Raj Madhav Rai Temple

Situated in Seri Bazar, Bhagwan Muhalla, Samkhetar in the heart of Mandi city, Himachal Pradesh, this hill temple stands as a significant spiritual and heritage landmark.

The temple’s architecture reflects a unique style and its legacy is closely tied to the royal history of Mandi, having been built by Raja Suraj Sen. Recognized as both a state and living heritage temple, Raj Madhav Rai Temple continues to be a focal point of devotion and community life.

Devotees visiting the temple can participate in daily aarti, with rituals conducted in both Sanskrit and Hindi. The temple is open for darshan from 5:00 AM to 12:00 PM and again from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM, allowing ample opportunity for pilgrims to seek blessings.

Entry for darshan is free, making it accessible to all visitors. The best times to visit include the festival season, winter months from November to February, summer from March to May, early mornings between 5 and 8 AM, and during the evening aarti.

Raj Madhav Rai Temple is especially vibrant during major festivals such as the International Mandi Shivaratri Fair, held in February-March, and Holi in March.

During these festivals, the temple hosts large community kitchens (bhandaras), serving traditional sweet offerings like mishri and dried fruit panjiri or charnamrit after the daily aarti. Reaching the temple is convenient for pilgrims and tourists alike.

Arrive in Mandi via NH-21 (Chandigarh-Manali Highway) by bus or taxi to the Mandi Bus Stand. From there, the temple is a short walk or a 5-10 minute auto-rickshaw ride through the bustling local bazaar lanes near Indira Market and School Bazaar.

The nearest railway stations are Joginder Nagar (50 km away) and Chandigarh Railway Station (187 km away). For air travelers, Bhuntar Airport (Kullu-Manali Airport) is 60 km from Mandi, while Chandigarh International Airport is 180 km away.

A variety of accommodation options are available nearby, including Hotel Shiva in Tarna, Hotel Four Seasons opposite Indira Market in Samkhetar, Standard Hotel Restaurant and Bar near the Old Bus Stand, and Grand Hotel in Talyahar/Tarna.

Visitors can also explore nearby attractions such as Baba Bhootnath Mandir, Tarna Mata Temple, Pandoh Dam, Rewalsar Lake, and Prashar Lake, making Raj Madhav Rai Temple an ideal destination for spiritual seekers and travelers in Himachal Pradesh.