Manali Tour

Fact File
» Location from major metros & nearby cities : Delhi (570 kms), Shimla (260 kms)

» Known for : Manali is a widely visited hill station in Kullu Valley of Himachal Pradesh. It is a popular honeymoon destination and a haven for adventure sport lovers.

» Climate & the best time to visit : The climatic conditions of Manali can be described as pleasant. Summers are mild with temperatures in the range of 20-25 degrees. However, winters are very cold as mercury routinely drops below freezing point. Rainfall is high and the most of it is received during the monsoon months starting from late June. The period between April and October is the best time to visit the hill station.

The City
In Kullu Valley of Himachal Pradesh lies Manali, one of northern India's most beautiful hill station. Manali offers a close encounter with sky kissing peaks, snow clad mountains, lush green forests and vivacious lakes. In the midst of breathtaking beauty are a few places of religious worship revered by the Hindus. The hilly ranges of Manali are also popular for trekking & mountaineering and a few other adventure sports rafting, skiing and paragliding. Manali also acts as the gateway to a few other beautiful places like Solang, Rohtang Pass and Naggar. A lot of mythology is also associated with Manali. Legend has it that mythological character Manu took refuge in Manali and survived when the rest of the world was drowned in flood waters.

Attractions in the city
» Manali Sanctuary : Wildlife enthusiasts have a great choice in Manali in the form of Manali wildlife sanctuary. The sanctuary was notified in February, 1954 and covers a total area of 3,180 hectares. There are many animal and bird species here that could be seen only in higher altitudes.
» Hidimba Devi Temple : Hadimba or Dhungiri temple in one of the most revered religious places of Manali. The temple is made of wood and is four storey high. It is believed that the temple belongs to the ancient times and the wood used in its construction dates back to that period. The temple is located in the middle of a forest called the Dhungiri Van Vihar.

» Temple Of Manu : In an old village on the outskirts of Manali is the temple dedicated to Manu. It is a small temple but held in high reverence by the local population. A number of slippery stone paths lead to the temple of Manu. It is worth mentionable that Manali derives its name from Manu.

» Mountaineering Institute : The Mountaineering Institute located at Manali is a popular training destination for both beginners and advanced climbing courses. Both Indian nationals and foreigners come here for honing their mountaineering skills. The institute also conducts adventurous sports activities like high altitude trekking, minor mountaineering, rock-climbing, skiing and high altitude rescue and relief courses. Adequate lodging and boarding facilities are available here. It may be mentioned here that some nearby areas of Manali like Hanuman Tibba, Rohtang Pass, Deo Tibba and Chanderkhani Pass are popular places for a number of adventure sport activities like rafting, skiing and paragliding.

» Vashisth Village : Just 3 kms from the town is the Vashisth village, the place that commands a mesmerizing view of the lower landscape. The sulphur rich hot-water springs of the village further pulls tourists to the place. A perennial feature of this village is traditional timber houses and modern concrete cubes.

Other Places to visit
» Kullu : In the lower reaches of the Himalayas is the beautiful hill station of Kullu which is at a distance of some 40 kms from Manali. Apart from its scenic
beauty and abundance of apple orchards, Kullu is also famous for its ancient temples. The Jagannathi Devi temple and Bijli Mahadev temple of the place are the most sacred places of worship here.

» Rohtang Pass : Situated about 50-km from Manali town on the highway to Keylong is Rohtang Pass, the highest point of the area. It is located at an altitude of 4,111 metres. The beautiful Dasohar Lake is present to the left of the Pass. Thhe nearby areas are always covered with snow which makes it one of the popular places to indulge in some fun activities. Snow scooter rides are a craze among tourists in the area. A few km away from the pass is the Sonapani glacier. It may be mentioned that the pass provides the only access to Lahaul Valley and remains open from June to November each year.

How To Reach
» By Air : The nearest airport to Manali is Bhuntar at a distance of 52 kms. Commercial flights are available from Delhi and other destinations of the country.

» By Rail : The nearest railhead is Joginder Nagar that has a narrow gauge route. The distance from Manali is approximately 95 kms.

» By Road : A good road network connects Manali with national capital Delhi which passes through a few destinations of Punjab, Haryana and Himachal before reaching the hill station. However, nature sometimes plays spoilsport with landslides and cloud bursts.