Correct Answer - Option 3 : Mandi
Bhootnath temple:
- Bhootnath Temple is an ancient temple located in Mandi, Himachal Pradesh.
- Situated in the heart of the town, it is one of the famous places of pilgrimage in Mandi.
- Bhootnath Temple is an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.
- It was constructed in 1527 CE during the rule of Raja Ajmer Sen, a ruler of Mandi.
- He dreamt of a cow whose udders were showering milk at a particular spot in the woods.
- The next day, he went to the site and discovered a Shivalinga after hours of digging.
- A temple was built in honour of Lord Shiva and the Shivalinga was installed in the sanctum of the temple.
- Bhootnath Temple is an enticing edifice built in the typical Shikara style of architecture.
- It is exquisitely carved in a serpentine manner and houses the idol of Nandi Bull in the courtyard.
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Maha Shivaratri is a sacred festival that is celebrated here with great pomp.
Thus, the Bhootnath temple is situated in Mandi.
Mandi:
- Thousands of old temples and new temples are found in Mandi.
- Benaras (Kashi) has 80 temples, Mandi has 81 temples in the small town itself.
- Mandi is known for its 81 old stone temples and is often called the 'Varanasi of Himachal".
- Mandi is also known as the 'Kashi of the Hills' or 'Choti Kashi'.
- The town has remains of old palaces and notable examples of 'colonial' architecture for temples.
- The temples of Bhutnath, Trilokinath, Panchvaktra and Shyamakali are among the more famous ones.
- The week-long international Shivratri fair in Mandi is the major attraction of the area every year.
