The Nature's Beautiful gift "Rewalsar Lake in the lap of lower Himalayas, district Mandi, Himachal Pradesh "

 Himachal Pradesh, the beautiful state of India has its immense beauty in its snow covered mountains, vast meandering green valleys, green thick forests, crystal clear flowing water rivers and lakes. Today I am going to share very beautiful , historic lake  "The Rewalsar Leke " also called "Tso Pema "

                          

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The Rewalsar a small beautiful town of Himachal Pradesh is sacred place for Hindu, Buddha and Sikh religions. This town is situated at a distance of 25 km from Mandi district head quarters ,61 km from Hamirpur  and 21 km from Jahu on Mandi Rewalsar Bhambla Una road. When coming from Una, the route is Una Nerchowk road and bifurcates from Kalkhar, from where Rewalsar is only 5 km. 

The Rewalsar lake is situated at an altitude of 1360 metres from mean sea level in the beautiful hills of lower Himalayas. The circumference of the lake is about 750 metres, and is a mid altitude lake. 

                Rewalsar Lake and Mountains View

The history of Lake as per "The Puranas " is that the great Boddh religious Guru Padmasambhav  , also called Rinpoche  ,who is known for establishing Monastery in Tibet and introducing  Buddhism in Tibet also came to this place. 

Princess Mandarva , the daughter of king Arshdhara, the king of Mandi state was very much impressed with teachings of Religious guru Padmasambhav and started taking teachings from Padmasambhav. She was a dedicated pupil of Padmasambhav.With the passage of time Princess Mandarva and Padmasambhav were getting spiritually connected. A cowhered who saw all that spread the news that Princess is flirting with Charlatan. When the king came to know about this, he ordered that Padmasambhav be put on fire. At those times  the Buddhism was seen with doubtful eyes. A large pyre of wood was arranged and Padmasambhav was put on fire in that pyre. The pyre remained burning for seven days. After seven days the ashes turned into a lake and Padmasambhav appeared on the Lotus also called lotus born. When the king Arshdhara came to know, he realised his mistake and then married his daughter Princess Mandarva with Padmasambhav. 

Thus this holy lake came into existence. Boddh religious temple also exist at Rewalsar. 

    View of 160 feet high Padmasambhav 's Murti

It is also believed that the Maharishi Lomas had held his penance in the devotion to Lord Shiva at this place. Then in reward Lord Shiva gave the Maharishi Lomas the seven floating islands, which always move in the lake and a veritable feast to the eyes. Lomas Maharishi temple also exist here along with other Hindu temples. 

The tenth Sikh Guru  "Guru Govind Singh " had also spent some time at this place, so a "Gurdawara " is also built at this place. So Rewalsar is a sacred place for Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhist. Shisu fair is celebrated here in the month of February, and Vaishakhi fair is also held on 13 April every year at this place, pilgrims from different parts of country and abroad used to visit. 

                   View of Rewalsar lake & Town

It is believed that the lake water is flowing under ground from Rewalsar to Nagchala, the place situated 10 kn from Mandi on Chandigarh- Mandi -Manali National Highway. This belief was strengthened  , that once a fish was tagged with golden ring in the nose and the same fish with golden ring was seen at Nagchala water resource. The lake is also associated with Nag cult. Thus people have deep  religious connection with this place. 

Just adjoining to the lake, there is a small zoo located up hill of the ground, ahead of entrance. Visitors also  used to visit Zoo. 

The place is very beautiful and place full, there is a famous Nainadevi temple at a distance of 10 km on top of the hill, just ahead of seven sar. On must visit this place. 

                 Beautiful view of Nainadevi hills. 

                                   By :-  

                                                   Er. R C Verma.