The Masroor temple, in Kangra Valley of Himachal Pradesh, is said to have existed since the 8th or 9th century. It is actually a complex of about 16 temples carved out of sandstone rocks similar to the Ellora temples in Maharashtra.
This is primarily a Ram temple, with statues of Ram, Sita, and Laxman inside the shikhar. Outside the shikhar is the cut-out of Hanuman, as shown in the picture. The temple got severely damaged by the earthquake of 1905. So, this Hanuman structure appears like a fallen off pillar.
Located on a hill top in Lanj Panchayat this temple is probably the only monolithic structure in the Himalayan region. The gentleman from Chamunda who accompanied us also told that because of its architecture and historical relevance, the temple was declared a protected monument by the Archaeological Department of India. The temple complex also has rectangular water tank in front.
A climb up the intricate staircase offers panoramic views of the temple and villages around. You will have to pay a nominal entrance fee for the visit (extra for the camera).
This place is about 40 km from Kangra and about 50 km from Dharamshala.
Also see: My Sabarimala pilgrimage
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