Bathu Ki Ladi : Imagine a cluster of ancient, beautiful temples that stay hidden underwater for eight months of the year, only to emerge like a miracle when the sun gets hot. This isn’t a scene from a fantasy movie; it is the real-life story of the Bathu Temples in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh.

What are the Bathu Ki Ladi Temples?

Locally known as “Bathu ki ladi” (which means a string of Bathu beads), this site is a breathtaking cluster of Hindu temples. They are located in the Maharana Pratap Sagar, a huge reservoir created by the Pong Dam in the 1970s. For most of the year, these temples are submerged in water. They only “wake up” and become accessible to us from May to June when the water level goes down.

The Mystery and History

There are two main stories about how these temples came to be:

• The Legend of the Pandavas: Local folklore says the Pandava brothers (from the Mahabharata) built these temples during their exile. Legend has it they tried to build a “staircase to heaven” right here in one single night. You can actually see a half-finished stairway of about 40 steps there today!
• Historical Facts: Historians believe the temples were likely built in the 8th century AD during the Hindu Shahi dynasty.

Stunning Architecture

The temples are built in the classic Nagara style. What is truly amazing is that despite being underwater for 8 months every single year for decades, the stone carvings are still mostly intact. The temples are made of a special sturdy stone called “Bathu stone.” Inside, you can see beautiful carvings of Lord Ganesha, Goddess Kali, and Lord Vishnu resting on the great serpent, Sheshnag.

Planning Your Visit

If you want to visit this “lost city” of Kangra, timing is everything. You can only reach them between March and June. You can take a boat from Nagrota Surian or drive through the rugged terrain from Dhameta or Jawali. It’s a peaceful place with no regular priests—just you, the ancient stones, and the quiet whispers of the lake.

Preserving Our Heritage

Because these temples spend so much time underwater, there have been many requests to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to relocate or protect them. They are a unique piece of our history that deserves to be seen by future generations.