The
Kullu valley has an ancient town in its lap called Manali. Surrounded by towering
peaks at an arm length, Manali's major asset is its proximity to the snowline.
For those yearning for both adventure and comfort at the same place, Manali is
the place to be in. Manali has abundant opportunities for sports lovers and also
provides soothing touch to those who seek peace and break from daily chaos. It
is the place where one can indulge in self-introspection. There are many villages
in Manali and each village has its own deity. Hence, Manali is also known as the
valley of gods.
Rich in fruit orchards and pine groves, Manali offers quite
a few places for sightseeing. There is an interesting legend that speaks about
how sage Manu recreated human life after floods had devastated the world. Thus,
the area of Manali is sacred and Hindus treat the temples over here as pilgrimage.
The Kulluis in brightly patterned puttoos, Tibetan women wearing ankle-length
rainbow-striped pinafores, Buddhist monks, are a common sight in Manali.
What
to see in Manali
- Guest Houses and Orchids in Old Manali
-
Manaligarh Fort
- Manu Maharishi Temple
- Vashisht Temple
-
Rohtang Pass
- Dassaur Lake
- Beas Kund
- Hadimaba Temple
- Tibetan Monastery
- Arjun Gufa (Cave)
- Jagatsukh Temple
What
one can do in Manali
Manali is famous for adventure sports like
skiing, hiking, mountaineering, paragliding, rafting, trekking, kayaking, and
mountain biking. One can do river rafting on the Beas or trek into the Himachal
hills from here. Rock climbing courses are conducted during the summer months
and skiing at Solang and Auli during the winters.
How
to reach Manali
The nearest airport is Bhuntar, 52 km south of
Manali. There are flights to Delhi via Shimla. Manali can be reached from Pathankot,
Chandigarh and Kiratpur railway stations. From there you will have to take a bus,
as there is no direct link. The closest narrow-gauge railhead is at Jogindernagar,
135 km away. The closest broad-gauge railheads are Chandigarh (310 km) and Ambala
(355 km). Direct bus services are available from most major towns of North India.
Or you could throw your bags in the car and head upwards, if you are prepared
for exciting and adventurous journey. Tourists also have the option of hiring
taxies and buses operated by private travel and tour companies for vacations in
Manali.
