Rewalsar Lake in the Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh is an important place of worship for Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists alike. It is this characteristic feature that makes Rewalsar unique. It is a stunning natural lake in Rewalsar, known for its floating islands of reeds and fish. Around the lake are Hindu, Buddhist and Sikh shrines. You can walk around the entire lake in 30 minutes. On the shores of the lake there are numerous facilities, restaurants and stores.
The legend of Padmasambhava
Legend has it that the legendary scholar and teacher Padmasambhava used his extraordinary powers to fly from Rewalsar to Tibet. The belief is that the tiny floating reed islands in Rewalsar Lake carry the spirit of Padmasambhava manifesting in these tiny islands. A huge monument of Padmasambhava is also located in Rewalsar. This is also the place where Sage Lomas is said to have done his penance to please Lord Shiva.
Rewalsar Lake
Rewalsar Lake is located at an altitude of about 1,360 meters on a ridge surrounded by dense vegetation. The lake is famous for the small floating reeds that can be seen floating above the water. The lake is considered sacred by Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists alike. The rectangular lake has a circumference of 735 meters. The lake is overlooked by a 12 meter high statue of Padmasambhava and is the second largest statue in the country.
Gurudwara Shri Rewalsar Sahib
Rewalsar also has a Gurudwara, Shri Rewalsar Sahib, which is associated with the 10th Guru, Guru Gobind Singh Ji, who called upon the Pahari Rajas to join his struggle against the Mughals. The gurudwara was built in the 1930s by Raja Joginder Sen of Mandi.
Hindu Temples in Rewalsar
Along the lake are Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Krishna, Lord Shiva and Sage Lomas. The famous Naina Devi Ji temple is located on a hill 10 kilometers from Rewalsar. The belief is that the eyes of Sati fell at this place and a temple of Naina Devi was built at this holy place. People from all over the state visit the temple throughout the year. Near the Naina Devi temple is another lake called Kunt Bhayog, named after Kunti, the mother of the Pandavas. It is believed that Arjun created the lake to quench his mother’s thirst.
Buddhist Monasteries in Rewalsar
Rewalsar is an important Buddhist site in the state because of mythological stories about Padmasambhava, the 8th century saint. Rewalsar is one of the most popular Buddhist pilgrimage destinations in India. Rewalsar is also home to the Drikung Kagyud Gompa, an institute for Buddhist studies. The Sakyamuni statue is also located here. Another important monastery is Zigar Gompa. The monasteries are beautifully decorated inside with stuccoes and paintings.
Sarkidhar; hill of the lakes
Rewalsar is located in a region known as Sarkidhar, which means hills of lakes. There are seven lakes, which include Rewalsar, located in Sarkidhar. Most of them are dry but few fill up with water during the rainy season. Two lakes that never dry up are Rewalsar Lake and Kunt Bhayog Lake, which are 7 kilometers apart from each other.
How to reach Rewalsar
Rewalsar is located near Mandi, the nearest town. Rewalsar can be reached via Ner Chowk, Sunder Nagar or Mandi. It is located about 25 kilometers from Nerchowk and Mandi. From Nerchowk, you need to drive on Nerchowk – Una State Highway and then turn left at Kalkhar. After five minutes drive you will reach Rewalsar. If you are driving from Chandigarh to Manali, from New Chowk you need to turn left for Rewalsar.
Rewalsar A trip with the family
When we did our Himachal tour from Delhi to Manali in our Tata Nexon, we spent one night in Rewalsar. We stayed at the HPTDC hotel called Tourist Inn. The hotel was good, though a bit on the expensive side. After an overnight stay with a morning tour and walk around Rewalsar Lake, we drove to Manali via Mandi. We first drove through Rewalsar to Mandi, passing through breathtaking landscapes, forests and villages. It was an incredible, exciting and exhilarating adventure. Mandi is only 25 kilometers from Rewalsar, but the drive took almost an hour. We had our Breakfast en route at one of the dhabas along the highway.
Here are a few videos from this stunning place in Himachal Pradesh.