Manali is a famed hill station of Himachal Pradesh. It is perched at an altitude of 2000 m above sea level in the picturesque Beas River Valley. This majestic hill station enamors the tourists with snow-covered mountains, wooded deodar forests, apple orchards, wild colorful flowers, verdant landscapes, and the tumbling Beas River.

This rustic enclave is a much sought-after honeymoon retreat and trekkers’ paradise. Manali is a perfect blend of tranquility and thrill which draws to it hordes of nature lovers and enthusiastic trekkers. Manali’s salubrious weather is a perfect haven for the tourists who want to escape the scorching heat of the plains.

This beautiful town nestled in the lap of nature associates itself with the historic legends of Vaivasvata, the seventh incarnation of King Manu. Manali has got his name from Manavalaya which means the “Home of Manyu”. Feasting your eyes on the views of the powdery white snowdrift mountains on the surrounding Manali is an unparalleled experience. Some of the peaks which you get to see around Manali are Hanuman Tibba, Friendship Peak, Ladakhi Peak, Patalsu Peak, and Manali Peak.

Also Check: Best Treks in Himachal Pradesh

Must Visit Places Around Manali

Hadimba Temple

 

Hadimba Temple is one of the often visited places in Manali. It is situated in Old Manali, Himachal Pradesh. The tourists identify this temple by other names too like Dhunagari Temple and Hidimba Devi Temple. This ancient temple of historic importance was built by Maharaja Bahadur Singh in 1533. As the name suggests, this shrine is dedicated to Hidimba Devi, the wife of Bheem. The intricate wooden architecture of this temple is very unique. This temple is one of a kind for its pagoda-like design. The walls, doors, and pillars are magnificently carved out of fine wood and the cone-shaped roof is like a cherry on the cake.

Manali Gompa

The Manali Gompa is also known as Gadhan Theckchhokling Gompa Monastery around the world. This is a must-visit spot in Manali. This monastery strengthens the Buddhist faith, and pilgrims from Nepal and Tibet also visit this shrine. It was built in the year 1960 by the Tibetan refugees. It is very famous for its rust and beige architecture illuminated by bright golden color. This pious monastery is dedicated to Lord Buddha. The carvings of this shrine depict Buddha’s life and teachings.

Also Check: Trekking Destinations Around Manali

Rohtang Pass

 

Tucked away in the Pir Panjal Range, perched at a staggering elevation of 3978 m above sea level, the Rohtang Pass will have you in awe. Situated 50 km away from the main town, Rohtang Pass is a well motorable area. This high mountain Pass is a best-loved hub for nature lovers, photographers, and snow lovers. The scenic views from Rohtang Pass are incredible. It also conducts various adventure activities like skiing and mountain biking. This spectacular tourist spot got featured in various Bollywood movies like Jab We Met and Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani.

Vashisht Hot Spring

The Vashisht village is of great spiritual importance. It houses a very holy temple amidst the picturesque Himalayan topography. The Vashisht temple is 4000 years old. Decorated with magnificent wooden carvings, old paintings, and impressive antique figures, the interiors of this temple look splendid. This shrine is even more unique due to the presence of the divine hot spring which carries unbelievable healing properties. The visitors to this temple can also catch glimpses of Old Manali.

Also Check: River Rafting In Manali

Old Manali

 

Old Manali is the archaic part of this beautiful township. It is a bit old-fashioned yet aesthetic in contrast to the main town. This exotic old Manali is a lot more peaceful and tranquil spot like in the earlier years when Manali used to be a quaint sleepy pilgrimage town. It still has the old-world charm where you can enjoy the old relics of the earlier culture and traditions of the older civilizations. The bridge built over the Manaslu River separates Old Manali from the main town. Here, you can visit some of the most popular cafes like Café 1947, Evergreen, Sunshine and also indulge in some window shopping.

Van Vihar National Park

The Van Vihar National Park is one of the best tourist locations in Manali. This park is far away from the concrete jungles giving way to the sky-high deodar and pine trees. In the broad daylight, the trees canopy the sky hardly letting the sunlight come in. In this park, you can enjoy relaxing long nature walks, watching the wild beetles and other varieties of plants and flowers. The main attraction of this park is a man-made pond where you can do boating amidst the scenic surrounding.

Museum Of Himachal Culture And Folk Art

 

Situated very close to the Hadimba Temple of Manali, this museum was established in the year 1998. It displays the richness of culture and folk art of Himachal Pradesh. It showcases some of the most eye-catching antiques and artifacts of the bygone age. It also houses the traditional Himachali dresses and Himachali kitchenware. Various musical instruments and old-fashioned traditional ornaments are also available in this museum. This museum provides the tourists with an exceptional overview of the Himachali culture and traditions.

