Chindi, Karsog

Chindi

Situated at the height of 1850m Chindi is a small hamlet surrounded by thick forests and the apple. This place offers some of the most beautiful and picturesque view with awesome views. The place is still not on the main tourist circuit hence offer a great peace and tranquility. Chindi has good road connectivity, small markets, and accommodation. This excellent offbeat destination holds the charm for which Himachal is famous for.

The name "Chindi" is derived from the Puranic Goddess Chandika, a temple dedicated to the goddess is situated just beside the road to Karsog.

Chindi is one of the most picturesque places in Himachal. Chindi is full of crisscrossed streams and carpeted with fields of vegetables and grain. Fertile floors, orchards, and thick forest which rises to touch the snow-covered mountains, all add to the beauty of Chindi. The houses in the Chindi village have a blend of old-age architecture with whom the phrase picture-perfect goes fully. 

The place is full of legends and folklore. Agriculture and horticulture is the main economy of the area and based on the time of year you visit, you can get apples, lintels, and fresh organic vegetables in abundance. This place is well connected with the roads and can be accommodated well while driving on the main tourist circuits of Himachal such as Shimla, Kullu - Manali, Rampur, and Kinnaur.

How to Reach: 

By Road: Chindi is at a distance of 215 km from Chandigarh. The distance from Shimla to Chindi via Tattapani is 90 km.

Chindi can be reached from Mandi, Rampur and Kullu as well.

By Rail: Nearest train station is at Shimla, 90 Km. The Broad Gauge Train station is at Kalka, 177 km.

By Air: The nearest airports are Chandigarh and Shimla, at a distance of 243 km and 112 km respectively.

Places to see around:

Chandika Temple: This famous ancient temple of Goddess Durga is situated at the Shimla-Karsog road which is also known as Chandika or Chindi Devi. The village Chindi has derived its name from this old temple only. The temple has been renovated by retaining the old architecture. An annual fair is held in the month of July –August.

Lovers Hill: Situated at a height of 2330 m this is a beautiful leisure walk through thick forest. This walk is very useful for birdwatching and nature lovers.

Lord Ram and Hanuman Temple: This temple is located on the way from Chindi to Karsog. A huge Idol of Lord Hanuman is the main attraction of the temple. It offers a spectacular view of the Karsog valley and serves as the start point of the trek to Shikari Devi.

Karsog: Karsog is 16 km from Chindi. A sub divisional administrative headquarter of the Mandi district, Karsog serves as a junction for the neighboring villages and is the main market of this valley. Surrounded by Terraced Fields, it offers a great view and greenery. The crops grown are wheat, corn, rice and a variety of lentils and beans. The valley is surrounded by the two twin river streams named Amla and Bimla.

Mamleshwar Mahadev:  Situated at a distance of 2 Km from Karsog, the temple is located in the village of Mamel. The temple dates back to Mahabharata and is believed to be founded by Pandavas. Another legend tells that the Ravan’s soul didn't get peace until the idol of Bhagwan Shiva was installed here by Lord Rama. It is also believed that great rishi Parshurama and Bhrigu have meditated here. The architectural design of the temples is quite attractive and carved out using wooded sleepers of considerable size. The temple is an attractive combination of wood and slate structure and it is believed that a sacred fire kept burning from the old times without the increase in the level of the ashes.

There other attractions of great amazement in the temple are a large drums made of a single trunk of rhinoceros, very rarely available and the large grain of wheat which is believed to be from the time of mythological times of Satyuga. Every year, Vijaydashmi is celebrated in full swing and a fair is held around in October. Other fairs that hold great importance are Nalwar Mela and Shivratri. 

Kamakshya Mata: The Kamakshya temple is located in Kau village at a distance of 5 km from Mamel and 7 km from Karsog. The Legend is that the meditations and sacrifices made by Lord Parshurama pleased the Goddess to appear at this place. The idol of the Goddess, made of "Ashtadhatu" (alloy of seven Metals) gives a remarkable expression and one can see the intensity of the. The goddess is also depicted as "Mahishasuramardini" the slayer of Mahisha, a buffalo shaped demon. The temple is a perfect example of local architecture and wood carving. The temple contains few other chambers housing the idols of Lord Vishnu, Bhairav and Nag Pundari. A "Shivalinga" is also installed in the bed-chamber of the Goddess. The original idol of the goddess is placed in an underground chamber of the temple. The temple also has a large drum similar to Mamleshwar Mahadev temple of Mamel.

Another legend explains that the goddess saved the locals from the forceful recruitment by the King of Suket to assist the Britishers in the second world war. It was the goddess who bought war to an end and saved the people from being slane. A fair is organized in June and July to celebrate the event. Dussehra is another major celebration that is held in the temple.

Kunhoo Dhar: 23 km away from Chindi, situated at a height of 1550 m is the wide flat-topped Kunhoo Dhar. The hilltop offers a 360-degree view of the area. You can see the entire Karsog valley and the Shikari Devi peak. You get a great view of Pir Panjal Ranges, the Hanuman Tibba, the Jalori Pass, Hattu Peak and Shali Tibba. There is a small pond and a temple dedicated to Kamakhya Devi and Nag Dhamooni. The legend says that this place housed the original palace of the former princely state of Suket. On the way to Kunhoo Dhar, you will find small temples dedicated to Shilgiri Nag at Mathel and the one to Ban (Van) Vibhuti Mata. A small cave by the road at Jalog is regarded to be a sacred place to Deoli Mata. 

Mahunag: Located around 21 km from Chindi towards Shimla is the famous Mahunag Temple dedicated to Nag Devta. You have to take detour from the main Shimla Karsog road. Mahunag temple is considered to be one of the most important temples in the area. This is considered being the main temple of the deity Mahunag and is believed to be connected with Karana of the epic - The Mahabharat. Another interesting story of Raja Shyam Singh of Suket is connected with the temple who was imprisoned by the Mughal Emperor of the Delhi and was held fast in a large drum. It was then the Nag Deity appeared in the form of a honey bee as Mahun before the Shyam Sen and asked the Raja to give him a place to stay. Instead, the Raja promised to give his half kingdom if he could go free. The Mahun then changed to the shape of Man and won that drum from Mughal Emperor in a game of chess. After returning to Suket, the Raja fulfilled his promise and gave half kingdom to Mahun and placed a pillar in the village of Nehri. Later, Mahun nag refused to accept the kingdom instead he asked for a small piece of land which is now the village of Bakhri and where the actual temple is located. The shrine is believed to be in existence since the 17th Century. 

Pangana: Pangana is situated at a distance of 23 km from Chindi via Bakhrot. This village was the original capital of Suket state before shifting it to Sunder Nagar. The centuries-old Devi Kot Temple is the perfect example of remarkable architectural skills of ancient times. The temple is packed with the wood meshed made from dressed stone which is raised to six storeys, approximately at a height of fifty feet. The deity Mahamaya and the princess of Suket, Chandravati is enshrined in the Compound. There are a total of seven temples in Pangana.

Kamrunag: Kamrunag is one of the finest low grade trek in himachal offering magnificent views and displaying the nature at its best. The place consists of a temple dedicated to Kamrunag, a powerful local deity and considered to be the god of rain. According to the legends, Kamrunag is the God Yaksha of Mahabharata, worshipped by Pandavas. There is a pond besides the temple and the entire shrine is surrounded by thick forest of deodar. The pond is full of offering made in the form of coins, gold & silver ornaments. The Shrine is a trek of 4-6 hours from the nearest road head (Chowki). Distance from Chindi to Chowki is 40 Km.