Manali - Queen of the Hills

Manali: :
Located at 6000 fit above sea level, Manali is the queen of Himachal hills. With its untouched and virgin picturesque, Manali attracts tourists every year. Snow spread over the entire mountain area makes Manali a serene place. Couples begin their life of togetherness here as a perfect honeymoon spot, whereas adventure lovers surrender themselves to the adventures of skiing, sky diving, paragliding, mountaineering, rafting, trekking and mountain biking. Above all, Manali is a divine abode blessing everyone with its calming environs.

Climate :
Summer: 20 °C (Max) - 14 °C (Min)
Winter: 12 °C (Max) -7 °C (Min)
Rainy Season: Snowfall, November to January.
Best time to visit: October to March.

Main Attractions : Hadimba Devi Temple, Solang Nala, Rohtang Pass, Manikaran.

Location :
Geographic : Manali at an altitude of 1,950 m, in the Beas River valley, of Himachal Pradesh, is located about 250 kilometres from, Shimla.
Famous for: Apart from being a popular hill resort, Manali and the surrounding area is ofgreat significance to Indian culture as it is said to be the home of the renowned Saptarishis, or Seven Sages. The city is also famous for a yearly festival cum procession of Kullu Dussehra.

How to Reach Manali :
By Air : The closest airport is located at Bhuntar, 52 kms from Manali.
By Road : Overnight journey from Delhi
By Railways : Nearest train connectivity is through Chandigarh.

Attractions :
With its cool atmosphere & amazing scenic beauty, Manali is amongst the most popular Himalayan tourist spots. Manali is also amongst the few places in India which are famous for winter & adventure sports like skiing, hiking, mountaineering, paragliding, rafting, trekking, kayaking, and mountain biking. A unique sport called Yak skiing can also be enjoyed. Amongst other offerings are hot springs, religious shrines and Tibetan Buddhist temples all of which are part of Manali city tour.
Some of prime tourist places in Manali are -

Hidimba Devi Temple :
This ancient cave temple drives us back to the age of Mahabharata, where Second Pandava Bhima defeated Hadimb demon and married his sister Hadimba devi. The temple is built in memory of Devi Hadimba and located in scenic environs, surrounded by cedar forests in the foothills of the Himalayas.

Solang Nala :
On the way to Rohtang Pass, visitors can see a beautiful valley Solang Nala, known for sporting and adventure activities in Manali. The valley drives its name from combination of words Solang - 'a nearby village' and Nullah - 'a nearby mountain stream'. Giant slopes of lawn comprise Solang Valley & the beautiful slopes after snowfall, become covered with snow & give Solang its reputation as a popular ski resort. A ropeway has also been opened recently which provides panoramic vistas of the surrounding areas.

Rohtang Pass :
The pass is one of the most treacherous high altitude passes in the world open from May to November being beset with unpredictable snowstorms and blizzards. This pass is part of an ancient trade route between the people on either side, India on one hand & Tibet & China beyond. The pass thus invites tourists with a spirit of adventure to enjoy the stunning vista of icy cliffs. It is known as best manali tourist places.

Manikaran :
Located at an altitude of 1760 metres, Manikaran is a pilgrimage centre for Hindus and Sikhs having temples and gurudwara. The Hindus believe that Manu recreated human life in Manikaran after the dooming flood, while at the same time the area also has legends associated with Lord Shiva & his consort Parvati. In Sikh tradition, it is believed that Manikaran sahib was the place visited by their First Guru, Guru Nanak Dev Ji. The area is well-known for its hot springs which are supposed to have curative powers. The area also has breathtaking natural beauty and one of the famous tourist places in Manali.

Cities near Manali :