Manali

Manali is a high-altitude Himalayan resort town in India’s northern Himachal Pradesh state. It has a reputation as a backpacking center and honeymoon destination. Set on the Beas River, it’s a gateway for skiing in the Solang Valley and trekking in Parvati Valley. It’s also a jumping-off point for paragliding, rafting and mountaineering in the Pir Panjal mountains, home to 4,000m-high Rohtang Pass.

As the flood slowly dried, here arose a place of breath- taking natural beauty which was only appropriate at Manali that life began again. Today this legendary cradle of all human kind is a prime holiday destination. There are high mountains surrounded by snow and deep boulder strewn gorges. There are thick forests full of cool breeze and bird songs. There are fields of wild flowers, small picturesque hamlets and fruit laden orchards.

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CLIMATE

The climate in Manali is predominantly cold during winters, and moderately cool during summers. The temperatures range from 4 °C (39 °F) to 20 °C (68 °F) over the year. The average temperature during summer is between 04 °C (39 °F) and 15 °C (59 °F), and between −15 °C (5 °F) and 05 °C (41 °F) in the winter.

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PLACES TO VISIT IN MANALI

1.HDIMBA TEMPLE (1 km) : Built in 1553 with a superbly crafted four tiered pagoda roof, it is famous for its exquisitely carved doorway.

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2.MANU TEMPLE (2 km) : This is dedicated to the sage Manu situated at old Manali.

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3.VASHISTH (3 km) : Well known for its hot springs. There are old temples dedicated to the sage Vashisth and to Lord Rama.

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4.MONASTERIES : There are three recently built Tibetan monasteries at Manali.

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5.JAGATSUKH (6 km) : The one time capital of Kullu. Here are old temples dedicated to Lord Shiva and to Sandhya Gayatri. The Arjun caves are just ahead.

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6.CAFE JUNIPAR : Himachal Tourism also runs the Juniper cafe and Chandratal restaurants at Manali.

7.SOLANG VALLEY(14 km) : In a picturesque setting this has good ski slopes and picnic spots.

8.TOWARDS THE ROHTANG PASS : On the road to Keylong is the Nehru Kund (6km) which is a clear water spring scenic spot named after the Late Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru. Kothi (12km) is a picturesque village and has a thrilling view of the deep gorge through which the Beas swiftly races. The beautiful Rahalla falls (16km) are at at altitude of 2500m. A crucial link on the old trade route and still the gateway to trans Himalayan Lahaul, the Rohtang Pass is at height of 3978 m.

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PLACES NEAR BY MANALI

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HADIMBA DEVI:
Far away from the hustle and bustle of city, the peaceful temple is surrounded by towering deodar trees. Inside the temple, there is a 3 inch tall brass image representing goddess Hidimba Devi.It is just 2.5 kms away from Manali and is a major tourist attraction. Mythology lovers must visit this temple as it is dedicated to Hidimba, the wife of Bhima, one of the five Pandava princes from the great Indian epic Mahabharata.

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ROHTANG PASS :
Tourists can go for various thrilling activities like snow scooter, skiing and mountain biking. Nature lovers can enjoy beautiful views of glaciers, peaks and Chandra river that flows down in the Lahaul valley. This pass is a gateway to Lahaul Spiti, Pangi and Leh valley.

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CHANDRAKHANI PASS:
The amazing mountains and passes around Manali play a great role to enhance tourism in the region. Chief among them is the Chandrakhani Pass which is situated in the Pin Parbati range and connects Malana village to the Kullu Valley. This is a great launch pad for trekking in the region; the pass is popular for its picturesque beauty. Chandrakhani is 3600m above sea level. Malana village offers a cultural experience all its own.

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BEAS KUND:
The birth place of the imposing River Beas, Beas Kund is secluded by an igloo like stone formation. A distinctive rocky terrain, this place is devoid of vegetation and one can only reach the valley by foot. Apart from its sacred significance, the Beas Kund region merits marvelous and challenging activities such as trekking and camping for adventure lovers in Manali. This place has one of the most appealing treks in the Kullu region that anyone can try. Beas Kund is the starting point for nearby peaks such as Shitidhar, Friendship, Ladakhi and Hanuman Tibba.

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NAGGAR :
Naggar can be reached from the right bank of the Beas as well as by crossing over at Patlikul. The Nicholas Roerich Art Gallery is a highlight of this village, featuring many of the famous artist’s Himalayan works. The Gauri Shanker Temple and the stunning Tripura Sundri Temple offer an insight into local architecture.

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