“ ALL ABOUT MANALI "

About Manali

Manali A beautiful hill station in Himachal Pradesh, nestled in between snowy mountains and thick forests,flanked by the Beas River, Manali is truly a travellers paradise. Situated at an altitude of 1950 meters, Manali offers stunning views of the Pir Panjal and Dhauladhar range of mountains, which are considered to be the dwelling place of Gods and Goddesses. Legend has it that Manali was founded by an ancient sage Manu whose ark found its resting place here after a great flood. Manali, which literally means "the resting place of Manu" is a popular tourist destination and offers a welcome respite from the heat of the plains during the summer months.

The best place to go shopping in Manali is The Mall, where you will find traditional shawls, rugs, caps and footwear. Other places around The Mall where you will find interesting items to shop are Thai Market, Hong Kong market, Tibetan Market, Dragon shopping complex etc. The Old Manali market is also a good place to buy fresh fruit jams, juices and pickles. Don't forget to bargain as shopkeepers here quote an extremely high price.The best way to explore Manali is on motor bike, which can be hired on a reasonable rate. But try this option only if you know your way around. There are always buses and autos for those not comfortable getting around on motor bikes. If you are visiting Manali during the winter, carry light cotton clothes. If you are going to Manali in the winter then make sure you carry thick woolen sweaters, scarves, gloves and socks as it can get very cold. Avoid visiting Manali during the monsoon as the chances of landslides are high.

Manali is a high-altitude Himalayan resort town in India’s northern Himachal Pradesh state. It has a reputation as a backpacking center and honeymoon destination. Set on the Beas River, it’s a gateway for skiing in the Solang Valley and trekking in Parvati Valley. It's also a jumping-off point for paragliding, rafting and mountaineering in the Pir Panjal mountains, home to 4,000m-high Rohtang Pass.

“HOW TO REACH MANALI"

By Air

Bhuntar, which is located 50 km from Manali is the closest airport to Manali. The Bhuntar airport is well connected by flights to Delhi. There are tasi services available between Bhuntar and Manali.

By Rail

One of the most convenient and faster ways to reach Manali is to avail the broad gauge trains. Trains to Manali take you to the nearest station broad gauge railway stations of Kalka, Chandigarh and Pathankot.

By Road

Traveling to Manali by road is one of the easiest ways to reach the beautiful destination. You can plan your trip accordingly by going through the list which provides information on the distance of Manali from major Indian cities: Manali - Mandi 110 km Manali - Delhi - 570 km Manali - Leh 475 km Manali - Manikaran 085 km Manali - Dalhousie 385 km Manali - Rohtang Pass 051 km Manali - Dharamshala 235 km Manali - Kaza 200 km Manali - Palampur 200 km Manali - Pathankot 325 km Manali - Kasauli 275 km Manali - Chamba 402 km Manali - Udaipur 150 km Manali - Chandigarh 320 km Manali - Shimla 260 km Manali - Keylong 115 km Manali - Trilokinath 150 km.

“ PLACES TO SEE IN  & AROUND MANALI "

Tourist Places in Kullu Manali

Nestled in the Himalayas, Kullu is a valley gifted with nature's charm and scenic beauty. Splashing rivers, water streams and lofty mountains with the finest of slopes make it a place perfect for adventure sports. It has numerous temples and is, therefore, called the "Valley of Gods". Celebration of Dussehra is in itself a prime attraction of the valley drawing many tourists every year.

Raghunath Temple

One of the prime tourist attractions of Kullu is the Raghunath Temple which is dedicated to Lord Ram, one of the most important deities of Hinduism. This temple was constructed by Raja Jagat Singh in the year 1660 to seek pardon for his sins. The king got an idol of Lord Ram from Ayodhya and placed it in this temple.

The Bijli Mahadev Temple

The Bijli Mahadev Temple is located at an elevation of 2,460 meters and, as the name suggests, it is frequently struck by lightning.

Sultanpur Palace

This is one of the major tourist attractions in Kullu. This palace houses beautiful miniature paintings done in Kullu style with themes such as simple rural backgrounds with human figures in them.

Basheshwar Mahadev Temple

Located 15 km from Kullu, this temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Dating back to the 9th century and situated on the banks of the River Beas, this huge temple has been built in a pyramid style and houses a large "Yoni-Lingam" idol representing Lord Shiva and his wife Goddess Parvati. Idols of Goddess Durga, Lord Vishnu and Lord Ganesh are housed in the three-sided shrine outside the temple.

Akhara Bazaar

One of the most popular bazaars and shopping areas of Kullu, Akhara Bazaar has numerous shops selling Kullu caps, shawls, Pattoos, gudmas, puhlas, rugs and other woolen items.

