Rewalsar

Rewalsar (Tibetan: Tsopema, sometimes Tshopema. Meaning: Tso - lake, Pema - lotus) is a small town on the banks of Lake Rewalsar in Himachal Pradesh. The lake at Rewasar is believed to be place where Guru Rinpoche was placed on a burning funeral pyre by the king of Zahor, but instead of being consumed by the flames he transformed the fire into a lake. Due to this incident, Rewalsar became an important sacred site for practitioners of Tibetan Buddhism, and there are many Buddhist monasteries and retreat centers around the lake.

Understand
Rewalsar is equally sacred to Hindus, Sikhs, and Buddhists. It was at Rewalsar that Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava) is said to have transformed a burning funeral pyre upon which he was placed into a lake, which is the focal point of the town and the main attraction for pilgrims. Hindus believe that it was here that Rishi Lomas offered penance to Lord Shiva, while Sikhs have constructed a Gurudwara above the town to commemorate Guru Gobind Singh's visit to the area.

Rewalsar lies in the Southern Himalayan belt at an altitude of 1,360 m above sea level. Winters in Rewalsar can be freezing, while summers are generally pleasant.

By bus
There are direct buses from:
 * Mandi – ₹35, not via Nerchowk
 * Nerchowk
 * Sundarnagar – ₹60, not via Nerchowk. Buses go from Sundarnagar at around 7AM and 2PM, and take 1¾ hr. They go back at 8:50AM and 4PM.

Mandi connects Dharamsala and everything in between, and Manali.

Sundarnagar connects Shimla (to Shimla at 10:20AM for ₹273), and Kiratpur Sahin for the railway.

Get around
As most of the attractions are near the lake, walking is the best, and in many places, the only way to get around. Auto rickshaws and taxis are available from the bus station to outlying districts or up the hill to the cave and Devi temple.

See



 * . Close to Rewalsar. The village has two lakes, a number inexpensive guesthouses, and is near the sacred caves and Devi temple.

Further afield
Hike up to:

Buy
There are a number of small Tibetan handicraft stores in the town.

Sleep
There are many guesthouses in town, just walk around and you will find them. Otherwise, Sar up the hill has a few inexpensive guesthouses. But if you are in town, it is a good idea to stay in one of the religious places.



Stay safe

 * There are many stray dogs in Rewalsar, and so it is advisable not to stroll around after dark. You may also consider bringing earplugs as the canines often bark throughout the night.
 * The town has an issue with monkeys, which roam in the town, and so it is recommended to keep belongings close by and to hide any food items or anything that could be mistaken for food, this is especially relevant for the lakeside area.

Go next

 * Bir – A town with many Buddhist temples and institutes. Paragliding. Numerous hostels. Between Mandi and Dharamsala.
 * Dharamsala – Home to the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Government in Exile in McLeodGanj. Popular with Buddhist pilgrims and backpackers.
 * Manali – A backpacker favourite. Trekking and mountaineering. Buses to Ladakh.
 * Mandi – An historical city with many temples. A regional transportation hub.
 * Parvati Valley – Home to Kasol, a backpacker favourite. The spiritual center of Manikaran. Hot springs. Hiking trails at the Great Himalayan National Park. Weed harvest in September.
 * Shimla – The former British hill station and current capital of Himachal Pradesh.