Mandi

Mandi is a major city and district in Himachal Pradesh, known for its rich cultural heritage.

Nickname: Often called “Chhoti Kashi” (Little Varanasi) because of its many ancient stone temples and ghats along the Beas River .

Key Event: It hosts the famous International Shivratri Fair every year, where deities from across the district gather .

Name Origin: The name may come from Rishi Mandav, who meditated here, or the Hindi word for “market”