Mandi, Himachal Pradesh

This article is about the city in India. For its namesake district, see Mandi district.

Mandi
Choti Kashi
City
From top, left to right: Victoria Bridge, Mandi town, Panchvaktra Temple & Prashar lake
Nickname(s): 
Choti Kashi, Varanasi of Hills
Mandi is located in Himachal Pradesh
Mandi
Mandi
Mandi is located in India
Mandi
Mandi
Coordinates: 31°42′25″N 76°55′54″E / 31.70694°N 76.93167°E / 31.70694; 76.93167
Country India
State Himachal Pradesh
DistrictMandi
MunicipalityMandi
Established1527
TalukasMandi Sadar
Government
 • TypeMunicipal Corporation of Mandi
 • Deputy CommissionerSh. Arindam Chaudhary, IAS
 • Superintendent of policeShalini Agnihotri, IPS
Elevation
760 m (2,490 ft)
Population
 (2011)[1]
 • Total
26,422
 • Rank6 in HP
Languages
 • OfficialHindi
 • RegionalMandeali
Ethnicity
 • Ethnic groupsMandyali
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
175 001
Telephone code91-01905
Vehicle registrationHP-28, HP- 29, HP-30, HP-31, HP-32, HP-33, HP-33AA, HP-65, HP-76, HP-82, HP-86, HP-87, HP-87 AA
Nearest citySunder Nagar
Sex ratio1000/1013 ♂/♀ (2nd in HP)
Literacy83.5%
Lok Sabha constituencyMandi (Lok Sabha Constituency)
Planning agencyTown and Country Planning Department, Himachal Pradesh, India
Civic agencyMunicipal Corporation of Mandi
Present KingHH Raja Ashokpal Sen
ClimateCwa
Precipitation1,380 millimetres (54 in)
Avg. annual temperature24 °C (75 °F)
Avg. summer temperature35 °C (95 °F)
Avg. winter temperature17 °C (63 °F)
Websitehpmandi.gov.in
† The Mandi Planning area also includes some portions of Mandi District.[2]

Mandi (formerly known as Mandav Nagar)[3][4] is a major city and a municipal corporation in Mandi District in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. It is situated 145 kilometres (90 mi) north of state capital, Shimla[5] in the north-west Himalayas at an average altitude of 880 m (2,890 ft)[6] Mandi is connected to the Pathankot through National Highway 20 and to Manali and Chandigarh through National Highway 21. Mandi is approximately 184.6 km (114.7 mi) from Chandigarh,[7] the nearest major city, and 440.9 km (274.0 mi) from New Delhi,[8] the national capital. In the 2011 Indian census, Mandi city had a population of 26,422.[1] Mandi district is currently the 4th largest economy in the state. Mandi has the second highest sex ratio of 1013 females per thousand males, in the state.

It serves as the headquarters of Mandi District and Zonal Headquarters of central zone including districts namely Kullu, Bilaspur, and Hamirpur. As a tourist place, Mandi is often referred to as "Varanasi of Hills"[9] or "Choti Kashi"[10] or "Kashi of Himachal". Also, Mandi is the starting point for a trek of the region, Prashar lake trek. From Mandi, trekkers go to Bagi village, which serves as the base village for Prashar lake. Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi is a premier institute located 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from Mandi town.[11]

This one-time capital of the princely state of Mandi is a fast-developing city that still retains much of its original charm and character. The city was established in 1527 by Ajbar Sen,[12] as the seat of the Mandi State, a princely state till 1948. Foundation of the city was laid on the establishment of Himachal Pradesh in early 1948. Today, it is widely known for the International Mandi Shivaratri Fair. Mandi is also the first heritage city of Himachal Pradesh.[13] The city also has the remains of old palaces and notable examples of 'colonial' architecture. The city had one of the oldest buildings of Himachal Pradesh.

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference MAN was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Mandi Planning Area in Hectares (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 May 2012. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
  3. ^ Emerson, A; l Howell, G.C; Wright, H.L (1996). Gazetteer of the Mandi State. Indus. p. 21. ISBN 9788173870545.
  4. ^ All About the Mandi City. Archived from the original on 27 December 2011. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
  5. ^ "Distance of Shimla from Mandi by Road". Archived from the original on 20 March 2015. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
  6. ^ "Geography of Mandi". Archived from the original on 3 January 2012. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
  7. ^ "Distance of Chandigarh from Mandi". Archived from the original on 6 January 2012. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
  8. ^ "Distance of New Delhi from Mandi". Archived from the original on 6 January 2012. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
  9. ^ "Mandi Popular Names".
  10. ^ "Mandi Popular Names".
  11. ^ "Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi".
  12. ^ Imperial, p. 152
  13. ^ "Mandi". ehimachal.org. Retrieved 16 September 2023.