The Bathu Temples, locally known as Bathu ki Ladi, form a group of temples nestled in the Kangra district of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. The primary temple within this cluster is dedicated to Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva. Submerged in the waters of Maharana Pratap Sagar, a reservoir formed by the Pong Dam in the early 1970s, these temples are only accessible from May to June when the water level recedes. Visitors can reach the temples by boat from Dhameta and Nagrota Surian or by road from Jawali. Surrounding the temple site are numerous quaint villages such as Chatta, Jagnoli, Dhameta, Fatehpur, Guglara, Sugnara, Harsar, Jarot, Bajera, Katnor, Khabbal, Ludret, and Khatiar.
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According to local tradition, the Bathu Temples were commissioned by a regional king who once governed the area. Numerous folklore tales circulate regarding the temples’ origins, with some attributing their construction to the Pandavas. One popular legend harkens back to the time of the Mahabharata when the Pandavas endeavored to build a stairway to Heaven at the monolithic Masrur Rock Temples, situated across the lake. However, their efforts were thwarted by Indra. Undeterred, they successfully constructed the “Stairway to Heaven” at the Bathu ki Ladi temples, where the staircase remains intact to this day, offering visitors an opportunity to ascend to the highest point and experience its aura. The central temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. During the winter months, when the water recedes, the submerged Bathu ki Ladi temples can be explored.
