Manali
Nestled in the lap of Beas river valley is the heavenly hill-station and a popular tourist spot of Manali.
Lying on the ancient trade route to Ladakh, Manali is of great significance to Indian culture and heritage as well, as its said to be the home of the Saptrishis (the 7 sages).
Drive to Manali is an experience in itself as you get to witness thrilling views all along.
The view of the landscapes and snowcapped peaks from Manali is simply breathtaking and Beas river with its clear water meandering through the town adds to the magic!
Walk through the flourishing fruit-orchards and dense pine and deodar forests where you can hear the birds singing, is very appealing.
Manali is not just about views and snow. The excellent combination of forests, snow-covered mountains, green open valleys and fast flowing river make it an ideal destination for adventure sports like skiing, paragliding, rafting and trekking.
The fact that it has something to offer to everyone , temples for believers, adventure sports for the enthusiasts and absolutely magnificent views for the honeymooners, the romantics or pure lazy, makes Manali an ideal holiday destination.
Legend
The legend goes that Varvasvata, the seventh incarnation of Manu, once found a tiny fish in his bathing water. The fish asked him to tend to it as in turn it would do him a great service one day.
The king fostered the fish till it grew big and then released it into sea. Before departing, the fish warned him of an impending deluge when the whole world would be submerged and bade him to build a sea-worthy ark. When the flood came, Varvasvata and the seven sages , the ‘saptrishis’ were towed to safety by Matsya, the fish, regarded as the first avatar of Lord Vishnu.
As the water receded, the ark came to rest on a hill-side and the place was named Manali, after Manu.
Once the water subsided and finally dried, here arose a place of breathtaking natural beauty. Today it’s a prime holiday destination and has beautiful snow covered mountains, fields of wild flowers, small picturesque hamlets and fruit laden orchards.
Interesting Fact
The British introduced apple trees and trout to Manali which were not native to Manali’s flora and fauna. Its said that when apple trees were first planted the fruits were so plentiful that often branches, unable to bear the weight, would collapse. To this day apple, along with plum and pear, remains the best source of income for the majority of its inhabitants.
Places to Visit
Hidimba Temple
A 16th century, four-storey temple dedicated to Hidimba Devi (Beem’a demon-wife) located in Dhungiri forest is famous for its beautifully carved doorway and is a must visit for the first timers.
Manu Temple
An old temple dedicated to manu, after whom Manali is named. (Refer legend)
Vashishth
A small village with natural curative hot sulphur springs and old temples dedicated to sage Vashishth.
(Tip: Take care of your wallets and belongings as pickpocketing is common here)
Jagatsukh (6km)
Famous for its Shiva temple built in Shikara style, Jagatsukh was once a capital of Kullu.
Gauri-Shankar Temple
A 12th century protected monument with lush green apple orchards all around and a beautiful water stream that adds to its beauty.
Naggar/Nagar
A lovely village, set on a hill surrounded by forests.
Having been the capital of Kullu in 16th century, Naggar has various old monuments which signify the glory it must have once lived in.
Club House
With its comprehensive facilities like roller-skating rink, billiards room, a library, an auditorium, a bar and a restaurant, it makes a wonderful outing for the day.
Rohtang Pass
Visit to Manali is incomplete without a sojourn to Rohtang pass.
Rohtang pass is a high mountain pass on the eastern Pir Panjal range of the Himalayas and connects the Kullu valley with Lahaul and Spiti of Himachal Pradesh and is a gateway to Leh and Ladakh.
The 51km drive from Manali can be dizzying and chaotic with hairpin bends, absolute blind turns and traffic jams. However its worth the woe as the pass offers a wide panoramic view of mountains rising far above the clouds.
There is a small beautiful lake where pilgrims go every year on the auspicious day of 22nd Bhadon. The Beas kund, the source of the river Beas is close-by and is a holy site for the Hindus as sage Vyas is said to have meditated here.
Enroute Rohtang pass, 16 km from Manali, you can take a halt at ‘Kothi’, a cold, windy and picturesque spot amidst alpine meadows from where you can capture phenomenal views of river Beas which comes roaring down through a deep gorge.
The next highlight on your drive is the Rahala falls, a popular picnic spot. A few kilometers ahead is ‘marhi’ a happening place with hotels, dhabas and teashops etc.
Things to Do
Trekking
Rafting
Paragliding
Skiing
Zorbing
Snow-scootering
Rock-Climbing
What to Buy and Where
Jams, pickles, honey, apricot oil (curative for joint pains) from HPMC Store, Mall, Manali.
Variety of locally made cheese can be picked up from Himalayan Stores on the Mall.
Exotic veggies like ‘lingr’, a wild asparagus and the fiery yellow chilly unique to the mountains.
Kullu and Kinnauri shawls, hippie clothes, jewellery, customized key-chains, nameplates from Manali market.
Handicrafts, carpets and chinese goods (electronics, shoes, clothes etc)
Fast Facts
Distance : 390 km from Chandigarh
Altitude : 6730 ft above sea level
