace: one about the recovery of an idol and second the imprisonment of a princess in one of its rooms on false allegations.
Climate: hot in summers, cold in winters
Location: In Karsog valley of Mandi district but it is nearer from Shimla
Accommodation: HPTDC Hotel Chindi, HPPWD Rest house at Pangna (just in the fort premises), HPTDC and other accommodation in Karsog town.
Reaching there: Driving from Shimla to Karsog via Tattapani, there is a bifurcation : the main road goes to Karsog while the other goes to Pangna village, 10 km from the bifurcation.
Places of interest: Karsog Valley and a large number of temples around, Shikari Devi temple, Chindi and many other.


General information:

Area: 3950 sq. km

Population 9.01 lakh

Clothing: Cotton clothes in Summer and heavy woolen in winter.

Language: Hindi, Punjabi, English are understood and spoken by the people engaged in tourism trade.

Approach:

Rail The nearest railway station is at Joginder Nagar, Chandigarh and Kalka by broad gauge train which are connected by regular bus services.

Road: Mandi is approachable by road from Shimla, Chandigarh, Pathankot and Delhi. There are regular bus services linking it to the other towns like Manali, Palampur and Dharamshala.

 

Spiti

Spiti

Spiti is the sub division of Lahaul & Spiti district with its hqrs. at Kaza. It is called "Little Tibet" because it has almost the same terrain, vegetation & climate . Spiti also means "Middle Country". It lies between Tibet, Ladakh, Kinnaur, Lahaul & Kulu. From Shimla via Kinnaur there is a motorable road which remains open upto Kaza for 8 to 9 months. About 10kms. ahead of Pooh, satluj enters India near Shipki la & Spiti river joins it at Khab. The road then goes to Sumdo via Hangrang valley. From Sumdo Spiti valley starts. The Spiti river flows fast through deep gorges at some places. The valley is not wide but there are villages and some fields where people grow barley, buck- wheat, peas & vegetables. It has an area of 4800 sq. kms. Some inhabitants have adopted Budhism as there faith and Bhoti is the spoken language. The people are simple and honest. The main Spiti valley is split into eastern and western valleys. They are connected with Ladakh & Tibet on eastern side & Kinnaur and Kulu on western side through high passes.  

 

                     kaza, the capital of spiti

Giu Village: Located near the Indo-Tibet border, the village has a naturally preserved unique Mummy, which is more than 500 years old and is an attraction for the visitors. The village Giu is situated at a height of approx 10,000 feet above the sea level. The mummy in the village is placed in a room constructed on a hilltop. It is believed that this mummy is of a Lama, who died at the age of around 45 years and was found in a sitting posture. Presently, the mummy is kept in an open glass box. Giu village is approximately 10 km from Giu nallah and village is connected with link road. Giu nallah is between Sumdo and Tabo.     

Chander Tal
At an altitude of 4300 metres and 6 k.m. from the Kunzum Pass in Lahaul & Spiti district that connects Spiti Chander Tal Lake and Lahaul areas.

Kibber

 
 It is locally known as Khyipur, one of the highest villages in the world at an altitude of 4205 m above sea level in a narrow valley surrounded by mountains from all sides. Rest houses are available for the visitors. Gette, at a short distance away from Kaza, is the highest village in the world at a height of 4270 m.

Kunzum pass
As Rohtang pass is a gateway to Lahaul so Kunzum pass (4590 m) is the gateway to Spiti from Kulu & Lahaul. After crossing Rohtang pass and driving 20kms, one has to turn right from Gramphoo. While going to this pass, the panoramic view of Bara-Sigri glacier (second longest glacier in the world) is enthrilling and inspiring.

There is a temple at the top of this pass dedicated to goddess Durga. After seeing this pass one can drive to Batal for a night stay in the Rest House. The view from the top is breathtaking. On one side is the Spiti valley and to the other are numerous C.B.(Chandra-Bhaga ) range peaks. On way back from Gramphoo one can either return to Manali (71kms.) or can go to Leh via Keylong , Darcha, Baralacha la, Sarchu, Tanglang la by road. From Tandi (8kms. short of Keylong) one can also drive to Pangi valley along the Chenab river to Udaipur, Trilokinath and Tindi and thereafter by trekking to Killar. From Killar to Chamba/Dalhousie/Delhi or to Kishtwar- Jammu-Delhi.

Kungri Gompa
It is situated in the Pin valley about 10 kms. from Attargo where Spiti river has to be crossed to enter Pin valley. It is serves the population of Pin valley.

Approach 

There are two routes to enter Spiti.

    From Manali via Rohtang Pass to Kaza, the hqtr. of Spiti. Manali is connected by Air, Rail and Road. From Manali, there is a regular bus from July to October.

    From Shimla via Kinnaur. Shimla is connected by Air, Rail & Road. From here by buses to Kaza from May to October. 

Places to visit	Km
Dhankar monastery	34
Gete	24
Langza	18
Hikkim	28
Comic	31
Keylong	197
Kibber	19
Kungri	40
Kunzum pass	78
Kye monastery	12
Losar	60
Manali	200
Tabo monastery	50
Thang Yug Gompa	13
Mud	56