Himachal Pradesh

Buddhist Monastery (Tabo), Tabo, Lahaul & Spiti

This is the oldest and continuously functioning Buddhist Monastery in the Himalayan region. The history of this Monastery goes back to 10th century A.D. In this period the most of the monasteries in the Himalayan region were founded by the members of the dynasty of the kings of western Tibet. They were called Purang by the Historians of ancient India and Tibet, as their political centre was in Purang and the religious centre was in Guge. Among these many establishments were of the great Lotsaba Rinchen Sangapo. Tabo Monastery was founded in A.D. 996.

Hidimba Devi Temple

A multi-tired temple dedicated to the demon goddess belonged to theclan of Rakshasa. The powerful Pandva, Bhim, married to Hidimba during period of agyatwas (period of total disappearance from public view). Later she rose to status of goddess of being worshipped by the people in high esteem. An inscription on a wooden plank on the door says about the present structure. The temple was built by Raja Bahadur Singh (A.D.1532-1569). The temple Architecture belongs to pagoda style in four tiers raised to the height 20.50 meter.

Rock - Cut Temple

This monolithic temple complex carved out of single rock in sand stone range at Masrur is one of the rare existing heritage in India. Tradition says that the Pandvas had engraved this monument during the last 13th years of their exile, while in a night of six months. However, these temples contain all the features of the nagara temples which were on practice in the 7th and 8th centuries A.D. So the age of the monument can be assigned to this date. Originally the temple was dedicated to Siva.

Source: Must See Indian Heritage