At an altitude of 8,00m and 15-kms to the south of Kangra, is the town of Masrur. Here are 15 Shikhra Temples, cut out of solid rok and built in the 10th century. Built in the Indo-Aryan monolith style, these temples have got a great resemblance with the Ajanta-Ellora temples.

The temples of Masrur though slightly damaged, are very beautiful. The images, however, are badly damaged. The images of Lord Rama, Lakshmana and Goddess Sita are particularly striking. An artificial lake and a well-maintained and sculpted lawn flank the temples. These richly ornamented cave temples are the only rock shrines in the northern part of India.

Only a few of the original shikharas stand and some of the most beautifully carved panels are now in the state museum, Shimla. The main shrine dominates the centre. Although the remote location of these temples protected them from the invading army of Mahmud Ghazni and their stone construction prevented severe damage in the 1905 earthquake.

Since they are situated on a ridge, their position on top commands a superb view of the fertile verdant countryside.

EXCURSIONS

Nadaun: 48-kms from Kangra is Nadaun, which, it seems was designed by nature for providing peace of mind. When Kangra was attacked by Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the then Raja of Kangra moved his capital to this place, overflowing with beauty. On the left bank of the river Beas, he built a palace, which soon grew into a centre for Kangra's culture, art and business. A temple dedicated to Lord Shiva was also erected here so that the Raja could mediate there in peace. An ideal place for a quite weekend, Nadaun also offers fishing opportunities for enthusiasts in the river Beas