The mountains are calling and I must go to Manali
Work hard, travel harder.
I do believe it’s time for another adventure.
Because when you stop and look around, this life is pretty amazing.
Wander often, wonder always.
I’ve got a bad case of wanderlust.
We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.
Table of Contents
- Manali
- Places to Visit in Manali
- Popular Places to visit near Manali
- How to reach Manali
- Essential Things to Carry while travelling Manali
Manali
Manali is one of the most attractive tourist spot not only of Himachal Pradesh, but also Internationally popular tourist attraction. Manali is enriched with natural scenic beauty such as streams and birds chirping, forests and orchards and grandees of snow-capped mountains. Here you can find many adventure activities ,like trekking, climbing, mountain biking, Paragliding, and skiing. There are many places to explore on this beautiful Hill station. Manali attracts tourist from all over the world.
Places to Visit in Manali
1.Hadimba Temple:- It is a most popular religious temple in Manali. Hadimba Devi Temple, locally known as Dhungari Temple, It was constructed in 1553. The temple is dedicated to Hadimba- The wife of one of the Pandav brother Bhima.
The main attraction of this temple is that it is located in Dhungri forest and covered by pine trees. It is also famous for its unique architecture. In this temple, there are 24 meters tall Shikhar at its height. There are also other monuments near this temple in honour of the child of Bhima and Hadimba, Ghatotkacha.
2. Vashisht Hot Water Spring :- Vashisht is a small village located around 3 km from Manali across the River Beas. This beautiful village is famous for its sulphurous hot water springs and Vashisht temple, built just next to the springs. Vashisht Temple in Manali is dedicated to sage Vashisht, the Kula guru of Lord Rama in the village Vashisht across the River Beas. It is one of the most famous places to visit in Manali. Locals and tourists love to visit this place which gives a tremendous view of nature and provides inner satisfaction deep in the soul.
The steam emanating from them gives a smell of sulphur. It has been believed that his hot spring has its medical importance. It has been used to cure skin diseases.
3. Solang Valley :- The two absolutely essential destinations in the itinerary are Rohtang Pass and Solang Valley. It is 14 km from Manali, Solang Valley is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Himachal Pradesh. It is situated on the way to Rohtang from Manali, every year the valley welcomes tourists in huge numbers.
A favourite for adventure enthusiasts, parachuting to paragliding, horse riding to driving mini-open jeeps specially available for tourists of all age groups .During winters, Solang valley is covered with snow, making skiing is a popular sport here, with training institutes and trainers located in the valley to supervise skiers and train beginners. As the snow melts, skiing is taken over by zorbing. Another popular attraction of Solang valley, taking advantage of the slopes of the valley, you are likely to spot a huge transparent ball with mostly two people inside it rolling down the slope during summers. Yes, Zorbing is as much fun as it looks like. One of the most vibrant and enjoyable places in Manali, there is no way one can possibly miss this amazing valley, while here.
4. Atal tunnel :- The World Book of Records has officially certified Atal Tunnel as the longest highway tunnel above 10,000 feet in the world.
Popular Places to Visit near Manali
Besides the popular visiting places, you can also explore other scenic locales nearby. With a tour package, you can do a combined trip of Shimla-Kullu-Manali or visit these places standalone –
- Kullu – his sister town to Manali too, is a hill station of dreamy landscapes and sceneries, a hub of adventure activities as well as home to a number of sacred temples and shrines. A trip to Kullu is almost synonymous to a visit to Manali, and both are almost always covered by tourists in a single trip.
From some of the most festive temples such as the Raghunath temple to ancient temples with legends around them, such as the Bijli Mahadev Temple, the temples in Kullu are both significant centers of religion and spirituality as well as are located amongst some of the best sceneries and hills of the town.
Another popular attraction here is the Pandoh Dam which offers quite a spectacular view to it visitors. Other than this, just like Manali, one can enjoy a number of activities in Kullu. These include trekking, river rafting, mountaineering,. river rafting, trekking, mountaineering and even trout fishing. Kullu is also used as the base town to reach Manikaran, Malana, Bhunter and Rohtang Pass.
- Gulaba – Gulaba is a beautiful little village located about 20 kilometres from Manali on the route to Rohtang Pass having an enchanting natural landscape that attracts tourists in large numbers. One can explore the region trekking, and setting up a camp to soak in its natural beauty. Most of the tourists explore Gulaba are on their way to the Bhrigu Lake and set camps on the Gulaba Meadows to rest.
- The beauty of the location is unmatched, and the picturesque scenery makes the stay or the journey a memorable one. The captivating site of Gulaba is featured in some scenes from the famous Bollywood movie - Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani making it a favourite amongst picnickers and nature lovers.One can indulge in activities like hiking, camping, trekking, and paragliding at Gulaba. One a clear day, when the skies are blue the walk through the meadows is a beautiful experience, while during the night, the region is brightened by the starlit skies making it a perfect location for stargazers. Gulaba and its natural beauty is a treat to the tired soul and shouldn't be missed for the world.
How to reach Manali
By air
The nearest airport is Bhunter airport in Kullu about 10 km away. It is connected by direct flights from Delhi and Chandigarh. The other cities are connected by connecting flights.
By Rail
Manali does not have direct rail connectivity. The nearest station is at Joginder nagar which is about 160 km away. From Joginder nagar, either a cab or bus can be the option to reach Manali.
By Road
Most of the people travel to Manali by road. State-run Volvos (by HPTDC and HRTC) are a convenient way to reach. They have a high frequency from Delhi and Chandigarh.
Essential Things to Carry while travelling Manali
- Rain Jacket
- A refillable water bottle.
- A good pair of shoes.
- Hiking shoes
- Warm jackets
- Woolen socks
- A pair of warm leggings or thermals
- Travel Towel
- First Aid Kit
- Foam Travel Pillow
- Flashlight
- Sunscreen
Best Time to Visit Manali – Conclusion
In conclusion, there is really no best time to visit Manali. The best time is whenever you decide to set off! Come and experience the best season to visit Manali for yourself! I hope the information above was of help. If you have any questions or need any other details please feel free to ask in the comments section below.
Great post. Very elaborative.
ReplyDelete