Masroor Rock Cut Temples

Getting there

• By air

  Sources name different nearest airports: Dharamshala (DHM) or Pathankot (IXP). Amritsar and Jammu are the closest major airports with daily services.

• By train

  Sources differ on the nearest station: Nagrota Surian or Pathankot (PTK). Confirm before you travel.

• By road

  The temples lie in the Beas River valley, in the foothills of the Himalayas. They are about 35 km west of Kangra town and about 45 km southwest of Dharamshala-McLeod Ganj.

Why devotees come here

Masroor Rock Cut Temples are a complex of early 8th-century Hindu temples carved from natural sandstone in Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh. They stand in the Beas River valley at the foot of the Himalayas. What makes them special is that the temples were cut out of the rock itself.

Local folklore says the Pandavas, the heroes of the Mahabharata, lived here during their incognito exile and built the temples. This is a legend. The legend also says the Pandavas were discovered and moved on, which is said to be why the complex was left unfinished.

Meister dates the temples to the first half of the 8th century, going by the region's political and art history. The complex is carved from natural sandstone. The temples have a shikhara, the tower over the shrine, and a sacred pool of water beside them. They follow the North Indian Nagara style.

The temples are dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu, Devi and Saura traditions. The main sanctum holds nine seated deities, with Shiva at the centre and Vishnu, Indra, Ganesha, Kartikeya and Durga around him. They face northeast towards the snowy Dhauladhar range. Much of the sculpture and reliefs have been lost, most likely to earthquakes.

Tips for your visit

• The temples face northeast, towards the snowy peaks of the Dhauladhar range.
• The complex has a sacred pool of water beside the temples, so look for it on your visit.

Questions people ask