Place Details:
Renowned for its annual three-day Pauri festival, Trilokinath temple is worshipped by both Buddhists and Hindus. The temple is situated on the bank at Tunde village in Lahaul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh.
Trilokinath is one of the names of Lord Shiva which means ‘lord of the three worlds’. The marble idol of Trilokinath is revered as Lord Shiva by Hindus. Buddhists worship the idol as Avalokiteshwara which is crowned with an image of Amitabha Buddha- the Buddha of Boundless light.
There are various speculations about the origin of the temple. According to one school of thought, the temple was originally dedicated to Lord Shiva which was later transformed into a Buddhist temple by Padmasambhava. Another assumption is that the temple is an example of Kashmiri-Kannauj style.
Though differences persist about the Hindu or Buddhist origins, the temple follows tradition which doesn’t clash with both the religions. The tradition of celebrating Pauri festival is the perfect example of syncretism.
The temple attracts tourists because of its architecture too. The stone carvings on walls, doors and pillars on each side of the door are exemplary. The pillars are believed to stand for and are called Dharma and Paap.
Besides temple and its festivals, Trilokinath is also known for its scenic beauty. It is also a popular camping and trekking site during summer.
There is no hotel or guest house in Trilokinath. Keylong is a good place to stay where tourist bungalows, hotels and government rest house are available from budget, mid-budget to luxury range.
Trilokinath has no restaurant or hotel. It is advisable to carry food and water with you.
Trilokinath temple can only be reached when the Rohtang Pass remains open. During winter, the pass remains closed due to snow. The best time to visit the temple is between July to September.
BEST TIME TO VISIT KANGRA
The average minimum and maximum temperature of Kangra is as given below. The best time to visit Kangra is also specified.
| MONTH | BEST TIME | | MIN. TEMP (°C) | MAX. TEMP (°C) |
| January | | | 4 | 17 |
| February | | | 4 | 17 |
| March | Best time | | 7 | 21 |
| April | Best time | | 11 | 28 |
| May | Best time | | 15 | 27 |
| June | Best time | | 15 | 28 |
| July | | | 13 | 26 |
| August | | | 12 | 26 |
| September | | | 12 | 25 |
| October | | | 10 | 23 |
| November | | | 6 | 22 |
| December | | | 4 | 17 |