Manimahesh

Manimahesh — the holy Kailash — is located at an altitude of 5656 metres and down the foothills at an altitude of 4170 metres, nestling the scintillating Manimahesh lake.

Manimahesh Kailash, believed to be the abode of Lord Shiva, falls in the Bharmour tribal valley of Chamba district. This pilgrim place gains importance on two religious occasions, one on the Janamashtami and the other on Radhashtami. Only saints and sages grace the former while people from all walks of life undertake the latter.

Apart from the religious spirit, the steep hills and pointed crags glowing with crimson light, rippling springs and splashing cascades arrest the sensual consciousness of the travellers.

Lord Shiva is the presiding deity of this jatra. He is believed to reside in Kailash. A rock formation in the shape of a Shivling on Kailash is considered to be the manifestation of Lord Shiva. The snowfield at the base of the mountain is called Shiva's Chaugan by the local people.

According to the popular belief, the Lord is said to sport here with Parvati. Manimahesh Kailash is also known as a place of playground for Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.

It is a pilgrimage with a difference. For it is pilgrimage cum trekking! And a tough one at that.But with pleasant memories.

It is the Manimahesh Yatra in the Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh.

The Hindu religion is known for its system of circuit pilgrimages for ages. Be it a Dwadash (Twelve) Jyotirling Yatra or Panch(Five) Kedar Yatra or Asta(Eight) Vinayak Yatra or 51 Shaktipiths or   the tough circuit of Sapt (Seven)Kailash Yatra.

Unfortunately, Sapt Kailash is very important but not as popular as other circuits. Probably lack of awareness among people is the main reason.

There are seven Kailash Yatras to the places associated with Lord Shiva as per the Hindu scriptures. The main is Kailash Mansarovar fame Mount Kailash in Tibet. The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is known as one of the toughest religious pilgrimage centers in the world.

Other five Kailash Yatras in India include three in Himachal Pradesh. They are Manimahesh Kailash of Chamba district, Kinnaur Kailash of Kinnaur district and Shrikhand Kailash on the border of Shimla Manali districts.

Two other Kailash Yatras in Indian region are Aadi Kailash or Chhota Kailash in Pithoragarh district and Shri Kailash, near Gangotri in Uttaranchal State.

Not many know that the seventh Kailash Yatra is in Sri Lanka known as Southern Kailash in Katragama.

It attracts not only Hindus but Buddhists, Christians and Muslims too. The Kailash of South is the home of Kartikeya, the elder son of Lord Shiva.

For people in Himachal Pradesh the Manimahesh is like Ambaji in Gujarat. Just as people in Gujarat go to Ambaji, people in Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, throng the Manimahesh, which takes place in July, August and second half of September every year. This year in 2006, more than 4 lacs yatris visited to Manimahesh as per the local authorities estimates.

Manimahesh Yatra

The yatra is held every year during the month of August or September. Thousands of people visit the lake to bathe in its sacred water, on Radha asthami , the 15 th day following the festival of Janmashtami every year.

It is a colourful procession that starts from the Laxmi-Narayan temple in Chamba town and goes right upto the lake. It takes about 6 days to reach the lake. Pilgrims carry a sacred ‘ Chhari' on their shoulders. On reaching the lake, a night long ceremony is held and on the next day the devotees take a holy dip in the lake.After bathing in the holy waters, the pilgrims go around the lake three times.

How to reach Manimahesh?

By Train – Nearest Railway station Pathankot (210-km)

By Air – Nearist Airport Amritsar (270-kms.)

By Road – chamba is connected by road from Pathankot