Pattan Valley : Udaipur – Hidden Gem of Lahaul
Hello all,
Pattan Valley is one of the less explored valleys of Lahaul, as it is not on the way to Leh. The most picturesque town of this valley is Udaipur, on the banks of the Chandrabhaga River. Yes! There is Udaipur in Himachal also. When we told our friends and family, they all were surprised that you had been mountains. Right? Then how come you are in the desert now…
You will notice the landscape change once you enter this beautiful valley. The valley becomes greener and more serene as the land is more fertile here. You should get down at every turn of those winding roads to take a picture. The valley is vital religiously also. This valley has everything from Triloknath temple to Mrikula Devi temple and from quiet, peaceful and beautiful monasteries and stupas!
Triloknath Temple:
The temple is located 10 km rom Udaipur and 45 km from Keylong at an altitude of 2760 meters. The word Triloknath means lord of three universes. It is also named as is Tunda Vihar. The shrine is worshipped by Hindus and Buddhists as ‘Lord Shiv’ and as ‘Arya Avalokiteshwar’, respectively. It is one of the few temples worldwide where Hindus and Buddhists worship the same deity.
There are a few stories related to the temple. Many people believe it was a Buddhist temple, but the original idol of God was stolen a few decades ago. Some believe that the King of Kullu attempted to take the idol, but it was impossible for him as it became too heavy. Once you enter, there is a small beautiful courtyard with small Shivling and nandi with a Buddhist prayer wheel. There are two pillars on either side of the main deity, and it is believed that if you have not done any sins, only you can pass from the sides of the pillar. It amazes me how these little beliefs make us more spiritual. Our country is standing on faith in such sentiments. Whether we mould ourselves into beautiful and kind humans with those myths or continue to be ignorant is up to us. But we should let faith shine among all chaos.
Marikula Mata Temple
The temple is dedicated to Marikula Devi, an incarnation of Goddess Durga. This temple is one of the most holy sites in the entire Spiti Lahaul valley. The temple is from 11th or 12th century and is located in the main bazaar of Udaipur town. It is also known as Chaloni temple. It is believed that one should not say Chalo once you enter this temple. Because if you say so, the spirits of door guardians will also come with you. The guardians’ statues are stained with the blood of sacrificed goats. And you have to go again to this temple to drop them.
The temple is alluring, with a simple exterior but stunningly beautiful interiors. The interior is made up of wood with intricate carvings of Mahabharat and Ramayan. It is said that Lord Vishwa Karma himself has done the carvings. The door to the main temple chamber is small, and you have to bend and go inside. The silver idol of Kali Maa is unique with a mixture of Kashmiri, Tibetan and Rajasthani styles.
There is one stone outside the temple, and it is believed that only the true devotee of Bheem (one of the Pandav) will be able to lift the stone. We couldn’t do it, but Mr. Shubham did it like a piece of cake!
Tupchiling Gompa with Chandrabhaga River Sangam at Tandi:
The monastery was originally known as Gandala and was situated near the peak known as Drilbu Ri, Ghanta Parvat. Gandhala has yielded a piece of archaeological evidence, a relic of Indan Budhhism, a copper lota dating in late 200 C E. Tupchiling was the residence of lamas of Gandhala monastery. The main statue of Tshedag in the present monestary was brought down from Gandhala.
It is now situated on a hill near Tandi Bridge at Chandra and Bhaga River Sangam. It is the oldest monastery. From there, we can see the serene confluence of the blue waters of River Chandra and the green waters of River Bhaga. This monastery has idols of Guru Padmasambhava, Brijeshwari Devi and Goddess Kali.
Shiv temple, Meling / Mayling:
It is a small temple in Meling, a small Village in Lahaul, 37 KM from Keylong. The temple is in an isolated and peaceful environment and is one of the least-explored places in Lahaul Valley. Here there are 84 natural Shivlings of Lord Shiv. Women are not allowed inside the temple gate. The view from the parking areas is so serene that you might want to sit there for hours and hours. The myth is that the Shivlings are Lord Shiva’s whole family that settled here. It is said that that whatever you ask from Lord Shiva in this temple, your wish will come true.
Hadmiba Devi temple, Jahalma
There is a small Hadimba Devi temple in Jahalma. You have to climb down a few stairs from the main road to reach the temple. It is the temple of the Sister goddess of Hadimba Devi, residing at Manali. The views from the temple are amazing.
Mini Manali
It is a small park-like area with dense trees along the river bank. The river beach is also clean and calm. We had a wonderful time here. It is the quietness of the place that we loved immensely.
Stay at Udaipur:
Udaipur is one of the main town of Lahaul so you will get few hotels. But there are many homestays available, so you can enjoy local culture. Few dharamshalas are there near Triloknath temple.
So you must be feeling the overdose of Lahaul on our blog, but trust us, this charismatic valley needs many such posts and many more days! I hope you keep reading this page for the last post of this valley next week; that was the best day of my trip and the best place, in my opinion…
Contact number of Hippie in Hills: 8978614753 / 9459914753
Thank you…
wonderful Place and captivating writing.
Thank you so much dear…
Escape the chaos of the modern world and find solace in the tranquillity of Nature
So true! Our chaotic minds need this calm. Thank you.
True and perfect description of wonderfull place .
How do u guys manage to be in so true love of nature
Thank you so much for kind words. Don’t we all love nature? It’s just a matter of time when we realise to go back to where we belong!
Very nice.. Interesting for reading
Thank you…
Very beautifully written..
Thank you so much..
Miyar Valley Is near by I suppose
we are planning to do Spiiti in May next year but someone told to look around for Lahaul and Ueaipur !
After reading it we are sure we will go ther
People say Spiti is equally beautiful, but if you love waterfalls and little bit greenery then Lahaul is the place for you.
Next blog is about Miyar Valley only and nothing can match its beauty…
Thank you for appreciating…
Woe….wow….beautiful velly..Amazing…dying to Go There
Yes! These places are stupefyingly serene and peaceful…thank you.