A picturesque hill station encircled by snowy mountains and dense pinewoods with the meandering Beas River, Manali in the state of Himachal Pradesh is famed for its aesthetic beauty. Lying at an altitude of 6260 feet, Manali is the premier hill station in the Kullu valley, whose splendor lays in the ever flowing Beas river with conifer gradients and crop orchards hiking up to the snow clad knolls of Himalayas.
This awe inspiring hill resort is sandwiched between the imposing peaks of Pir Panjal and Dhauladhar. A land, which is the holy abode of numerous goddesses and gods, this gorgeous hill resort, is puffed up with colorful festivals, fairs and pretty shrines.
Renowned as the queen of valleys, this beautiful hill station in the lower Himalayas is close knit with the legendary law giver of ancient India, Manu. It is believed that, Manali is the place where the ark of Manu found its resting after a great flood. Manali, which literally means the abode of Manu, has got remarkable significance in the ethnic culture and tradition of India.
With skyscraping mountains bounded by blizzards and deep rock spread ravines, Manali presents a distinguished holiday spot for all. The chunky forests with cool gentle winds, vast expansion of meadows, small quaint settlements and lovely orchards, give a majestic look to the serene ambiance of Manali.
Besides the splendor of its natural vista, a lot of other interesting activities are in store in Manali. A trendy holiday spot, Manali offers outstanding opportunities in mountaineering, and skiing. The unexplored hilly route to the adjacent valleys is an awe inspiring experience.
With scores of artifacts, the malls and other shops of Manali offer a delightful shopping experience. Gifted with breathtaking scenery, Manali serves as a perfect place for those who want to be in the midst of blossoming greens and valley views.
Tourist Attractions
The Castle, Naggar: A unique medieval structure, Naggar Castle is a very popular tourist spot located close to Manali in Naggar. Built around 1460 AD by Raja Sidh Singh of Kullu, the castle has a unique architectural blend of western and Himalayan styles. The castle is scenically located near the Beas River and offers panoramic views of the surroundings.
The castle houses the Roerich gallery that displays the paintings of the famous Russian painter, Nicholas Roerich. A beautiful blend of stone and wood, the mansion was once the home of the Raja but was converted to a rest house (run by HPTDC) in the year 1978.
Nicholas Roerich Art Gallery, Naggar (part of Manali region): Nicholas Roerich Art Gallery is a very popular attraction in Naggar and is located within the Naggar Castle. The museum displays a private collection of paintings of the Russian painter Nikolas Roerich, who lived here and died in the year 1947. The ground floor of the gallery is dedicated to the paintings of Kullu, Spiti and Lahaul by the painter. The upper floor preserves the artist’s private rooms.
Beas Kund (Chandratal Lake): A historic place, where it is believed that Sage Vyas had performed his daily bath, Beas Kund is regarded as sacred by the Hindus. The originating point of the Majestic River Beas, Beas Kund is sheltered by an igloo like stone formation.
Chandrakhani Pass, Kullu: Chandrakhani Pass is located in the Parbati valley that joins Malana Valley to Kullu Valley. An ideal base for trekking, the pass is known for its scenic beauty. Chandrakhani is 3600m above sea level and offers scenic trekking trails.
Pandoh Dam, Kullu: Around 10 kms from Manali lies this vast expanse of man-made beauty. Pandoh dam is a power generator hydro-electric dam, built on river Beas. The lake is the reservoir of the dam and has five bays that regulate the water.
Rohtang Pass: A lofty mountain pathway that connects Kullu with Spiti and Lahaul. This pass is a popular picnic spot in summer. All tourists going to Manali long to visit this imposing site since one can sense and tap the snow even in the hottest season of the year. At a height of 4111 meter, Rohtang Pass, which is 51 km away from Manali, presents a striking sight of glaciers, mountains and the landscape. A gateway to the adjoining tourist destinations, this scenic spot provides excellent opportunities for trekking.
Solang Valley (Snow Point): Situated 13 km northwest of Manali, between Beas Kund and Solang village is the gorgeous Solang valley, particularly a pictorial spot presenting awesome scenery of snow clad mountains and glaciers. Solang valley, also known as Snow Point is famous for its 300 m ski lift.
Van Vihar: Situated in front of the Tibet market on Mall road, Van Vihar is a famous place to hang out where tourists can enjoy boating in the small pond. The place is a bit messy but the tall deodar trees make the whole place very pretty.
Best time to visit
The climate of Manali remains pleasant mostly through the year but the month from September to June is the best time to visit Manali.
How to reach
By Train: Joginder Nagar is the nearest railway station to Manali, which is nearly 50 km away. Joginder Nagar is a narrow gauge railway station; hence connectivity is not so good.
By Air: Bhuntar, which is 50 km away from Manali, is the nearest airport.
By Bus: Manali is well connected to other tourist destinations in Himachal by private deluxe bus services. State owned services are also available connecting Manali to other cities.
