Manali, at the northern end of the Kullu Valley in Himachal Pradesh, is a hill station situated at a height of 2050 m (6398 ft) in the Himalayas. Situated on the Beas river (and near its source), it is a popular tourist spot for Indians in summer and a magical, snow-covered place in winter.
A staging point for a number of treks (Beas Kund, Chandrakhani Pass) and sports such as white-water rafting, Manali is also on the road to Ladakh via the valley of Lahaul and Spiti.
History
In ancient times, the valley was sparsely populated by nomadic hunters known as “rakshas”. The next arrivals were the shepherds who arrived from the Kangra valley and settled to take up agriculture. Some of the earliest inhabitants of the region are the ‘naur’ or ‘nar’, which is a caste unique to the Kullu valley. Only a few naur families are known to exist now.
The British were responsible for introducing apples and trout which were not native to Manali. It is 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.
Get in
Manali is about 550 km from Delhi, the capital of India, and there are buses connecting the town with Delhi, Shimla, Dharamsala and Leh. For service from Delhi to Manali, tickets and reservations can be made at the Inter State Bus Terminus as well as at the Himachal Tourism office on Safdar Hashmi Marg near Mandi House in New Delhi. The approximate travel time from Delhi to Manali is 18 hours; from Ambala to Manali is 10 hours; and from Kulu to Manali is 1.5 to 3 hours. Volvo buses are available from Delhi but you need to book these two to five days in advance.
If hiring a private taxi, ensure that the driver has experience driving in hilly regions and doesn’t have the habit of drinking alcohol.
The nearest Broad Gauge Rail Head is Ambala Cantt(200 km) or Chandigarh (250 km)from Indian Capital New Delhi. Ambala Cantt is on the Delhi – Amritsar and Delhi – Jammu main lines and is well served by rail, but you will need to travel to Ambala to get a bus for the 10 hour ride to Manali. Jogindernagar and Kalka are other, less preferable, rail heads for Manali.
The nearest airport is Bhuntar Airport, 50 km from Manali, 10 km from Kullu, about two hours away. Indian Airlines, Air Deccan and Jagson Airlines operate flights to Kullu from Delhi and Chandigarh.
See
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Rohtang Pass
Rahala waterfalls: About 16 km from Manali at the start of the climb to the Rohtang Pass, are the beautiful Rahalla Falls at an altitude of 2,501 m.
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Monasteries
Manali is known for its shiny gompas or Buddhist monasteries. It is maintained by donations from the local community and by sale of hand-woven carpets in the temple workshop. At a distance of 3 km northwest of Manali is Old Manali, famous for its orchards and old guesthouses. There is ruined fort here by the name of Manaligarh. There is also the Manu Maharishi Temple, dedicated to sage Manu. Vashist Hot Water Springs and Temple: Around 3 km from Manali, across the Beas river is Vashist, a small village with natural sulphur springs. Modern bathhouses, with Turkish-style showers, have the hot water piped into them for the convenience of the visitors who come here to benefit from the medicinal properties. Vaishisht, also boasts a pair of old stone temples, opposite each other above the main square. Dedicated to the local patron saint Vashista, the smaller of the two opens on to a partially covered courtyard, and is adorned with elaborate woodcarvings. Those lining the interior of the shrine, blackened by years of oil-lamp and incense smoke, are particularly fine. The temple tanks are underground hot-water/sulfur springs.Solang Valley, popularly known as Snow Point, is 13 km northwest of Manali and famous for its 300-meter ski lift. It is a picturesque spot and offers splendid views of glaciers and the snow-capped mountains. Jagatsukh, the former capital of Manali, is also an important spot. One can visit famous Hadimba Temple.
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Adventure Sports
Skiing is a major pastime in Manali. Facilities for skiing are available at Solang Nullah (January-March) and Rohtang La (during summer). The Mountaineering Institute at Solang Nullah is a good training institute. Heli skiing is possible at the deep snowfields.
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Skiing at Solang
The Mountaineering Institute and Allied Sports is about 3 km from the Mall and offers mountaineering and kayaking courses. Kayaking is possible on the Beas River.There are several good hikes from Manali. The 12 km hike up the western banks of the Beas to the Solang Valley is noteworthy. Lama Dugh meadow is a 6 km hike up to the Manalsu Nala, west of Manali town.For the best trekking expedition, take a trek from Solang Valley, on to Dhundhi and from there to Dussar lake and then onwards to Manali. This stretch will take you to places you would have only dreamt of. Pure, unadulterated adventure and fun. Be sure to have a good guide at your disposal who knows this area otherwise you would be lost forever. The trek would typically last for 5 days.
- Old Manali is an impressive array of wonderful, old wooden houses and happy smiling faces appearing from windows and over garden fences.
- There are some interesting temples of Tibetan Buddhist lineages located between old and new Manali.
- Naggar Castle and Art gallery is another place to see and so as beautiful Log Hut Area and club house. In fact both this places especially log hut area has some good hotels to stay as well
Do
- Get your photos clicked with either rabbits or yaks. It will cost about 10-20 rupees (0.5$) for a single photo.
- One can also enjoy paddle boating in a fun park near Hidimba temple.
- River rafting, skiing, zorbing, paragliding, trekking, snow scootering, and river crossing.
- As with other touristed locations, beware of the saffron vendors.
- Try the loacal Hashish. It is visited by many trekkers who follow the hashish trail. Manali’s charas is considered to be the best in India.
- Rock climbing– there are some fabulous routes, however, go with a reputable company that can provide you suitable gear, otherwise this can become a dangerous sport. Look for the bright orange building across from Pizza Olive. The company also does abseiling trips, in which you can swing down into 9 tiers of a waterfall using rock-climbing equipment.
