Mandi travel guide

The “Chhoti Kashi” of the hills – an old temple town on the Beas, halfway to Manali

📍 Himachal Pradesh 7 places to visit 🏨 2 stays to book Updated 31 Oct 2026

Mandi is a historic town at about 800 m on the Beas river in central Himachal Pradesh, famous for its many old temples and the week-long International Shivratri Fair. It sits on the Chandigarh–Manali highway and is the base for Prashar Lake, Rewalsar, Shikari Devi and the Janjehli valley.

History of Mandi

Mandi was the capital of the princely state of Mandi. The present town was founded in 1527 by Raja Ajber Sen, who built the Bhutnath temple beside the Beas. The rajas went on to build so many stone temples that Mandi is called “Chhoti Kashi” – the little Varanasi of the hills.

Mandi was an important stop on the old salt and trade routes between the plains, Kullu and Ladakh. The state accepted British protection in the 19th century and became a district of Himachal Pradesh in 1948.

The town is best known for its International Shivratri Fair, when the deities of hundreds of villages are carried into Mandi to pay respects to Madho Rai, the town’s presiding deity. Since 2009 Mandi has also been home to IIT Mandi at Kamand.

Best time to visit Mandi

October–March is pleasant in town; February–March brings the Shivratri fair. Prashar and Shikari Devi are best from April to November. July–August is very rainy.

Oct–Nov

Autumn · Pleasant, about 10–25°C

Clear for Prashar Lake.

Best

Dec–Mar

Winter & Shivratri · Cool, about 4–18°C

Shivratri fair in Feb/Mar; snow at Prashar.

Best

Apr–Jun

Summer · Warm in town, can pass 30°C

Good for the higher lakes.

Good

Jul–Sep

Monsoon · Heavy rain

Highway slides possible.

Avoid

How to reach Mandi

✈️

Nearest airport

Bhuntar Airport, Kullu (KUU)

About 60 km (1.5–2 hours by taxi).

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Nearest railway station

Joginder Nagar (narrow gauge); Kiratpur Sahib / Chandigarh (main line)

Joginder Nagar about 55 km; Chandigarh about 200 km (4.5–5 hours).

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Bus stand

Mandi ISBT – HRTC buses to Chandigarh, Delhi, Manali, Kullu, Shimla, Dharamshala and Pathankot. Local buses to Rewalsar, Kamand and Janjehli.

From	Distance by road	Travel time
Chandigarh	About 200 km	4.5–5 hours
Kullu	About 70 km	2 hours
Manali	About 110 km	3 hours
Shimla	About 150 km	4–5 hours
Bir	About 75 km	2.5 hours
Delhi	About 450 km	9–10 hours

Distances and times are approximate and change with traffic and weather.

Famous places to visit in Mandi

1Bhutnath Temple

Temple 📍 Town centre 🕘 Morning to evening

The town’s founding temple of Shiva from 1527, the centre of the Shivratri celebrations.

2Panchvaktra Temple

Temple 📍 At the river confluence 🕘 Day time

A stone temple with a five-faced Shiva, at the meeting of the Beas and Suketi rivers.

3Indira Market & Seri Manch

Market 📍 Town centre 🕘 Day and evening

The busy heart of town with an underground market, a garden on top and the open Seri Manch stage.

4Prashar Lake

Lake 📍 About 50 km 🕘 Day time · road can close in snow

A small lake at about 2,700 m with a floating island and a three-tiered pagoda temple of Rishi Prashar – snowy in winter.

5Rewalsar Lake (Tso Pema)

Lake 📍 About 25 km 🕘 Day time

A lake sacred to Buddhists, Hindus and Sikhs, with a huge statue of Guru Padmasambhava, monasteries and a gurdwara.

6Shikari Devi Temple

Temple 📍 About 80 km via Janjehli 🕘 About Apr–Nov (snow in winter)

A roofless hill-top temple at about 2,850 m with wide views over the Mandi hills.

7Pandoh Dam

Viewpoint 📍 About 20 km towards Kullu 🕘 From the road

A dam on the Beas with a blue reservoir along the highway to Kullu and Manali.

Timings and entry fees change – please check locally before you go.

🎉 International Shivratri Fair

When: About a week from Mahashivratri (Feb/Mar)
What: Village deities are carried into Mandi in processions
Also: Folk dances, music nights at the Paddal ground, a big fair

Book stays early for Shivratri week.

Mandi itinerary

2 days in Mandi

Day 1

Bhutnath and Panchvaktra temples, Indira Market.
Evening by the Beas.

Day 2

Day trip to Prashar Lake.

3 days – Mandi, Rewalsar & Prashar

Day 1

Mandi town temples.

Day 2

Rewalsar Lake and monasteries.

Day 3

Prashar Lake, then on to Kullu–Manali.

Trip budget for Mandi

Item	Cost	Note
Stay (homestay / hotel)	About ₹1,200–3,500 / night	Higher in Shivratri week
Food	About ₹300–700 per person / day	Try Mandyali dham
Taxi day trip to Prashar	About ₹2,500–3,500	Return from Mandi
Weekend for 2 (approx.)	₹7,000–12,000	2 nights’ stay + food + a taxi day

Costs are rough estimates for Oct 2026.

Mandi vs Kullu and Manali

Breaking the drive to Manali?

Place	From Chandigarh	Vibe	Best for
Mandi	About 200 km, 4.5–5 h	Temple town on the Beas	Halfway stop, Prashar
Kullu	About 270 km, 6.5 h	Valley town, rafting	Dussehra, Tirthan
Manali	About 300 km, 8 h	Mountain resort	Snow, Solang

Where to stay in Mandi

Stay in Mandi town for the temples and market, or along the highway for an easy overnight on the way to Kullu and Manali. For lakes and quiet, choose Rewalsar or the hills towards Prashar.