Vashisht Temple

Vashisht is located at a distance of about 6 km away from the beautiful town of Manali in the Kullu district of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. This place promises to provide the visitors a wonderful view of the beautiful Beas River. The Vashisht Hot Water Spring is one of the famous attractions of this region.

The hot water springs that are amply found in this region have made this small village famous to people from all over the world. The hot water springs that come out of the granitic deposits cover a huge part of the Himalayas in this area. The temperature in these hot water springs vary between 110 degree Fahrenheit and 123 degree Fahrenheit.

History of Vashisht

Across River Beas, about three kilometres from Manali at an altitude of 2,100 metres is the village Vashisht. It has a 4,000-year-old temple dedicated to sage Vashisht. Legend has it that Rishi Vashisht felt most hurt and sad when he learnt that all his sons were killed by Viswamitra.

One day, tied with ropes, he flung himself down into the river. But the divine river did not allow him to get drowned. The Rishi resumed his meditation at a place where village Vashisht stands today. The river assumed the name of Vipasha meaning liberator from the bondage. Vipasha, later came to be called Beas.

The temple is also famous for its hot sulphur springs. According to legend, Lakshmana who visited this ashram of Vashisht found that his guru had to go far off for his bath. He shot an arrow at this place and water sprang out. Shower-fitted Turkish style bathrooms have made the spring a popular spot. It is believed to have been built by King Janamejaya, in memory of Raja Parikshit, his father.

Inside the temple there is a black stone image of the Rishi, clad in dhoti. On the left side of the spring, there is a Rama temple in which the idols of Rama, Sita and Lakshmana have been installed. Dussehra is celebrated for seven days. The village was the centre of Vaishnava cult for a long time.

The Vashist village lies at the foot of a laterite accumulated rocky hill on the left bank of the river Beas. The hill is covered with a large number of pine and deodar trees. The ponds or the water kunds, as they are popularly called, can be found just at the center of the village. The region around these hot water springs of Vashist provides a majestic vies of the enchanting greenery all around.

A large number of people visit these hot springs near Manali every day in order to take a dip. There is also one tank specially reserved for women of this locality. These hot water springs are also a major source of water for many tourist spots in and around Manali.