Buy
Keychains, name plates, etc which are customized to ones own message are worth buying as mementos. Also one can get his name carved/written on a single grain of rice. One can also visit Manali Market to buy woolen stuff like sweaters, pull overs, shawls, blankets, etc. Hippie clothes/ jewellery can be found in Old Manali.
very nice buddy
i like to go and spend sometime there.i realy wish i could.
Hi,
Sir How r u Sir
After Seeing this Manali Pictures really Mind Blowing Sir Excellent Sir
India out going Really Amazing Sirs.
This is nice.i realy wish to go & spend sometime there.Realy beautiful
I have been ther for a week and enjoyed every moment of it.
What a place it is,snowfalls,mountains covered with snow,seems like i am in heaven.
It was amazing tour.
Hi,
Thanks for exploring such a nice information and beautiful pictures. I would really like to go there in the lap of the nature.
Thanks
This is nice.i realy wish to go & spend sometime
Manju P.V
This is nice.i realy wish to go & spend sometime there.Realy beautiful
HI
To much gud
Very cooling sight and exciting.
Very cooling and exciting place to visit.
it is very nice by seeing i am also want to go to all thisplaces
i have been there 2 months ago and it is a fantabulous place with breath taking sceneries and waterfalls.i am really glad that i went there………
i miss manali a lot….and specially rohtang pass…..
The Manali pictures are very very very very nice and that place is so beautiful &i wish in every one`s life atleast once should visit this place.
very nice, really very nice, wish to go and spend lot of time
This is to EXCELLENT AND MARVELOUS Places.
the photographs remembered me of my visit there about seven years ago. Thank you very much
Very useful information. thanks
I would really like to go there in the lap of the nature.
i have also live in himachal but i really like in manali (India out going Really Amazing)
thanks & regard
sunil dogra
I have been there in Manali & Rothang Pass 1996. The photos are rocking in my memory. I wish I can go there one more time
I would really like to go there in the lap of the nature.
I have never seen the much of beautiful place like Manali. really romantic place, mind blowing, i want to have frequent visits…..
These photograps are mind blowing and soul stimulating
hi dude i had been in may 2008 with my hubby superb da really i wish to go again….really wonderfull place it is,lifetime u shud really make sum time and shud go there it is worth spendin time and money too…enjy ppl who all hv nt been der…
owesome
beautiful sceens is there marvelous i am not able to define the beauti.
I have seen manali but could not really appreciate the beauty as you have brought it out in the photos! Congrats!
I have seen the pictures,
It’s really nice!!!
I wish I would be there!
How I like to go over there and simply merge myself in the misty mysteriouly beautiful hils and land scapes.
<>
mind blowing.. it’s heaven.. no doubt.. a must see place once in a life time
A very good information, Photographs indeed. after looking at them i decided to cancell my holidays to the other parts of the world and settle for KULU & MANALI. Thanks once again.
hi,
in diwali holidays ,my family planned to visit this beautiful place . i m extremely excited for this great tour. and having some exciting ideas to enjoy this tour with full of pleasure and creative oriented thinking and m intended to make my these holidays unforgettable throughout my life.
really i m very thankful to u for giving such a informative and valuable knowledge regarding this lovely place.
i don’t wanna a miss a single moment without enjoying and taking pleasure. wow its superb. this will be my first trip in valley of mountains and other icy filled locations. i m not capable to control to my feelings . yaks, rabbits, river rafting,paragliding, skiing and many more enjoyable , fabulous things which will certainly sketch a nice image in each and every person’s heart .obviously i will share my ideas while return back from tour.
HEllo Dear . I am Really Injoy For Nature Picture see,So i Wise U only One Time This palace See & enjoy the Life .
These are really very nice spots. We feel as if we are there when we see all these. Since we spend
six months in USA every year, me and my husband, we take a lot of pictures every time we go there.
We had been to Hawaii last time and we took a lot of pictures with our digital camera. I thin I also
should start sending a lot of such nice pictures to your site. Is it allowed?
Thanks- It reminded me of my visit 30 years ago.I am sure it has been kept as beautiful as it was
PARADISE ON EARTH……..what else I can say….
Manali is a beautiful place with more foreigners than locals who prefer the local hash.
you must have added Manikaran Saheb also
You must have added Manikaran Saheb photos also
good place to relax
nice place especially the wood
MANALI
Puccho matt look like a beautifull Lady.
manali beauty
I like this natural pictures
This is nice.i realy wish to go & spend sometime there.Realy beautiful
These are so much beautiful scene
I like it, like it, like it
very nice
I like to spend my all summer dys at hill queen manali and shimla its realy beautiful
Please add more in Himachal Pradesh
These are so much beautiful scene I like it, like it,
WoW, Simla and Manali both are very beautiful place. iam very surprised that these are vey cool. my thank to this web site. becoze i was unkown about Shimla and Manali,but this website very helpful for me.\
and i dissied that after marriege i will go to shimla and manali for my Haneymoon………………!
manali has got a blessing of scenic beauty..very very beutiful place..we dont get bore at any moment of time there..we not even come to kno how time passes in exploring d nature n praising god to create such a lovely place.
i have heard lot about manali therefore i have decided next month i am going to manali with my family, i want to see whatever people are mentioning here is it all true,
I have visited Manali. Rohtang pass is a wonderful place.
Best place to visit.
jehra wisky peenda ohi jaave
HI ALL,
Can anyone tell be the best time to visit this places and how many days are actually required to cover the places listed in this article.
It ia amazing…
Matt
I can’t open any pic