Location: Himachal Pradesh
Altitude: 1,220m
Places of Interest: Macchiyal Lake, Bir, and Baijnath
Best Time To Visit: Mid-May To Mid-October 

In 1925, the enterprising Raja Joginder Sen of Mandi created and elaborate hydel power scheme near the village of Sukrahatti, which was then renamed Jogindernagar (also spelt as Joginder Nagar) after him. After tunneling and piping the water over several kilometers from the river Uhl to Joginder Nagar, a team of engineers headed by Col. Battye built the Shanan powerhouse. Later, the H.P. State Electricity Board added another set of turbines at nearby Bassi.
Joginder Nagar has everything for a quiet and relaxing holiday and leaves options open for trekking, fishing, sightseeing, and picnics and enjoyable drives in the area.

PRIME ATTRACTION

Macchiyal Lake: 6-km from Hotel Uhl is this small but enchanting lake held sacred to Machendru Devta.

Bir: 16-km from Jogindernagar, this is a Tibetan settlement with a beautiful monastery.

Baijnath: This exquisite temple is 23-km from Jogindernagar, where Lord Shiva is worshipped as Vaidyanath, which means "The Lord of Physicians". The original temple was built in 804 AD. Here king Ravana is said to have supplicated Lord Shiva for the boon of immortality.
One of the most remarkable monuments of the Beas Valley is the temple of Baijnath. The village of Baijnath is situated 23-miles east of Nagarkot, as the crow flies, close to the Mandi border and on the main road, which leads from the Punjab plains through Kangra, Kullu, Lahul, and Ladakh to Central Asia.
Known as Kirangama, its name was changed after the temple was dedicated to Lord Shiva in his form as Vaidyanath or the "Lord of Physicians". The Temple is a good example of Nagri style of architecture. The Baijnath temple is orientated due west. It consists of a puri or adytum, 8-feet-square inside and 18-feet outside, surmounted by a spire of the usual conical shape, and of a mandapa or front hall, 20-feet-square inside, covered with a low pyramid shaped roof.
The adytum, which contains the linga known as Vaidyanatha, is entered through a small anteroom with two pillars in antis. This linga enshrined in the sanctum is one of the 12 jyotirlingas in the country. The roof of the mandapa is supported by four massive pillars connected by raised benches, which form, as it were, a passage leading up to the entrance of the sanctum.
The architraves resting on these pillars divide the space of the ceiling into nine compartments, each of which is closed by means of corbelling slabs. In front of the mandapa rises a stately porch resting on four columns. "The shafts of these pillars", Ferguson remarks, "are plain cylinders, of very classical proportions, and the bases also show that they are only slightly removed from classical design".
"The square plinth, the two torsos, the covet or hollow molding between are all classical, but partially hidden by Hindu ornamentation, of great elegance but unlike anything found after wards". The same author at considerable length discusses the capitals of the pot-and -foliage type.
Both the south and north wall of the mandapa are adorned with a graceful balcony window. The four corners are strengthened by means of massive buttress-like projections in the shape of half-engaged - miniature sikhara temples, each containing two niches in which image slabs are placed. Smaller niches in slightly projecting chapels are found between the corner projections and the entrance and balcony windows.
Cunningham and Ferguson that the Baijnath temple had undergone a thorough restoration at the bands of Raja Sansar Chand Katoch (AD 1776-1824) assumed it. But Sir Aurel Stein, who had the advantage of personally inspecting the temple in December, 1892, expressed the opinion that the building "has not under gone such very great alterations as the earlier describers state.
"He points out, that the doorway of the adytum is still decorated with the images of the river goddesses mentioned in the inscription. Only the roof seems to be modern; and according to the - statements of the local priests - it was renovated in the days of Raja Sansar Chand II".
A life-sized stone Nandi, believed to be the carrier of Lord Shiva stands at the entrance. Also are other miniature shrines and memorial stones within the complex said to have been built around 804 AD
The temple of Baijnath, although situated at no great distance from the center of the earthquake of the 4th April 1905, but suffered slight injury from that catastrophe. The neighboring smaller temple of Sidhnath, on the contrary, completely collapsed.
Every year during Shivratri Fair, pilgrims descend on Baijnath for the colourful fair and festivities.

Bassi Powerhouse: 6-km from the hotel, this forms the second phase of the Jogindernagar power generation scheme and is an attractive picnic spot too.

Jhatingri (2130m): 12-km from Joginder Nagar is this enchanting spot atop a hill. Surrounded by a thick deodar forest, the ruins of the “summer palace” of the Mandi rulers are located over here and the vistas it unfolds are breath taking.

Barot (1830m): 40-km by road from Jogindernagar, and covering 12-km by the haulage trolley, Barot packs an enormous range of outdoor activity. The reservoir of the power project is located here, and there is a Trout Breeding Center, making it a wonderful place of angling. Across the river Uhl is the Nargu Wildlife Sanctuary home of the ghoral, Himalayan black bear and a variety of pheasants. 

ADVENTURE A variety of treks and hands as well as paragliding are possible in Jogindernagar. Barot is one of finest places for angling in Himachal Pradesh.

HOW TO GET THERE

Air: The airport at Bhuntar is at a distance of 110-km and the airport at Gaggal, a distance of 60-km from Jogindernagar. Taxis and buses are available from these places to Jogindernagar.

Road: Jogindernagar is connected by road and is 55-km from Mandi and 65-km by Kangra.

Rail: Jogindernagar is the terminus of the narrow gauge rail track from Pathankot.

CLIMATE: In winter, temperature can hover just above freezing point when heavy woollens are required. During summer, the climate is hot and cottons are recommended.

NEARBY CITIES

Bir: 16-km
Jhatingiri: 12-km
Baijnath:23-km
Palampur:34-km
Barot:40-km
Dharamsala: 59-km