Nirmand | |
---|---|
Nickname: Kashi of Himalayas | |
Coordinates: 31°25′59″N77°34′59″E / 31.43306°N 77.58306°E | |
Country | India |
State | Himachal Pradesh |
District | Kullu |
Area | |
• Total | 2.5 km2 (1.0 sq mi) |
Elevation | 1,450 m (4,760 ft) |
Population (2011) [1] | |
• Total | 6,593 |
• Density | 2,600/km2 (6,800/sq mi) |
Languages | |
• Official | Hindi |
• Unofficial | Pahari |
Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
Vehicle registration | HP-35 |
Sex ratio | 10:9.5 Male/Female |
Nirmand is a village located in Kullu district, of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. It is one of the largest villages in Himachal Pradesh and serves as the headquarters of Nirmand Tehsil and Nirmand developmental block of Kullu district.
Overlooking the Satluj valley in the lesser-known Seraj region of Kullu district, and about 150 km from Shimla and 17 km from Rampur, is the large Nirmand village. This village has been in existence since the early Vedic period, making it one of the oldest rural settlements in India. A number of ancient stone and wooden temples dating back to the 6th and the 7th centuries A.D. speak of Nirmand’s religious and historical importance. For this reason it is often called the "Kashi of the Himalayas."
One of the ancient shrines in the village is dedicated to Goddess Ambika, a form of the Hindu Goddess Durga. Although the original structure has been altered, several old stone sculptures have been preserved in the temple complex. A unique feature of the temple is its roof, which is made of pure copper sheets. Another temple nearby, called Dakshineshwar Mahadev Temple or Deccani Mahadev Temple, is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Its lingam is believed to have been brought from Deccan, and hence the name. The temple is renowned for its intricately carved wooden doors and pillars that are probably the finest examples of woodcarving in the state. Nirmand’s principal shrine, however, is the Parshuram temple complex, which is built in the traditional Pahari style with gabled slate roof and extensive use of wood and stone. The exterior wooden balconies and pillars are elaborately carved in folk style, depicting scenes from the Hindu mythology. The temple complex resembles a hill fortress, which encloses a small courtyard with the only entrance from the western side. The northern section of the temple is a double-storeyed structure, which houses the legendary bhandar (storehouse) that is believed to contain priceless artefacts of which little is known.
Nirmand is believed to have been established by Parshurama during the Mahabharata era. There are more memorabilia supposed to be from the same time. On the way to Shrikhand Peak, there are the famous 'Bhima-Pathara', which basically means 'Bhima-Stone', these are said to be rocks that Bhima used to make his way to heaven during their ascent to Swarg Lok, alongside the other Pandavas brothers.
According to the 2011 Census of India, Nirmand village had a population of 6,593 with 3,409 males and 3,184 females. [1] The literacy rate was 80.89%.
The village is well connected by a major district road with the nearby town Rampur. Regular government and private buses ply to Rampur, other nearby towns and villages, the state capital Shimla and the district headquarters Kullu.
Himachal Pradesh is a state in the northern part of India. Situated in the Western Himalayas, it is one of the thirteen mountain states and is characterised by an extreme landscape featuring several peaks and extensive river systems. Himachal Pradesh is the northernmost state of India and shares borders with the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh to the north, and the states of Punjab to the west, Haryana to the southwest, Uttarakhand to the southeast and a very narrow border with Uttar Pradesh to the south. The state also shares an international border to the east with the Tibet Autonomous Region in China. Himachal Pradesh is also known as Dev Bhoomi, meaning 'Land of Gods' and Veer Bhoomi which means 'Land of the Brave'.
Kullu is a district in Himachal Pradesh, India. It borders Shimla district to the south, Mandi and Kangra districts to the west, Kinnaur to the east and the Lahaul and Spiti district to the north and east. The largest valley in this mountainous district is the Kullu Valley. The Kullu valley follows the course of the Beas River, and ranges from an elevation of 833 m above sea level at Aut to 3330 m above sea level at the Atal Tunnel South Portal, below the Rohtang Pass. The town of Kullu, located on the right side of the Beas River, serves as the administrative headquarters of the Kullu district. The Kullu district also incorporates several riverine tributary valleys of the Beas, including those of the Parvati, Sainj, and Tirthan rivers, and thus some regions somewhat distant from the Kullu valley. The economy of the district relies mainly on horticulture, agriculture, tourism, and traditional handicrafts.
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Bushahr, also spelt as 'Bashahr' and 'Bussahir' or 'Bushair' was a Rajput princely state in India during the British Raj. It was located in the hilly western Himalaya promontory bordering Tibet.
Kullu is a municipal council town that serves as the administrative headquarters of the Kullu district of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. It is located on the banks of the Beas River in the Kullu Valley about 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) north of the airport at Bhuntar, Kullu.
Situated on the left bank of river Beas at an altitude of 1,800 meters, Naggar is an ancient town in Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh, India. It was once capital of the Kullu kingdom.
Shimla district, known as Simla district until 1972, is one of the twelve districts of the state of Himachal Pradesh in northern India. Its headquarters is the state capital of Shimla. Neighbouring districts are Mandi and Kullu in the north, Kinnaur in the east, Uttarakhand in the southeast, Solan to the southwest and Sirmaur in the south. The elevation of the district ranges from 987 metres (3,238 ft) to 4,500 metres (14,764 ft).
Rampur Bushahr is a town and a municipal council in Shimla district in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. It is about 130 km from Shimla and is well connected with NH 5 which passes through Theog, Narkanda and Kumarsain.
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Among arts and crafts that come out of Himachal Pradesh state in India are carpets, leather works, shawls, metalware, woodwork and paintings. Pashmina shawl is the product which is highly in demand not only in Himachal but all over the country. Colourful Himachali caps are also famous art work of the people. One tribe, Dom, is expert in manufacturing bamboo items like boxes, sofas, chairs, baskets and racks. Metalware of the state include utensils, ritualistic vessels, idols, gold and silver jewelleries.
Sarahan is a small town in Himachal Pradesh of India. It is the site of the Bhimakali Temple, originally known as Bhimadevi Temple, dedicated to the mother goddess Bhimakali, presiding deity of the rulers of the former Bushahr State. The temple is situated about 170 kilometres from Shimla and is one of 51 Shakti Peethas. The town is known as the "gateway of Kinnaur" it being near the old Indo-Tibetan Road. Seven kilometers below Sarahan is the river Satluj. Sarahan is identified with the Shonitpur mentioned in Puranas. Sarahan Bushahr has been the summer capital of Bushahr kingdom, with Rampur Bushahr considered the winter capital. The former Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh Shree Virbhadra Singh is a member of royal family and is popularly known as "Raja Sahab" at Sarahann. He has been member of the Assembly/Parliament since 1962 and has held the post of Chief Minister six times. His wife Rani Pratibha Devi is also a member of Assembly.
BhimaKali Temple is a Hindu temple at Sarahan in Himachal Pradesh in India, dedicated to the mother goddess Bhimakali, presiding deity of the rulers of former Bushahr State. The temple is situated about 180 km from Shimla and it is as holy as 51 Shakti Peethas.
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Karsog is a town and municipal area in the state of Himachal Pradesh in northern India.
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Kumarsain, also known as Kumharsain, is a town in Shimla District in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. Formerly under the British Raj, it was the capital of princely state of Kumharsain, which was one of the several states of the Punjab States Agency. It is about 80 km from Shimla and famous for apple and cherry orchards.
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