Gauri Shankar Temple

The 800-year-old Gauri Shankar temple is one of the oldest temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. Its origin traces back to the 12th century. This temple is the last enduring structure in the Gurjara-Pratihara traditions. This temple features the most popular location in Manali. The unique style of architecture of this temple makes it all the more famous. It is constructed in the traditional Shikhara style where you can spot nine levels of the motifs and carvings which depict different varieties of God. You can pay homage to the Shiva lingam and the statue of Nandi inside the temple. The locals believe that this temple was excavated from the earth itself.

Solang Valley

 

Located between the pristine Beas Kund and the Solang village, the Solang Valley is 13 km away from Manali. Perched at an elevation of 8400 feet above sea level, this valley is visited during the winters. During the winters, the valley gets covered with thick layers of milky white snow every year. The verdant landscape of the valley gets decked up with the emerald green trees surrounding the powdery white snow all over. Besides these picturesque landscapes, adventure enthusiasts visit Solang to experience the thrill of skiing, zorbing, and paragliding. You can also board the cable car to experience the raw and wild beauty of the Himalayas. You can also camp here to enjoy the beauty of the lush green meadows and the mountains when darkness descends.

Manu Temple

Dedicated to Sage Manu, the Manu temple is a shrine of great religious significance. This Hindu temple is replete with many historical tales and folklores. You can find out about these tales when you visit this temple. This temple is situated in Old Manali. All around the year, the tourists and Hindu pilgrims flock to this location to pray for one another and perform sacred rituals. This temple is also known for its ancient architecture and striking wooden carvings.

Manikaran

 

Manikaran is situated 4 km away from Kasol. It is located along the banks of the holy river Parvati in the Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh. For Hindus and Sikhs, Manikaran is an oft-visited pilgrimage destination. Manikaran is famous for its hot springs where you can take bath to relax and free yourself of all your wrongdoings. It will help you gain inner peace and strengthen your willpower. These hot springs contain sulphur in the waters which are capable of curing a host of diseases. The water is so hot that it is enough to prepare foods by placing the utensils on it. This food is served as langar in Gurudwara and temples.

Manali Sanctuary

The Manali Sanctuary is a must-visit if you are planning to stay in Manali. Visiting this sanctuary, you can see the native wildlife and umpteen varieties of herbs, plants, flowers, and trees. This sanctuary is a shelter to a lot of rare animals and birds like Kashmir Flying Squirrel, Snow Pigeons, Himalayan Black Bear, Barking deer, Flying fox, creepers, and many others. The dense thickets of trees like, willow, chestnut, poplar, deodar, maple in this sanctuary attract a lot of tourists. The blazing red rhododendrons are also in plenty in this sanctuary.

Naggar Castle

 

Situated in the Naggar town, the Naggar Castle surrounds itself with the stunning heaving ranges in the backdrop. This castle is one of most the beautiful and enduring monuments to visit in Manali. This heritage building is an amalgamation of Indian and western styles of architecture. It is built with stone and wood. This castle, built by Raja Sidh Singh Kullu served as a resthouse in the earlier years. It is now converted into a hotel managed by the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation. The architecture inside the castle talks about the magnificent artwork of Roerich, the well-known Russian painter.

FAQS:

Is Manali Safe?

Yes, Manali is safe as it is a major tourist destination in Himachal Pradesh. Besides Manali’s enthralling scenic beauty, it is also famous for many adventure sports like trekking, religious places, and surreal family outing spots to visit. The solo trekkers often choose Manali as their trekking destination.

What Are Some Of The Best Treks In Manali?

You can trek over to many places from Manali like Hampta Pass trek, Beas Kund trek, Pin Parvati trek, Sar Pass Trek, Bhrigu Lake Trek, and some others.

What are Some Of The Advenutres To Do In Manali?

Some of the thrilling adventure sports to do in Manali are skiing, hiking, mountaineering, paragliding, rafting, trekking, kayaking, and also mountain biking.

Where Can We Go For Rafting In Manali?

You can indulge in the sports like rowing and river rafting in the glacial waters of the Beas River in Manali.

How To Reach Manali

The best way to reach Manali is by flight. The nearest airport to the city is Kullu Manali Airport. You can take your flights either from Delhi or Chandigarh. You can also travel to Manali by road but this journey will be quite hectic. You will have to board your bus from Delhi and it will take about 12 to 13 hours to reach Manali. You can also travel by train to Manali. In that case, you have to take your train from Delhi to Kalka and then book a cab or a bus to Manali.