Manali, at the northern end of the Kullu Valley in Himachal Pradesh, is a hill station situated at a height of 2050 m (6398 ft) in the Himalayas. Situated on the Beas river (Vyaas in Hindi) and near its source, it is a popular tourist spot for Indians in summer and a magical, snow-covered place in winter. A staging point for a number of treks (Beas Kund, Chandrakhani Pass) and sports such as white-water rafting, Manali is also on the road to Ladakh via the valley of Lahaul and Spiti and rohtang pass which is main attraction near manali.

Tourist Places in Manali

Arjun Gufa Arjun Gufa or Arjun Cave in Manali is the famous tourists spot in Manali can be reached at just 5 kms distance from Manali, it is located at the left bank of the river Beas. As the name indicates, the spot has a story to tell about the times of Mahabharata when Arjuna, the third Pandava performed meditation and acquired Pashupata Astra from Lord Indra. So, the cave got its name.

Club house The Club House in Manali is under the management of Himachal Tourism development Corporation, and is located just 1.5 km from the bus stand. Tourists can enjoy various indoor and outdoor sports in the club by taking due permission at the reception along with a nominal fee.

Easily reachable by bus or taxi, one can enjoy various recreational facilities including an auditorium, billiards room, library, roller skating ring, carom board room, bar and restaurant at the club house.

Hidimba Devi temple Temple in Manali or Dhungiri temple in Manali is one of the most important temples in the region. This four story wooden temple is located in the middle of a forest called the Dhungiri Van Vihar. From the name of the forest parkland this temple derives its name. This temple was erected in 1553 and is dedicated to Goddess Hadimba.

The Hadimba devi temple was built in 1553 AD by Maharaja Bahadur Singh . The Hadimba temple is four storeyed with a pagoda shaped roof and a front doorway covered with figures and symbols.There is a steep footpath to the temple or a longer motorable road. Outside one can see hang deer antlers and markhor horns donated by local hunters. Hadimba is supposed to be the wife of Bhima in the epic of Mahabharata. Also known as the Dhungri temple, its site of a major festival held in May

Jagatsukh Jagatsukh the erstwhile capital of Kullu, is one of the biggest villages in Kullu District, Himachal Pradesh. This beautiful hamlet is dotted with numerous old temples. Jagatsukh is 6 km south of Manali.Major point of attraction is an ancient Shiva Temple, built in Shikhara style. Other tourist interests include the small shrine of Gaurishankar and the chalet-roofed temple dedicated to Goddess Sandhya Devi. Sharvali Devi Temple, in the nearby village Shooru, is worth visiting. Jagatsukh Shiva Temple is a Shikhara style shrine situated at Jagatsukh, which is 6 km from Manali, in Himachal Pradesh.Built around the early 8th century, it has a tri-ratha sanctum roofed by a Shikhara. The temple is of similar architecture as that of the Naresar group of temples.

Manu temple Manu Templeis situated in the old township of Manali. The ancient temple is located at a distance of 3 kilometers from the chief market place in old Manali. Lying in the congested place, the temple is often visited by the tourists who arrive from different parts of the world to view the only existing temple in the country dedicated to the worship of the Rishi Manu.

A picturesque town located at a distance of 16 km from Manali, enroute to Rohtang pass, is Kothi Gorge. The place is known for offering magnificent views of the deep gorge serving as the mouth of Beas River. The village is located at an altitude of 2500 m above sea level and tourists need to indulge in a steep 1 hour trek from the road in order to reach the gorge. It will take around 2 to 3 hours to explore the region. Thermal springs oozing out of the rocks make a pretty picture and tourists can enjoy a picnic at this spot as well. This place serves as an excellent base for paragliding. Best time to visit is during May to October.Solang Valley is one of the nearby places which can be visited.

The ancient Manu Temple in Manali has a distinct historical background that is appealing to most people who visit the pilgrim spot. According to Hindu mythology, Manu sage is the divine creator of the human race in the world. It was in this region that the sage dwelt and meditated. The region of Manali grew by the Manalsu River that flows into the River Beas and was named after the sage who resided in this region. The village of Manali houses the Manu Temple that is frequented by the tourists.

Mountaineering Institute Located 3 km on the left bank of river Beas towards Kullu, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports Manali, organises basic & advance training courses, in trekking, mountaineering, skiing and water sports. Skiing and trekking equipments can be hired from here by booking in advance. Tourists can visit an interesting showroom here.

