Mandi Sightseeing - Rewalsar Lake

Rewalsar Lake is at an altitude of 1360 m in district Mandi, 25 km from Mandi town. The lake has dark waters and is shaped liked a square and has a shoreline of 735 m. The lake is situated on a mountains spur and has lush foliage all around it. Rewalsar, like many of Himachal Pradeshs landmarks has a fair share of legend surrounding it and the lake is held sacred by Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists. Padmasambhava, the great Tantric and Buddhist Monk fled to Rewalsar from Tibet, using all his power to do so. After he came, small islands made by floating reeds appeared on the surface of the lake. It is on these that the spirit of Padmasambhava is said to reside. It was Padmasambhava who brought the Mahayana form of Buddhism, in which Buddha is worshipped as God rather than as a teacher to this part of the country. Rewalsar is also home to three gompas or Buddhist Monasteries and three Hindu Temples dedicated to Lord Krishna, Lord Shiva and to Rishi Lomas. There is also a small zoo near the lake and Kunt Bhyog Lake above Rewalsar Lake. Six other lakes in the area are the ones mentioned in the Mahabharata and the Pandava brothers are said to have escaped the house of wax when it was on fire through these lakes. All in all, en exciting, story-filled place to visit.