The Trilokinath Temple, in the village of Trilokinath in the Pattan valley of Lahaul & Spiti district, Himachal Pradesh, is one of the few shrines in the Himalaya where Hindus and Buddhists bow to the same image. Hindus address the six-armed white-marble deity as Shiva, “lord of the three worlds”; Buddhists revere it as Arya Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva of compassion. The shikhara-style temple stands on a spur above the Chandrabhaga (Chenab) river at roughly 2,760 m, now reachable year-round since the Atal Tunnel opened Lahaul to winter traffic.
Trilokinath Temple sits in the Pattan valley of Lahaul & Spiti district, Himachal Pradesh, about 45 km from Keylong and 146 km from Manali. It is worshipped jointly by Hindus (as Shiva) and Buddhists (as Avalokiteshvara). The best months to visit are June to October, though the Atal Tunnel now keeps Lahaul accessible in winter too.
Key takeaways
- Trilokinath Temple is in Trilokinath village, Pattan valley, Udaipur sub-division of Lahaul & Spiti district, Himachal Pradesh, at about 2,760 m (9,055 ft) per the English Wikipedia entry.
- The same six-armed white-marble image is revered by Hindus as Shiva and by Buddhists as Arya Avalokiteshvara; a lama and a Hindu priest bless visitors in turn, per a 2018 Scroll.in report.
- It lies about 45 km from Keylong and 146 km from Manali, the Lahaul & Spiti district portal states; the Atal Tunnel cuts the Manali–Keylong road to roughly 71 km.
- The three-day Pauri festival is held in August and draws both Hindu and Buddhist pilgrims, with a procession involving the temple’s horse to the Chandrabhaga, per the district portal and Scroll.in.
- Best season is June–October; since the Atal Tunnel opened in 2020, Lahaul is reachable in winter too, though snow can still shut the approach roads (as of October 2026).
- No inner-line permit is needed to reach Lahaul; the district portal notes all vehicles may use the Atal Tunnel without a permit.
About Trilokinath Temple and quick facts
Trilokinath Temple is a hillside shrine in Trilokinath village, in the Udaipur sub-division of Lahaul & Spiti district, Himachal Pradesh, revered by both Hindus and Buddhists. The name Trilokinath means “lord of the three worlds,” an epithet of Shiva. Its older name, the district administration notes, is Tunda vihar.
The temple stands on a spur high above the Chandrabhaga (Chenab) river, the river formed where the Chandra and Bhaga streams meet near Tandi in Lahaul. The nearest town is Udaipur, roughly 9–15 km away depending on the source, where you will find most of the hotels and shops.
Below is a quick-reference table. Treat volatile figures as planning aids and reconfirm before travelling.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Trilokinath village, Pattan valley, Lahaul & Spiti district, Himachal Pradesh |
| Altitude | About 2,760 m (9,055 ft), per English Wikipedia |
| Deity | Six-armed white-marble image: Shiva for Hindus, Arya Avalokiteshvara for Buddhists |
| Architecture | Stone shikhara temple with an amalaka finial; courtyard with lingam, Nandi and prayer wheels |
| Nearest town | Udaipur, Lahaul (hotels, langar, PWD sarai) |
| Distance | About 45 km from Keylong, 146 km from Manali (district portal) |
| Main festival | Pauri festival, three days in August |
| Best season | June–October; winter access via the Atal Tunnel |
A shrine shared by Hindus and Buddhists
Trilokinath Temple is worshipped by Hindus as a temple of Shiva and by Buddhists as a shrine of Arya Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva of compassion. The Lahaul & Spiti district portal calls it a place where “both Hindu and Buddhists pay their reverence to the same deity,” and Tibetan speakers know the image as Garja Fagspa.
The two traditions share the space without erasing each other. According to a 2018 report in Scroll.in, a lama sits inside the inner sanctum, with portraits of the Dalai Lama and bodhisattvas on the wall, while a Hindu priest sits by the image; “the lama and the priest take turns to bless the visitors.”
The courtyard holds signs of both faiths. A small white shrine shelters a granite lingam and a Nandi bull for Hindu worship, while large Buddhist prayer wheels stand nearby and Tibetan prayer flags flutter over the roof. Pilgrims of both faiths circle the shrine and the image.
Local Hindu belief, Scroll.in records, credits the Pandavas with building the temple for Shiva. A separate Buddhist tradition, noted on Wikipedia, holds that the site was first a Buddhist vihara. Both are living beliefs rather than settled history, so they are best treated as the community’s own tellings.
The white-marble deity and the architecture
The central image at Trilokinath Temple is a six-armed figure carved in white marble, crowned with a small image of Amitabha Buddha, per the English Wikipedia entry. The crown is why Buddhists read it as Avalokiteshvara; the overall form and the setting are why Hindus read it as Shiva. Some scholars date the marble image to around the 12th century.
