Munish Sood
Mandi
This year’s International Mahashivratri Festival in Mandi is set to offer more than rituals and processions. For the first time, the district administration is introducing a daily Heritage Walk, aimed at opening up the town’s layered history, sacred geography and cultural evolution to visitors and locals alike.
Designed as an immersive experience, the heritage walk will take participants through the old quarters of Mandi, narrating the story of how the town emerged as a major spiritual and cultural centre in the Himalayan region. The initiative seeks to move beyond conventional tourism by allowing people to walk through history—past ancient temples, stone sculptures and architectural landmarks that define Mandi’s identity.
According to officials, the walk has been carefully planned to highlight temples and heritage structures dating back three to five centuries, many of which remain central to the town’s religious and social life. Participants will be introduced to the architectural styles, mythological associations and historical context of these structures, offering insight into the spiritual worldview of the era in which they were built.
The initiative is also expected to strengthen Mandi’s image as ‘Chhoti Kashi’, a title earned due to its dense concentration of ancient temples along the banks of the Beas river. Temples such as Trilokinath, Panchvaktra, Ardhanarishwar and Baba Bhootnath stand as enduring reminders of the town’s past under the Sen Rajput rulers, whose patronage shaped Mandi’s religious landscape in the 16th century.
Beyond temple history, the heritage walk will explore the social life, artistic traditions and urban evolution of the former princely state, helping visitors understand how faith, governance and daily life were closely intertwined. Officials believe the initiative will help bridge the gap between ritual participation and cultural understanding, especially for younger generations.
Tourism stakeholders see the heritage walk as a step towards experience-based tourism, which is gaining traction across heritage towns in India. By adding structured storytelling to Shivratri festivities, Mandi hopes to offer a deeper, more meaningful engagement for pilgrims and tourists arriving from across the country and abroad.
As the town prepares for the influx of devotees during Mahashivratri, the heritage walk promises to add a reflective and educational layer to the celebrations—one that celebrates not just devotion, but the rich civilisational story that has sustained Mandi for centuries.
