Hadimba Mandir

Manali


This much-revered wood-and-stone temple, constructed in 1553, has a three-tier pagoda-style roof plus conical top. The wooden doorway is richly carved with figures of gods, animals and dancers, and the outside walls are adorned with antlers and ibex horns. The setting, amid towering deodar cedar trees around 2km northwest of central Manali, would be magical were it not for hordes of selfie-takers. They seek a nearby range of 'attractions', including photo-with-yak opportunities, a funfair and a trinket market.

Despite the tourism overload, the site is still deeply holy and pilgrims come from across India to honour Hadimba, the demon wife of the Pandava Bhima from the Mahabharata. Inside is a large sacrificial stone where grisly animal slaughters used to take place. Over several days in mid-May, the Dhungri Mela festival sees a gathering of devtas (village deities) carried here on palanquins. Gatothkach, the warrior son of Hadimba and Bhima, is worshipped in the form of a sacred tree growing behind the tourist market.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Manali attractions

1. Sacred Tree

0.15 MILES

Gatothkach, the warrior son of the Pandava Bhima and his demon wife Hadimba, is worshipped in the form of a sacred tree 200m southwest of the Hadimba…

2. Museum of Himachal Culture & Folk Art

0.16 MILES

This dusty little museum is worth the nominal entry fee if you're visiting the nearby Hadimba temple. Its most interesting feature is the case of models…

3. Water Tank

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A landmark on the hike to Lama Dugh: take the path heading uphill from here.

4. Hotel Delfryn

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A useful landmark on the way out of town on the Lama Dugh hike.

5. Nature Park

0.41 MILES

This woodland of magnificent towering deodars (cedars) offers the nicest walking route between the centre and Old Manali, though is not recommended for a…

6. HPTDC Club House

0.42 MILES

Himachal Tourism's amusingly low-tech leisure and games centre beside the Manalsu Nala stream includes swan-shaped pedal-boats, a little haunted house and…

7. Wildlife Information Centre

0.46 MILES

Though there's relatively minimal information here beyond a few photos of local wildlife species, the place is handy for a free toilet. More importantly,…

8. Von Ngari Institute

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This small Tibetan monastery has an atmospheric prayer room crammed with statues of bodhisattvas (enlightened beings) and revered lamas.

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