Heritage Walk Showcases Timeless Legacy of Mandi During International Shivratri Festival.
Shimla:
Bringing history alive amid the vibrant celebrations of the International Shivratri Festival, the district administration of Mandi has launched a specially curated Heritage Walk to highlight the town’s rich historical, cultural, and religious heritage. The initiative has received an enthusiastic response from residents and visitors alike, emerging as a major attraction alongside the week-long festivities.
The Heritage Walk was flagged off from the historic Seri Stage on the occasion of Shivratri by Regional Transport Officer (RTO) Naveen Kumar. Welcoming the participants, he formally launched the first batch and described the initiative as an effort to reconnect people with Mandi’s glorious past and architectural splendour.
Seventeen participants joined the inaugural session, which commenced at Seri Stage and guided them through a carefully planned route covering prominent temples and heritage landmarks of the town. The walk included visits to the revered Madhav Rai Temple, Baba Bhootnath Temple, Panchvaktra Mahadev Temple, Hanuman Ghat, Khuarani Temple, Ardhanarishwar Temple, Trilokinath Temple, Mahamrityunjay Temple, Tarna Devi Temple, Barsille Temple, Ganpati Temple, before concluding at Siddhakali Temple near the Clock Tower in Indira Market.
During the walk, heritage guide Satya Mahesh Sharma provided in-depth insights into the architectural styles of the ancient shrines, the history of the erstwhile princely state of Mandi, local religious traditions, and the town’s cultural evolution over centuries. Participants described the experience as both informative and engaging, stating that the guided exploration deepened their understanding of Mandi’s spiritual and historical significance.
RTO Naveen Kumar informed that the Heritage Walk is being organised in two sessions daily during the festival period. He noted that public response has been overwhelming, with registrations for all four sessions scheduled up to February 17 already fully booked. At present, registrations remain open only for the sessions slated for February 18 and 20.
The first batch included Pushp Kashyap, Roop Lal Negi, Romita Sharma, Parul Arora, Hemeshwar Kapoor, Shikambari Verma, Arjun Rana, Aman Thakur, Om Prakash Bisht, Ramesh Thakur, Nirmala Thakur, Anita Thakur, Vidya Sharma, Krishna Thakur, Rajni Bajpai, and Preeti Sharma.
By blending storytelling, history, and devotion, the Heritage Walk has added a meaningful cultural dimension to the International Shivratri Festival, offering participants a unique opportunity to rediscover the timeless heritage of Mandi while celebrating one of its most cherished festivals.