Nehru kund : 5 kms. on National Highway to Leh,a natural spring of cold clear water named after Pt. Jwahar Lal Nehru, who used to drink water from this spring during his stay in Manali. This spring is believed to originate from the Bhrigu lake situated high-up in the mountains.

Rahala water falls The waterfalls in Manali lie enroute to Rohtang Pass from Manali and can be located at 16 kms distance from Manali city. These falls add to the awesomeness of the beauty of Manali, the 'Switzerland of the East'. The water falls from an altitude of 2501 meters and presents a lovely nature scene very well suited for picnicking and the unique charm that everyone would like to capture in his heart forever.

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. Depending upon the snowfall in the upper regions, Rohtang Pass opens at any time during the month of May for travel and a seal in September. The tedious journey is often dangerous owing to the high velocity wind and the unpredictable snowfall. Adventure sports such as skiing, mountain biking and paragliding can be enjoyed at this place.This is one of the few regions in the country where snow can be found even during summers (depending on weather conditions). Rohtang Pass is the 'Highest Jeepable Road in the

World' and offers spectacular views of the Himalayas. Located on the Manali Keylong Highway, one needs a permit to travel on Rohtang pass from the Indian Army, ensuring safety as well as movement of vehicles.Vehicles can be booked for a journey to Rohtang or one can also opt for shared taxis. Make sure to leave in the early morning for Rohtang so as to get right up to the Snow point. 'Skiing Dress' is available but it’s a good idea to make your own arrangement beforehand. Marhi, Rahala waterfalls and Solang Valley are some nearby attractions that can be visited.

Solang valley One needs to travel about 10 kilometers from the picturesque hill station of Manali to reach the fascinating Solang Valley. At an altitude of about 8500 feet above the sea level one can enjoy the bliss of nature on the banks of the river Beas. The Solang valley in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh is a place where one can celebrate peace amidst the snow capped peaks and the lush greenery of the dense forests. The serene atmosphere created by the vastness of the azure sky, the ravishing beauty of the green valleys and the snow lining on the distant peaks can make one feel the pleasure of being in a heaven abode.The Solang Valley is also the place where the Ski school of Manali is located. There are wonderful ski slopes and picnic spots in this beautiful place. There are various ski packages arranged by the HPTDC during the winter months.

Tibetan monasteries There are three Tibetan monasteries in Manali that are well visited by tourists from all over the world. These monasteries in Manali have been built recently and serve as a peaceful destination for tourists.The Himalayan Nyingmapa Gompa is a famous monastery in Manali. Although not a very huge one yet it is a beautiful and peaceful place to visit and unwind the mind. The monastery has a huge gold faced statue of Lord Buddha. The place is beautiful in the night when it is illuminated with lights and it smells of Tibetan incense. Visitors can buy carpets and other Tibetan handicrafts near the Monastery giving a very soothing feeling to the mind and body.

Vashisht hot water springs and temples The Vashisht hot springs are across the Beas River, about 3.2 Km away from Manali bus stand, at an altitude of 1,982 meters just above the Manali-Keylong road. Vashisht, renowned for its temples and sulphur hot springs, endowed with great healing powers.Nearby is the pyramidal stone temple dedicated to Vashishta Muni, and there is a Temple of Lord Ram here. The natural hot sulphur springs, with two separate bathing tanks for men and women are always full of tourists. Go very early in the morning (before 9 am), for a much less crowded experience. It has a Turkish style shower, separate for men and women. The hot and cold water is separately piped, maintaining the regular temperature for bathing. Charges are nominal.There are other places to vivsit in Himachal {radesh Mandi,Keylong,

Kunzum Pass :As Rohtang pass is a gateway to Lahaul so Kunzum pass (4590 m) is the gateway to Spiti from Kulu & Lahaul. After crossing Rohtang pass and driving 20kms, one has to turn right from Gramphoo. While going to this pass, the panoramic view of Bara-Sigri glacier (second longest glacier in the world) is enthrilling and inspiring.There is a temple at the top of this pass dedicated to goddess Durga. After seeing this pass one can drive to Batal for a night stay in the Rest House. The view from the top is breathtaking. On one side is the Spiti valley and to the other are numerous C.B.(Chandra-Bhaga ) range peaks. On way back from Gramphoo one can either return to Manali (71kms.) or can go to Leh via Keylong , Darcha, Baralacha la, Sarchu, Tanglang la by road. From Tandi (8kms. short of Keylong) one can also drive to Pangi valley along the Chenab river to Udaipur, Trilokinath and Tindi and thereafter by trekking to Killar.From Killar to Chamba/Dalhousie/Delhi or to Kishtwar- Jammu-Delhi.