Mandi’s Temples, Lakes, Dams And Hill Retreats
Mandi is the town most people drive straight through on the way to Manali, and that is exactly why it stays underrated. Sitting where the Suketi stream joins the Beas, it holds 81 stone Shiva temples inside its old bazaar, which is why locals call it Chhoti Kashi, the Kashi of the hills. Around it the district opens into high mirror-lakes like Prashar and Rewalsar, colonial-era dams on the Beas and Uhl, and quiet hill hamlets few tour buses reach. If you are mapping tourist places in Mandi, this guide runs through 24 places to visit in Mandi and the wider district, with distances, the best months, and how to reach each one.
Quick Takeaways
- 81 Shiva temples in the old town make Mandi the ‘Chhoti Kashi’ of Himachal Pradesh, one temple more than Varanasi by local count.
- Start in Mandi town with Panchvaktra, Bhootnath and Tarna Devi, then head out to Prashar and Rewalsar lakes.
- March to June and September to November are the pleasant windows (about 15 to 30 degrees Celsius). July to September is monsoon; December to February brings snow.
- Nearest airport is Bhuntar (Kullu), about 60 km away; the closest railhead is Joginder Nagar, roughly 55 km out. Most travellers arrive by road on NH-3.
- Two clear days cover the town and one lake; add a third for Barot, Janjehli or a run up to Manali.
Places To Visit In Mandi
Best Time
March - June
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Why Visit Mandi: Chhoti Kashi, 81 Temples and the Shivratri Fair
Known as ‘Chhoti Kashi’, Mandi has 81 ancient Shiva temples in its old bazaar, while the surrounding region is home to popular Mandi tourist places such as Prashar Lake, Rewalsar Lake, Pandoh Dam, and Barot Valley. Panchvaktra, Bhootnath, and Tarna Devi temples are located within the town, while the lakes and valleys can be covered in one or two-day trips.
In the list below, we cover 24 places to visit in Mandi in detail, along with the distance, best time to visit, and how to reach each place. A Mandi trip does not have to be expensive: the temples and markets in town are free to explore, and for a two-day trip, accommodation and transport usually make up the biggest expenses. If you are planning to explore Mandi and nearby places in winter, also check out our guide to places to visit in Mandi in winter.
Tourist Places In Mandi At A Glance
Use this quick-answer table to plan the route, then read the detail on each place below.
| # | Place | Known For | From Mandi town |
| 1 | Panchvaktra Temple | Five-faced Shiva shrine at the river confluence | Mandi town |
| 2 | Bhootnath Temple | 1520s Shiva temple, heart of the Shivratri fair | Mandi town |
| 3 | Triloknath Temple | Three-faced Shiva, one of the oldest shrines | Mandi town |
| 4 | Ardhanarishvara Temple | Rare half-Shiva half-Parvati idol | Mandi town |
| 5 | Tarna Devi (Shyama Kali) Temple | Hilltop temple, 305 steps, town views | Mandi town |
| 6 | Bhima Kali Temple | Wooden carvings and a small museum | Mandi town |
| 7 | Raja Madhav Rai Temple | Mandi’s royal deity, palace complex | Mandi town |
| 8 | Sunken Garden, Indira Market and Ghanta Ghar | Town-centre plaza, 1939 clock tower, shopping | Mandi town |
| 9 | Victoria Bridge and Old-Town Riverfront | 1877 suspension bridge over the Beas | Mandi town |
| 10 | Prashar Lake | High lake, floating island, pagoda temple | ~49 km |
| 11 | Rewalsar Lake | Sacred lake, monasteries and gurudwara | ~24 km |
| 12 | Kamrunag Lake and Temple | Ridge-top lake and pilgrimage | Off Mandi-Karsog road |
| 13 | Dehnasar Lake | High glacial lake, multi-day trek | Barot side, high country |
| 14 | Sunder Nagar Lake | Calm man-made lake and nature walks | ~25 km |
| 15 | Shikari Devi Temple and Sanctuary | Roofless ridge temple, wildlife sanctuary | High ridge, Karsog side |
| 16 | Kamakhya Devi Temple | Pagoda-style wooden Durga temple | Kao village, Karsog side |
| 17 | Kamlah Fort | 17th-century hill fort, trek | ~80 km |
| 18 | Pandoh Dam | Turquoise Beas reservoir, rafting below | ~19 km |
| 19 | Barot Valley and Dam | Trout fishing, deodar forest, Uhl river | ~66 km |
| 20 | Janjehli | Trekking base up to 3,300 m | ~67 km |
| 21 | Tattapani | Hot sulphur springs on the Sutlej | Karsog side |
| 22 | Chindi and Karsog Valley | Quiet hill hamlet, temple cluster | Karsog Valley |
| 23 | Joginder Nagar | Shanan powerhouse and haulage trolley | ~55 km |
| 24 | GHNP Gateway (Aut and Larji) | Beas gorge, gateway to the national park | ~35 km |
Mandi Town: The Chhoti Kashi Temple Trail
Start where Mandi started. These shrines sit within a short walk of each other around the old bazaar and the Beas, and together they explain why the town is called the Kashi of the hills. A calm early morning covers the lot before the crowds.
Panchvaktra Temple
Panchvaktra is the temple most people picture when they think of Mandi. It stands where the Suketi stream meets the Beas, and inside sits a rare five-faced Shiva idol, each face carved as a different aspect of the god, from the fierce Aghora to the calm Tatpurush. The shikhara-style stone shrine took its present shape under Raja Siddha Sen in the early 1700s, after floods damaged the original. Come at first light, when the riverbank is quiet and the carving catches the sun.
| Known for | Five-faced Shiva idol and the river-confluence setting |
| Where | Beas-Suketi confluence, a 10-minute walk from the old bus stand |
| Good for | History, photography, early-morning calm |