The present figure is not the original. Wikipedia records that an earlier six-headed marble statue was stolen decades ago and was first replaced by a crude grey stone image, then by the figure seen today. Folklore adds that a sword mark on the right leg is blamed on a raid by Kullu soldiers who could not carry the idol away.
Architecturally, the temple is built in the north-Indian shikhara style, with a curvilinear stone tower topped by an amalaka finial, a form introduced in the region in the 7th–8th centuries, per Wikipedia. Unlike plains temples it has no pillared mandapa hall, and wooden pagoda-like features and prayer flags give it a distinctly Himalayan look.
The dating is debated. A stone inscription found in the complex in 2002 points to the 10th century, the district portal and Wikipedia note; the temple columns are linked to the 9th-century reign of King Lalitaditya; and Hutchinson and Vogel (1933) speculated about an 8th-century conversion. Given the spread of estimates, no single founding date can be stated with confidence.
The Pattan valley and Chandrabhaga setting
Trilokinath Temple overlooks the Chandrabhaga (Chenab) river in the Pattan valley, the broad, relatively green stretch of Lahaul between Tandi and Udaipur. The temple sits on a cliff-edge spur at the end of the village street, with the river gorge below and snow peaks across the valley.
The Chandrabhaga is formed near Tandi, where the Chandra river (from the Chandra valley near Chhatru) and the Bhaga river (from the Baralacha La side) join and flow on as the Chenab. This confluence gives the valley its sacred weight for pilgrims, who link the “seven streams” (Saptdhara) near the temple to Shiva.
The Pattan valley is Lahaul’s agricultural heart, known for potato and pea seed and, in recent years, peas, hops and apple orchards. Poplars and willows line the irrigation channels, so the valley floor looks softer than the bare high desert of Spiti further east.
The three-day Pauri festival
The Pauri festival (also written Pori or Pauri Mela) is a three-day fair held at Trilokinath Temple in August, drawing both Hindu and Buddhist pilgrims. Scroll.in reports it falls “in the third week of August,” while the district portal describes it as a yearly, district-level fair at the temple and village.
A central ritual involves the temple’s horse. The district portal explains that the Thakurs lead the horse to the start of the Saptdhara (seven streams); devotees believe the horse carries the deity back to the temple. Pilgrims bathe at the Saptdhara, and some then walk on to Manimahesh Lake in Bharmour via the Kugti Pass.
The festival mixes worship and fair. Lamps burn through the days, prayers continue, and stalls, games, singing and dancing fill the village, Scroll.in records. On the final day the temple head leads a procession to the Chandrabhaga, where the seven streams meet. Exact dates shift each year, so confirm them with the temple committee before planning around the festival.
Best time to visit Trilokinath Temple
The best time to visit Trilokinath Temple is June to October, when the Pattan valley is clear of heavy snow, the roads are reliable and the temple is easy to reach. August adds the Pauri festival but also brings the monsoon’s outer edge and the risk of landslips on Himachal’s hill roads.
Lahaul was historically cut off for about six months when Rohtang Pass closed in winter. Since the Atal Tunnel opened in October 2020, the valley is reachable year-round, so a winter darshan is now possible in principle. In practice, heavy snowfall can still shut the tunnel’s approach roads, as the Discover Kullu Manali log showed in January 2026.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Late spring–summer | Jun–mid Jul | Best weather and easiest access; green valley; busiest with pilgrims and tourists |
| Monsoon | Mid Jul–Aug | Pauri festival in August; watch for landslips on approach roads; book stays early |
| Autumn | Sep–Oct | Clear skies, golden valley, thinning crowds; excellent for photography |
| Winter | Nov–May | Cold and snowbound; tunnel keeps Lahaul reachable but approach roads can close |
How to reach Trilokinath Temple
You reach Trilokinath Temple by road through Lahaul, most easily from Manali via the Atal Tunnel to Keylong or Udaipur, then on to the temple. The nearest airport is Bhuntar (Kullu) and the nearest railhead is Jogindernagar, both well south of Lahaul, so the last leg is always by road.
By air, Bhuntar airport near Kullu is the closest, about 165 km from Keylong according to the Incredible India portal, with limited flights; most travellers instead fly to Chandigarh or Delhi and drive. By rail, the narrow-gauge Jogindernagar station is the nearest, which the same portal places around 290 km away, so Chandigarh is the more practical mainline railhead.
