Parashar Temple

Parashar Temple is located 40 km Northeast of Mandi town, on the ridge above Kataula village.

Its altitude is 2,730 metres / 8,954 feet above sea level.

The Temple is located on banks of a lake called Parashar Lake.

Parashar Lake has a patch of floating grass. The island of grass moves inside the Lake at very slow pace - not visible to eyes. However according to shopkeepers, location of floating grass differed in the morning and in the evening.

In the vicinity of temple, small flowers made their appearance on last day of May 2015.

Circumambulation of the Lake offers good views of the Temple.

Parashar Temple, constructed in Pagoda style, was built by Raja Ban Sen in the first half of fourteenth century.

Parashar Temple, built in 14th century, is a shrine where the rulers of Mandi once worshipped.

The multiple roofs of the Temple are done in slanting slates.

Animal sacrifice is prohibited in Temple premises.

Public transport bus plies between Mandi and Parashar only once in the morning. After visiting Parashar, tourists travelling by private vehicle need not come back to Mandi but can go ahead to Bhuntar / Kullu. Basic accommodation is available at Parashar; however, it is advisable to stay at Mandi / Bhuntar / Kullu.

Budhi Nagin Temple

Budhi Nagin Temple is near Saryolsar Lake in Kullu District of Himachal Pradesh.

Please access following link for details:

http://highlakehp.blogspot.com/2016/04/saryolsar-lake.html

Churdhar Temple

Churdhar Temple is little below the Churdhar Peak [11,966 feet above sea level]. The distance between Churdhar Temple and Churdhar Peak can be covered within half an hour, and the terrain is steep and rocky.

Churdhar Peak lies at the border of Sirmour and Shimla districts of Himachal Pradesh. From Sirmour district side, it is two days' trek [one way] and from Shimla district side, it is a day's trek [one way]. I did the trek from Shimla district side during October 2015.

Chopal / Chaupal is a tehsil in Shimla district. Sarain / Saranh is a village in Chopal / Chaupal tehsil. Sarain / Saranh is famous for traditional Bijat Maharaj Temple.

Bijat Maharaj Temple has a sarai [dharmashala]. However, as I reached Chopal / Chaupal at night, I stayed there instead of going ahead to Sarain / Saranh. On the next day, the sarai at Sarain / Saranh appeared good from outside; however, there was no motorable road up to it. Trekkers / pilgrims had to walk from the road end [near bus stand of Sarain / Saranh] to the sarai. The distance between Chopal / Chaupal and Sarain / Saranh is 11 km.
Chopal / Chaupal had only two dirty hotels; I chose the less dirty one for two nights stay. The food was available only in restaurants outside the hotel in the market.
Initially, the trek was easy and passed by Forest Rest House.

                                                       

Altitudes of Chopal / Chaupal and Sarain / Saranh are not known. However as per a Himachal Tourism's publication '30 Easy Treks in Himachal', the altitude of Forest Rest House is 7,267 feet above sea level.
The way was through Himalayan forest.

Signboards indicated way to the Churdhar Temple.

Some philanthropists had channelized natural sources of water for the benefit of trekkers / pilgrims.

Nearly half an hour after beginning the trek, we came to an flat open area named Halda Jubbar. There was a camp which looked like a deserted one. Interested persons may contact the telephone numbers in the photograph to stay at the nature camp.

Last few stretches of easy trek can be seen.

Breathtaking views of surrounding hills was a relief.

I observed coins inserted inside tree trunks; however, reason for the same could not be found out.

Somebody had put stones atop tree trunk.

The 'easy' way ended below this point. Thereafter, it was a tough way through rocks and boulders. At many places, there was no way; I had to move upwards alone on a slippery path.

As I moved to high altitude, vegetation became sparse.

After very steep ascent, the route become a bit flat. The Temple is visible at right hand upper corner of the next photograph.

The last stretch to the Temple was through boulders.

Wild flowers and plants en route were also photographed.

A few shops and dhabas were found near the Temple.

Dhabas were also available at a place in route. The book '30 Easy Treks in Himachal' had mentioned that place [not the one in above photograph] as Kharach; however, there was no mention of the place on that location.
I have already shared photographs of small shrines at the beginning of the post. The main temple looked like a new structure.

In the next photograph, the first building is the Temple and not the red roofed one.

Photography in sanctum sanctorum of the Temple was prohibited. However with permission from the priest, I photographed a few wooden sculptures from inside wall. A select few are presented below:

A poster in the Temple depicted 108 names of Lord Shiva.

Small streams accompanied intermittently during the trek.

All pilgrims go to Churdhar Peak and stay at Churdhar Temple sarai for a night. The Temple administration provides basic food [dal and chawal] and dormitory accommodation [only blankets below and above the body] to the pilgrims at nominal price. Pilgrims are free to have food at outside dhabas against payment.
On earlier day, I did high altitude trek to Shali Tibba [8+8 km] and for Churdhar, I did another high altitude trek [8+8 km].
I was extremely tired and had no plans to stay at Churdhar. I had to go back to Chopal / Chaupal after visiting Bijat Maharaj Temple at Sarain / Saranh. Hence, I did not go to the Churdhar Peak and after visiting Churdhar Temple, and came back on the same day.
Throughout the trek, I could see electric wires. Surprisingly, electricity was available at Churdhar!

                                                                                  
The forests are protected by declaring 66 sq km area as Churdhar Sanctuary.
During snowfall, the Temple is closed; however, exact dates could not be found out.
No tour / trekking company organizes this trek / pilgrimage. Trekkers may inquire availability of public transport bus [up to Sarain / Saranh] at Shimla and plan the trek accordingly. Alternatively, they may hire a vehicle for three / four days from Shimla depending upon whether they want to stay at Churdhar Temple sarai. Trekkers may also avoid winter season as the Temple may be closed and snow may make the trek route difficult.