fort complex
The highest point in the valley is the fort where the king used to live. The fort complex consisted of a residential space, temple tower, fire temple with a dungeon below it and a kitchen. The complex is used by the upper caste who live just below it for festivities etc. Daily worship or atleast visiting the temple once is a part of their routine. The lower caste is allowed to use the angan but not access the temple. Legends, folktales, folksongs about the temple fort are sung and told to this day and are an important part of their oral history. The space behind the fort was a stable for the king’s horses. The road, which is now the main Mandi Manali Highway connected to the villages ahead. Post independence there was a civil unrest and the king had to vacate the premises. The king’s properties were nationalised. Behind the temple the land was used to make PWD guest houses, the lohar’s house area was converted into the revenue office and the adjacent land was given to the local school.
fort complex section
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A himachali folk song about these temple steps that talks about someone being separated from their lover
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1. Ancient Market Street 2. Shiv Temple 3. Primary School 4. Revenue House/Tax Collectors Office 5. Fire Temple 6. Temple quarters 7 Main temple 8Temple kitchens 9. PWD guest house and office 10.Priests House
fort complex and surrounding residential cluster plan
photo gallery
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The temple is the highest point of the valley. The entire complex is surrounded by a fort wall and is connected to the village by a flight of stairs.
Crossing the Shiva temple there was a canteen/restaurant of sorts, where tea and snacks were served, this restaurant on the corner was a shop on the ancient market street.
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The shiv temple and the 143 stairs leading up to the fort connect to the ancient market street. It had shops and connected the fort and temple complex to the merchant houses.
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The school was a part of the king's complex that was then taken over by the state. The temple that existed before was then converted into a primary school.
The temple is made using the Kathkuni style of architecture. It is a social and religious space for the upper caste who live just below the fort.
