Why Should You Visit Rewalsar?

Rewalsar is a small town located in Mandi district. Like some of my previous unplanned journeys, this one came the same way. I hadn’t heard this name before and hadn’t known anything about it. While searching for offbeat places to visit in Himachal Pradesh, this place came, and I decided to visit Rewalsar. 

I booked a homestay through Airbnb and had no idea where it was located. So when I reached Rewalsar and called the homestay owner, he came to pick me up. We drove nearly 10 KM away from Rewalsar, and that’s when I learned that the homestay I had booked was actually in Sarkidhar village, not in Rewalsar. I thought I was just visiting Rewalsar. 

I stayed in Sarkidhar for a week and visited Rewalsar twice during my stay (excluding my arrival and departure from Rewalsar). Rewalsar is the main town, market, and shopping area. Thus I went shopping for my essentials, veggies, and other stuff. 

I have been traveling across Himachal Pradesh for over a few years. I started with Kasol (that was my first visit to Himachal Pradesh), and so far, I have been to several districts of the state. I often look for hidden, uncommercial, and less crowded places. However, Rewalsar is a crowded place. You will find busy, bustling markets and streets with people. 

Though I visited Rewalsar in the summer season and afternoons were slightly hot, the best time to visit Rewalsar is during monsoon and winters. Rewaalsar doesn’t experience regular snowfall. The town is a melting pot of cultures, and I believe that’s one of the biggest reasons for visiting Rewalsar any weekend from Delhi.

Rewalsar has a famous lake located near the monastery. The lake is known as Tso Pema in the Tibetan language. As per the legends, Guru Rinpoche transformed a funeral pyre into a lake when the Zohar king ordered to burn him and Princess Mandarava alive. The lake is surrounded by Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, Hindu temples, and gurudwara, a rare sighting. Only witnessed in Rewalsar, and probably the best reason to visit this town. 

There are four Buddhist monasteries in Rewalsar, and these all come from different Tibetan Buddhism traditions. The very first monastery that is located at the lakefront is Nyingma Gompa. The second monastery is Drikung Kagyu monastery. The third monastery is Zigar Drukpa Kagyud monastery which has the famous Padmasambhava statue, visible from almost everywhere in Rewalsar, even from Sarkidhar. Zangdok Palari Palace Monastery is the fourth and last monastery to be built in Rewalsar. 

While reading about Rewalsar online, I came across a website that mentioned Rewalsar as ‘Little Dharamshala.’ Being populated by Tibetan Buddhists, this place has many restaurants offering authentic Tibetan cuisine. I also visited a couple of them to relish the dishes which are hard to taste in Delhi (though you can get them in Majnu ka Tila). 

Rewalsar is home to three different religions, i.e., Tibetan Buddhism, Hinduism, and Sikhism. There are temples of these faiths, and people live in harmony, supporting each other. There is no social stratification based on customs and creeds, which is a beautiful thing to witness. You will see lots of monks in the streets and around. The chants from the monasteries make you feel at peace.

Wish I had known this earlier! I wasn’t aware if I could stay in a monastery in Rewalsar. When I visited Nyingma Gompa, that’s when I got to know about this. The monasteries charge a nominal fee, and you can stay there for a night or two. You can meditate there, spend time with the monks, and understand their rituals and culture. Isn’t it the best reason to visit Rewalsar?

If I plan to visit Rewalsar again, I will plan to stay in a monastery for a night. I had been thinking about it for a long time; however, I haven’t been able to do so. I have been to monasteries in McLeod Ganj, Key Monastery, and other places. But I am yet to stay in one of them. I would love to see and understand how monks live and meditate. 

So, if you are planning to visit Rewalsar, you can consider staying in a monastery. There are several hotels in the town. You can even choose to stay in some nearby village as I stayed in Sarkidhar (though I had no idea).