Panchbakhtar Temple / Panchvaktra Temple

At a distance of 1 km from Mandi Bus Station, Panchvaktra Temple or Panchbakhtar Temple is a sacred Hindu temple situated in Mandi. Situated at the confluence of Beas and Suketi rivers, it is one of the oldest temples and among the most-visited tourist places in Mandi.

Mandi is not just a popular touristy place of Himachal Pradesh, although a unique one known for its spiritual significance. It is often referred to as 'Varanasi of Hills', or 'Choti Kashi', or 'Kashi of Himachal' as the town has as many as 81 temples spread across its area. One such ancient shrine is that of Panchvaktra Temple which was dedicated, Lord Shiva. It is one of the protected monuments in Mandi town, which comes under the Archaeological Survey of India.

Panchvaktra Temple is a supreme shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva. The foundation date of the Panhvaktra temple is still unknown but was restored under the reign of Sidh Sen's kingship (1684-1727) as it was damaged due to floods.

Dedicated to the five-headed Lord Shiva, the Panchbakhtar Temple is a highly revered shrine in Mandi. Built-in the typical Shikhara architecture style, the temple stands on a huge platform and is supported by four minutely carved stone pillars. Inside the temple, there is a huge statue of Lord Shiva.with five faces, which depict different characters of Lord Shiva - Aghora, Ishana, Tat Purusha, Vaamdeva, and Rudra. Panchvaktra is defined as the union of all these.

The temple attracts a huge number of pilgrims during the Maha Shivratri festival annually. During monsoons, this temple gets submerged in the Beas River and there is no access to it.

Timings: 6 AM - 6 PM

Entry: Free