Himachal Pradesh is famous for its picturesque hill towns and the district of
Mandi is one of them. Mandi is a historic town and it is evident from the strong cultural identity that the place has. A distinguished history and defined cultural tone has given Mandi an identity that gives her an unique position. A major hub of transportation, Mandi is visited by thousands of visitors every year.
Located on the banks of the River Beas, the historicity of Mandi is more than apparent. Supposed to the the place where Muni Mandva meditated, Mandi derived its name from him. For a long period of time, Mandi remained the capital of the princely state of Mandi. But today, Mandi is a modern town which is developing very fast. However, Mandi has succeeded in retaining its heritage and traditional culture and the 81 old stone temples are a living example of that. Besides these old temples, the old palaces in Mandi are glorious examples of 'colonial architecture'. The other notable tourist spots in and around Mandi includes:
- Oginder Nagar
- Rewalsar Lake
- Prashar Lake
- Sunder Nagar
- Macchial Lake
- Janjehli
Rail and road are the most easiest way of commuting to
Mandi. The narrow gauge trains that stop at the Joginder Nagar and Shimla Railway station are the nearest railway stations to Mandi but one can avail the broad gauge trains that stop at Chandigarh and Kalka. By road one can take the routes from Shimla, Chandigarh, Pathankot and Delhi. There are a number of Bus companies who have services linking Mandi with the nearby towns.