By road, the Atal Tunnel has cut the Manali–Keylong route to roughly 71 km, about two hours, bypassing Rohtang Pass. HRTC runs buses towards Trilokinath, and taxis are available from Manali, Kullu and Keylong. From Keylong you drive down the Pattan valley to Udaipur, then up to the temple.
| From | Distance | Mode / notes |
|---|---|---|
| Udaipur, Lahaul | About 9–15 km | Nearest town; taxi or local transport |
| Keylong (district HQ) | About 45 km | Road via Pattan valley (district portal) |
| Manali | About 146 km | Via Atal Tunnel and Keylong (district portal) |
| Bhuntar airport (Kullu) | About 165 km from Keylong | Nearest airport (Incredible India) |
| Jogindernagar railway | About 290 km from Keylong | Nearest railhead; Chandigarh more practical (Incredible India) |
Where to stay
Most visitors stay in Udaipur, the nearest town, or in Keylong, with simple pilgrim lodging at the temple itself. Trilokinath village has little hotel capacity, so Udaipur and Keylong are the practical bases for a comfortable room.
At the temple, the committee offers basic pilgrim accommodation for about 125 people and runs a free langar (community kitchen) in summer, the district portal notes; a PWD sarai (rest house) has been built in the village. Udaipur has private guesthouses, homestays and small hotels, and Keylong, as district headquarters, has the widest choice including an HPTDC property.
Rooms are limited and fill up around the Pauri festival, so book ahead for August. The bands below are indicative planning estimates, not quoted tariffs; reconfirm current rates when you book.
- Pilgrim/budget (₹500–₹1,200): temple sarai, basic guesthouses and homestays in Udaipur.
- Mid-range (₹1,500–₹3,500): better guesthouses and small hotels in Udaipur and Keylong, including HPTDC.
- Higher-end (₹4,000+): a handful of upscale camps and lodges in Jispa and Sissu on the main Lahaul road.
Budget breakdown
A simple two-night trip to Trilokinath Temple from Manali costs roughly ₹6,000–₹12,000 per person, sharing, excluding your travel to Manali. The biggest variables are transport (shared bus versus private taxi) and your choice of room. The table below is a planning estimate, not a quote.
| Item | Budget | Comfortable |
|---|---|---|
| Transport (bus/shared vs taxi share) | ₹1,500 | ₹4,000 |
| Stay (2 nights) | ₹1,500 | ₹5,000 |
| Food (langar/dhabas vs cafes) | ₹800 | ₹1,800 |
| Local sightseeing/offerings | ₹700 | ₹1,500 |
| Approx. total | ₹4,500–₹6,000 | ₹10,000–₹12,000 |
Assumptions: two people sharing, self-organised travel from Manali, no helicopter, darshan free. A private taxi for the Manali round trip can cost several thousand rupees and shifts the total upward. Carry cash, as noted under practical tips.
Darshan timings, dress and photography
Trilokinath Temple keeps daytime darshan hours and does not publish fixed official timings online, so plan to visit during daylight and reconfirm locally. As a planning guide (indicative, not official; as of October 2026), aim for roughly 6 am to 7 pm, allowing a buffer around sunrise and sunset. There is no entry fee for darshan.
Dress modestly, as at any active shrine: cover shoulders and knees, and remove shoes before the inner sanctum. The inner shrine is small, holding perhaps 15 people at a time, and the low doorway means you bend to enter. Move quietly and let the lama and the priest conduct their rituals.
Photography rules vary and are often restricted inside the sanctum; ask before you shoot the image or people at prayer, and never use flash near the deity or during rituals. Drone use near shrines and in border-adjacent Himalayan areas is frequently restricted, so do not assume it is allowed without local permission.
Permits and rules
No inner-line permit is required to visit Trilokinath Temple or to travel through Lahaul. The Lahaul & Spiti district portal notes that all vehicles, private and commercial, may use the Atal Tunnel without a permit. This is different from parts of Spiti further east, where foreign nationals have faced protected-area rules; those do not apply to the Pattan valley.
Standard hill-state rules still apply: respect plastic and litter restrictions, do not disturb religious objects or prayer flags, and follow any signage from the temple committee, which is chaired by the SDM Udaipur. Treat both the Hindu and Buddhist worship with equal respect, since the same image serves both.
Nearby places
Trilokinath pairs naturally with Udaipur, Keylong and the Lahaul sights along the Manali road, all within an easy day’s drive. The table lists the main options; distances are approximate.
| Place | Approx. distance | Why go |
|---|---|---|
| Mrikula (Mrikula Mata) Devi temple, Udaipur | About 9–15 km | 11th–12th-century shrine famed for intricate deodar-wood carvings; ASI-linked repairs ordered by the HP High Court (2022) |
| Udaipur town | About 9–15 km | Nearest base; market, guesthouses, PWD rest house |
| Keylong | About 45 km | District headquarters; monasteries, bazaar, HPTDC stay |
| Sissu | Via Keylong road | Waterfall, lake and meadow near the north tunnel portal; see our Sissu, Lahaul guide |
| Jispa | Beyond Keylong | Riverside camps on the Bhaga for a quiet night and stargazing |
For how Lahaul fits into a wider Himachal trip, see our Himachal Pradesh travel guide, which covers seasons, routes and the main regions.
