Manali Tourism Guide

Manali is a veritable showpiece of nature with its unspoilt scenic beauty. It has derived its name from the term “Manavalaya” literally means 'home of Manu', a mythological character who is supposed to have survived when the world has drowned in flood. This beautiful hill station is situated at an altitude of 2050 m, in the lap of picturesque Kullu Valley surrounded by towering peaks.

The landscape of this Himalayan jewel is truly breath taking. One can very well witness the well-defined snow capped peaks, the giant Beas river with its clear water ramble through the town. On the other side, there are verdant valleys of deodar and pine trees, tiny fields and fruit orchards. Manali is an ideal destination for family holiday or honeymoon, a favorite resort for trekkers to Lahaul, Spiti, Bara Bhangal (Kangra) and Zanskar ranges. From temples to ruins, to picturesque sight-seeing spots and adventure activities, Manali is a popular haven for all travellers and for all season.

Where Manali is situated?
Just 32 kms away from Kullu to the north, Manali is situated near the end of the valley on the National Highway leading to Leh. It is 280 kms north of Shimla, state capital of Himachal Pradesh and 108 kms from Mandi.

Why is Manali famous for?
The real treasure trove of Manali is its proximity to Himalayan snow line. And due to its mythological links, Manali is considered as a sacred place and its numerous temples are treated as pilgrimage site by Hindus. Manali is also a favorite haven for adventure lover. It is an excellent place for adventure sports like skiing, hiking, mountaineering, para gliding, rafting, trekking, kayaking, and mountain biking.

What to see in Manali?
Manali has many tourist attractive places which will mesmerize you by their beauty. Some of the beautiful favorite locations of Manali are:

Hadimba Temple or Dhungri : This beautiful wooden temple, with a finely wrought four - tiered pagoda roof, was built by Maharajah Bahadur Singh in 1553 A.D to worship Hadimba temple, the wife of Bhima, the strongest of five Pandava brothers. She is worshiped in this temple as the patron goddess of Kullu royal family. This temple is built around a natural cave, which enshrines the footprints of the goddess Hadimba.

Manu Temple : Just near the Hadimba temple flows the Manalsu River, that culminates in the main Beas river. Across the Manalsu river is the original village of Manali, that houses the ancient temple of the sage Manu. Manali itself is named after Manu, who is said to have dwelt here.

Monasteries : Manali also houses three Tibetan monasteries, that have been built recently. The most famous among them is the Gadhan Thekchhokling Gompa, built in 1969.

Club House : This river side Club house has some unique attractions. It is best place for river rafting and also a good place to spend some time by the side of the river enjoying different sports and games.

Jagatsukh : Jagatsukh, the erstwhile capital of Manali has some beautiful temples that are dedicated to Lord Shiva and Sandhya Gayatri.

What is the best time to visit it?
In winters, the temperature at Manali can drop below the freezing point as Manali is situated at an altitude of 2050 m above the sea level and surrounded by snow capped mountains. In contrast to it, summers are mild. So, it is advisable to plan your Manali trip in the month of April to June. But if you want to enjoy the snow fall at Manli than plan out your trip for the month of September to November.

What are the nearby excursion places?
Some of the nearby excursion places to Manali are mantioned below:
Vashisht : Three kms from Manali is the village of Vashisht, which is famous for its hot sulphur springs. This village is renowned for some ancient temples, dedicated to the great sage Vashisht, and to Lord Rama. The Himachal Tourism sulphur baths are just beyond these shrines.

Arjun Gufa : Arjun gufa, the cave of great Arjun from Mahabharta fame is situated only five kms from Manali near the village of Prini. Arjuna, one of the Pandava brothers, is believed to have performed his remorse here.

Solang Valley : Around 13 kms from northwest of Manali, is the renownedtttt Solang valley. This place is popularly known as the Snow point. It is famous for para gliding. This valley has some terrific picnic spots, the amazing ski slopes, which are always choc-a-bloc with tourists.


Nehru Kund: Nehru Kund is six kms from Manali, on the way to Keylong. It is a beautiful spring named after the late Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, former Prime Minister of India.

Rohtang pass: It is situated at an altitude of 13,050 feet(3,978 mtr) above sea level. It is another adventure tourist site. This place remains cold even on a summer day. It is the highest point on the Manali-Keylong road and provides a wide panoramic view of mountains.

Rahala waterfalls: This beautiful waterfall is situated at the starting point of Rohtang Pass. It is located at an altitude of 2,501m and at an distance of 27 km from Manali.



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