Mandi - A pretty town in the foothills of the Himalayas

 


It seemed to be a good idea to stop in Mandi on my way to Dharamshala, and it was. Officially a city, but with a population of 26,000, it feels to be a town even if a busy town. It is at a river junction in the foothills of the Himalayas, in a very beautiful setting. The main square of the town is pretty, and quite unusual with its underground market surrounding a square with a pagoda clock tower. You'll find more nice and interesting buildings in the area, and a few old Hindu temples. From the hilltop Durga Mata Mandir (DhansiDhar) temple, you can have a stunning view of Mandi, including the ancient Panchvaktra Temple right at the river junction. Going up makes sense to take a tuktuk, but there is a direct, short path to/from the river near a centrally located pedestrian bridge. 
















































































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