Rewalsar, India

Demographics

As of the 2001 India census, Rewalsar had a population of 1369. Males constitute 54% of the population and females 46%. Rewalsar has an average literacy rate of 76%, higher than the national average of 74.04%: male literacy is 78%, and female literacy is 73%. In Rewalsar, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Geography

Rewalsar is located at an altitude of 1360 m above sea level. It is connected to Mandi by a motorable road and is about 25 km from Mandi. Lying in the Southern Himalayan belt, winters in Rewalsar can be freezing, while summers are generally pleasant.

Religion

Rewalsar is sacred to adherents of three major Dharma religions - Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism.

Hinduism

Seven theologocal lakes associated with the Pandavas of Mahabharata are located above Rawalsar. Also associated with Rawalsar are the legends of Lord Shiva and Lomas Rishi. There is also a famous Krishna temple in the town.

The Hindu history of rewalsar is found in Sakand Puran. Rishi named Lomus was searching for place to worship. He traveled and climbed the top of Drona mountain, from the top of mountain he saw a beautiful lake surrounded by beautiful trees, flowers and birds. He decided to meditate at the bank of the lake, written as hridyalashwar in Skand Purana. He meditated here and according to Skand purana Lord Shiva and Mata Parvati blessed him by telling the secrets of this place where all the Devatas and Ganas are in the form of flowers, floating lands and trees.

Sikhism

The tenth Guru of Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh visited Rawalsar to consult with kings of the Hill states seeking support against the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. He stayed at Rawalsar for a month. Raja Joginder Sen of Mandi built a gurudwara at Rawalsar in 1930 to commemorate the Guru's visit. The place is particularly sacred to Namdhari Sikhs due to its mention in Sau Sakhi as a sanctuary.

Buddhism

The famous Rawalsar lake ('Tso Pema' to Tibetans) is associated with Padmasambhava (also known as Guru Rinpoche), who is recognized as a second Buddha. One version of a legend has it that the King Arashadhar of Mandi had Padmasambhava burnt alive after rumours that the Guru had attempted to teach his daughter the Dharma, which was not accepted then. The pyre burned for a full week, with great clouds of black smoke arising from it, but after a week, a lake appeared at the spot where he was burnt and Padmasambhava manifested himself as a 16-year-old boy from within a lotus in the middle of the lake. The king, repenting his actions, married his daughter with Padmasambhava. It was from Tso Pema that Padmasambhava went to Tibet to spread Vajrayana Buddhism.

The Tsechu fair was held in Rawalsar in 2004 to commemorate the birthday of Padmasambhava. The fair was inaugurated by the Dalai Lama and was attended by Urgyen Trinley Dorje Karmapa along with 50,000 other Buddhist pilgrims. The fair was held after a gap of 12 years.

Rawalsar came to be known as a sacred place for Buddhists and two monasteries — the Drikung Kadyud Gompa and Tso-Pema Ogyen Heru-kai Nyingmapa Gompa are located here.

There is a huge (37.5 m. or 123 ft.) new statue of Padmasmabhava that was consecrated, blessed and inaugurated by H.H the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet on 1 April 2012.

The present head of the Drukpa Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, Gyalwang Drukpa, was born here in 1963.

Rewalsar Lake

The lake around which the town of Rewalsar is established has a maximum depth of 6.5 metres. The lake is oligotrophic in nature. It is rectangular in shape, with the catchment area situated to its north and west.

Religious places

At Rewalsar there are three Hindu temples. These are dedicated to the sage Lomas, to Lord Krishna and to Lord Shiva. There are two Tibetan monasteries located at opposite ends of the lake. Also there is a gurudwara was built in 1930 by Raja Joginder Sen of Mandi. It commemorates Guru Gobind Singh's visit, when he sought to evolve a common strategy with the hill rulers against the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.

Other attractions

The forest department maintains a small zoo at Rewalsar. Above Rewalsar, the 'Seven Lakes' are also of interest.

Accommodations

There is a Himachal Pradesh Tourism Hotel and some private hotels in Rewalsar.

Air

The nearest airport from Rewalsar is Bhuntar, which is around 63 km from the town of Mandi.

Rail

The closest railhead is in Kiratpur which is 125 km away from the town of Mandi.

Road

Rewalsar is 24 km by road from Mandi. Taxis and buses are available at Mandi. •• रिवालसर-दिल्ली •• (Rewalsar-Delhi) (हिमसुता) Volvo bus

वाया: कलखर-जाहू-लदरौर-भोटा-ऊना-चण्डीगढ़ दूरी: 510 km | किराया: ₹1209/-

Rewalsar- 6:45 pm | Jahu- 8:00 pm Una- 10:30 pm | Chandigarh- 12:45 am Delhi- 5:15 am

Delhi To- 10:15 pm | Chandigarh- 3:00 am Una- 5:00 am | Jahu- 7:45 am Rewalsar- 8:45 am Edit by pankaj sharma