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Manali is situated along the banks of the Beas, close to
the Rohtang Pass and Solang Valley. It is the main holiday
destination in the entire valley. The raw magnificence of
Manali's natural beauty has to be seen, and experienced, to be
believed. Proud, snowclad mountains, dense forests, emerald
valleys, exotic flowers, gurgling streams meandering through
meadows, it is sheer magic.
Links :
By air : The nearest airport is at Bhuntar (50 km).
By rail : The nearest narrow gauge railhead is at
Jogindernagar (135 km). The nearest broad gauge railheads are
at Chandigarh (310 km), and Ambala (355 km).
By road : The distance from Delhi via Mandi is 585 km,
and from Shimla the distance is 270 km. From Shimla,
Chandigarh and Delhi, luxury buses run by Himachal Tourism
regularly ply to Manali.
Tourist attractions :
Hadimba Temple : This temple, with a finely wrought
four - tiered pagoda roof, dating back to 1553, is built
around a natural cave, which enshrines the footprints of the
goddess Hadimba. Hadimba was the wife of Bhima, one of the
five great Pandava brothers of the Mahabharata, and later
became the patron goddess of the Kulu royal family.
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.
Arjun Gufa : Five kms from Manali near the village of
Prini is the Arjun Gufa, Arjuna's cave. Arjuna, one of the
Pandava brothers, is believed to have performed his penance
here.
Vashisht : Three kms from Manali is the village of
Vashisht, which is renowned for its hot sulphur springs. The
village is also the site of some old temples, dedicated to the
great sage Vashisht, and to Lord Rama. The Himachal Tourism
sulphur baths are just beyond these shrines.
Jagatsukh : The erstwhile capital of Kulu, Jagatsukh
houses temples dedicated to Lord Shiva and Sandhya Gayatri.
Solang Valley : Around 14 kms from Manali, is the
Solang valley, that boasts of the glacier nearest to the
resort. Replete with terrific picnic - spots, the amazing ski
slopes here are full of hectic activity, come January -
February.
Towards the Rohtang Pass : Six kms from Manali, on the
way to Keylong, is the Nehru Kund, a beautiful spring named
after the late Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, former Prime Minister of
India.
Adventure sports in Manali
Skiing is a major pastime in Manali. Facilities for skiing are
available at Solang Nullah (January-March) and Rohtang La
(during summer). The Mountaineering Institute at Solang Nullah
is a good training institute. Heli skiing is possible at the
deep snowfields. The Mountaineering Institute and Allied
Sports is about 3 km from the Mall and offers mountaineering
and kayaking courses. Kayaking is possible on the Beas River.
Best Season
Climate, and Clothing: Manali is perched at an altitude of
2050 meters above sea level and is spread along the banks of
the river Beas. In winters, the temperature can drop below
freezing point when heavy woolens are required. Summer
temperatures are mild and light woolens/cottons are
recommended. |