Practical tips
Come prepared for a high, remote valley where services are thin. Trilokinath is at about 2,760 m, so build in time to acclimatise after the drive up from Manali, drink water, and avoid overexertion on day one. If you have had altitude sickness before, consult a doctor before the trip.
- Cash and connectivity: carry enough cash, as ATMs are scarce beyond Keylong and mobile network and UPI can be patchy in the Pattan valley. Postpaid SIMs tend to work better in Lahaul than prepaid ones.
- Fuel and vehicle: fill up in Manali or Keylong; petrol pumps are limited. In winter, carry snow chains and check road status before crossing the Atal Tunnel.
- Health: the nearest well-equipped hospital is the regional hospital at Keylong; Udaipur has a smaller health facility. Carry a basic kit and any personal medicines.
- Packing: layers year-round, as mornings and evenings are cold even in summer; a windproof jacket, sun protection and sturdy shoes for the temple steps.
- Solo and women travellers: Lahaul is generally calm and the temple is a pilgrim site; travel by daylight on the mountain roads and keep someone informed of your plan, as help can be far away.
- Festival timing: if you want the Pauri festival in August, book stays and transport weeks ahead and confirm exact dates with the temple committee.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Trilokinath Temple located?
Trilokinath Temple is in Trilokinath village in the Pattan valley, Udaipur sub-division of Lahaul & Spiti district, Himachal Pradesh, at about 2,760 m. It stands on a spur above the Chandrabhaga (Chenab) river, roughly 45 km from Keylong and 146 km from Manali, per the district administration portal.
Why is Trilokinath Temple worshipped by both Hindus and Buddhists?
The same six-armed white-marble image is read two ways: Hindus worship it as Shiva, lord of the three worlds, while Buddhists revere it as Arya Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva of compassion. The district portal calls it a place where both faiths honour the same deity; a lama and a Hindu priest bless visitors in turn.
When is the Pauri festival at Trilokinath?
The Pauri (Pori) festival is a three-day fair held at Trilokinath Temple in August, drawing Hindu and Buddhist pilgrims. Scroll.in reports it falls in the third week of August. Dates shift yearly, so confirm with the temple committee; the festival includes a procession with the temple’s horse and bathing at the Saptdhara.
Can you visit Trilokinath Temple in winter?
Yes, in principle. Since the Atal Tunnel opened in 2020, Lahaul is reachable year-round, so winter darshan is possible, unlike before when Rohtang Pass closed for about six months. However, heavy snow can still shut the tunnel’s approach roads, as happened in January 2026, so check road status first (as of October 2026).
Do I need a permit to visit Trilokinath Temple?
No inner-line permit is needed to reach Trilokinath Temple or travel through Lahaul. The district portal states all vehicles may use the Atal Tunnel without a permit, and there is no entry fee for darshan. This differs from parts of Spiti further east, where foreign nationals have faced protected-area rules that do not apply here.
How do I reach Trilokinath Temple from Manali?
Drive from Manali through the Atal Tunnel to Keylong, then down the Pattan valley to Udaipur and up to the temple, about 146 km in total per the district portal. The tunnel cuts the Manali–Keylong leg to roughly 71 km. HRTC buses and taxis serve the route; the nearest airport is Bhuntar and the nearest railhead Jogindernagar.
Last updated and sources
Trilokinath Temple suits pilgrims and travellers who want a quiet, high-valley shrine with a rare shared Hindu–Buddhist tradition. Go between June and October for the easiest access, or in August for the Pauri festival, and always reconfirm road and road-closure status before you set out.
Last updated: 22 October 2026. Fees, timings and permits change — reconfirm with official sources before you travel.
Sources: Lahaul & Spiti district administration, “Trilokinath Temple” (hplahaulspiti.nic.in); English Wikipedia, “Trilokinath Temple at Tunde” (en.wikipedia.org); Scroll.in, “A temple in Himachal Pradesh stands as a beacon of hope for religious tolerance,” 2018 (scroll.in); English Wikipedia, “Atal Tunnel” (en.wikipedia.org); Discover Kullu Manali, Manali–Atal Tunnel highway status log, January 2026 (discoverkullumanali.in); Incredible India, “Keylong” (incredibleindia.gov.in); LiveLaw / United News of India on the HP High Court directing ASI repairs at Mrikula Devi temple, Udaipur (livelaw.in). Accessed September 2026.
