Shri Triloknath Temple Mandi, Himachal Pradesh

Its not very big, but perfect in ancient architectural schema, a Sikhara type stone temple with amalaka at the top and very inteicately curved stone motifs on it. The main shrine is with Garvagriha and square mandapam before it. a few other smaller temples are present in the courtyard, but two are comleyely ruined. The courtyard is wonderful, overlooking the mighty Bipasha, with this temple complex and trees. On the other bank another beautiful temple can be seen on the other bank at the confluence of the Suketi Khal with the Bipasha river. The most suitable site to errect the Panchavactro Temple. If one turns to left, the british era beautiful bridge can be seen. This place is a little spot of heaven on earth. The temple have many carvings with a distinct stylisation. The main deity is a big idol of Lord Shiva in its three headed avatar, Mata Parvati on his left lap, mounted on the Nandi the bull. this temple is an intricately curved, big Nandi idol in standing position in the temple. never seen such a idol of sole Nandi figure in standing position, but always on sitting and awaiting position at entrance of every shiva temple, and this one has one such idol as well.
The other idols are many Ganesha idols, Kali murti, Mata Parvati and a peacock mounted six headed Karthikeya in meditative pose, – this is also interesting as it is not common to see the Dev-Senapati ( Commandar-in-chief of the gods) with a Japamala ( rosary). There is a “Padachap” in front of the entrance.

The inner pillars must have been very well decorated with stone curvings, but all those has been stiffed off.
The plaque outside mntioned the construction is of sixteenth century, but from the ageing it seems profoundly more olden, or perhaps the temple has been sujected to flooding and inundation for prolongged period repeatedly over the millenia., and/or it was recontructed by Sultana Sen the queen of Ajber Sen on an older site predated by a few millenia perhaps at 1520.