Hadimba Temple

Also known as the Dhundri temple, this temple is made out of wood and stone. Constructed in 1553, the Hadimba Temple was built in honour of Goddess Hadimba, the wife of Bhim, from Mahabharata epic. The walls of the temple are covered with wood carvings and on the month of May each year, animal sacrifices are carried out here for the three-day Dhungri Mela

Buddhist Monasteries

Since a lot of Tibetans live in Manali there are many beautiful Buddhist monasteries here. A few of the popular ones are the Gadhan Thekchoking Gompa Monastery, which is famous for multi-coloured wall paintings and the statue of Lord Buddha. The other popular monastery is the Himalayan Nyingamapa Gompa, which houses a large statue of Buddha with a golden face.

Rohtang Pass

The Rohtang Pass is Situated at an altitude of 13,050 feet above sea level, Rohtang Pass is the highest point on the Manali-Keylong road. The pass is only open from May to November, since snowfall during the winters blocks this pass.he Rohtang Pass is one such destination, loved by the visitors mainly for the beauty its altitude promises. The Rohtang Pass is the highest point on the Manali- Keylong Road. It is also one of the most beautiful spots in the vicinity. Located at an altitude of 4112 meters above sea level, the spot promises an exquisite view of the surrounding mountain ranges. The regions beyond the Rohtang Pass are remote and cut away from the reach of the tourists. These predominantly Buddhist areas promise you an ascetic and haunting view. Being a bit inaccessible to the modern civilization has helped the place to retain its pure and untouched beauty.The best time to visit this tourist attraction in Himachal Pradesh is between the months of June and September, when the way to the pass is easily accessible. There are trekkers available from the Manali town for going to the Rohtang Pass. You can also opt to trek this distance. The trekkers' route to the Rohtang Pass of Manali is will provide one some of the most beautiful views of the surrounding mountains and the greenery all around. The distance between Rohtang Pass and the Manali town is about 51 kilometers.

Solang Valley

The Solang valley in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh is a place where one can celebrate peace amidst the snow capped peaks and the lush greenery of the dense forests. The serene atmosphere created by the vastness of the azure sky, the ravishing beauty of the green valleys and the snow lining on the distant peaks can make one feel the pleasure of being in a heaven abode. The Solang Valley is also the place where the Ski school of Manali is located. There are wonderful ski slopes and picnic spots in this beautiful place. There are various ski packages arranged by the HPTDC during the winter months.It is a famous skiing destination and the 300 metre ski lift is the most popular attraction here.The nearest international airport to the beautiful hill station of Solang valley is the one located in New Delhi. For domestic flights, services can be availed from the Kullu Bhunter Airport. The best time to visit the Solang valley is during the months of January and February, when this calm place becomes busy with activities.Solang valley of Manali is well connected to other important cities of North India as well. There are regular buses plying to this place from cities like Delhi and Chandigarh. The hill resort of Solang valley is situated on the National Highway no. 21.

Old Manali

Located 2.5 km above the Mall, Old Manali still maintains that feel of a mountain village and has many old wood and stone homes. Apart from that, there is also the Manu Maharishi Temple which is dedicated to Manu, the founder of Manali.

Nehru Kund

Located on the Manali-Keylong road, the Nehru Kund is a fresh water spring. Named after India's first Prime Minister, Jawahalal Nehru, it is believed that he used to drink from this stream whenever he visited Manali.

Katrain

Katrain is Located at an altitude of 1,463 metres above sea level and around 20 km from the city of Kullu, Katrain is the centre of the Kullu valley and is known for its apple orchards and trout hatcheries.

Naggar

Located on the banks of the River Beas, this former capital of Kullu is famous for a large number of temples, most of them dedicated to Lord Vishnu, Tripura Sundari and Lord Krishna. Naggar is also famous for the Roerich Art Gallery, which houses the paintings of Nicholas Roerich as well as his sculptures.

Kasol

Located at an altitude of 1,640 metres above sea level, Kasol is known for its scenic beauty. It has wide open clearings sloping down to wide expanses of clear white sands at the Parvati River.

Manikaran

Manikaran is Located at a distance of 45 km from Kullu, Manikaran is famous for its hot springs and is also an important religious destination for Hindus and Sikhs. The hot water springs here are so hot that the heat from the water is used to cook food.

Vashisht

Located 3 km north of Manali, Vashisht is a satellite town of Manali and is very popular among tourists, locals and foreigners alike. While Indian tourists usually come here to bathe in the hot springs and visit the temples, foreign tourists come here for the relaxed atmosphere and cheaper accommodation. Over here, you will find many stone and wooden houses with beautiful carvings.

Mandi

Mandi is Located 102 km away from Manali, Mandi is famous for its scenic beauty and great options for buying local hand-made items.

Shimla

One of the most popular tourist destinations in Himachal Pradesh and also known as the "Queen of Hills", Shimla is a popular holiday destination. It has pleasant summers and snowy winters.Shimla is the capital of the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, in the Himalayan foothills. Once the summer capital of British India, it remains the terminus of the narrow-gauge Kalka-Shimla Railway, completed in 1903. It’s also known for the handicraft shops that line The Mall, a pedestrian avenue, as well as the Lakkar Bazaar, a market specializing in wooden toys and crafts.

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