Mukteshwar Mahadev Temple

Old cave temple of Lord Shiva on a cliff above the Ravi, with views down the river valley.

Mukteshwar Mahadev is a group of cave shrines cut into a cliff above the Ravi, near Shahpurkandi, not far from Mini Goa. Local belief says the Pandavas stayed in these caves during their exile, and the main cave has a Shivling where people come to pray all year.

You reach it by a flight of steps down from the road, so wear shoes with grip, especially after rain. From the top there's a good view of the river below. On Maha Shivratri and during the Baisakhi mela the place gets very crowded, with long queues and a fair outside. On a normal weekday it's quiet and you can spend some time sitting by the caves. Pair it with Ranjit Sagar Dam or Mini Goa on the same day.