Manali Sightseeing, Quick Facts, History, Packages, Tours & Excursions

Manali Sightseeing Highlights:

Manali's most famous attraction, historically and archaeologically, is the Hadimba Temple. Also known as Dhoongri Temple, it is dedicated to Hadimba, wife of Bhim of the Mahabharat, who is venerated in the Kullu valley and was the patron-deity of the Rajas of Kullu. Built in 1533, this four-tiered, Pagoda-roof shaped temple is surrounded by a virgin deodar forest, a mere 2.5km from the main bazaar. A huge festival is held here every year in May. Near the Hadimba Temple is the Museum of Traditional Himachal Culture. It is worth a visit as it houses artifacts of folk art from the entire Kullu valley.

Commemorating Manali's founding father is the Manu Temple, 3km from the bazaar in Old Manali. It is said to be the only temple of Manu. With the highest population of Tibetan refugees in the Kullu valley, Manali has a number of Tibetan Monasteries. The most famous of these is the Gadhan Thekchhokling Gompa, built in 1969. The monastery is maintained by donations and through the sale of hand-woven carpets in the temple workshop. There are some new monasteries too, of which one is situated on the left bank of the Beas, at Aleo. Another, the Himalayan Nyingamapa Gompa, is smaller and more modern. Near the bazaar, its main shrine, an enormous gold-faced Buddha, is lit by dozens of electric bulbs and is fragrant with Tibetan incense. The shrine is best viewed from the small room on the first floor.

The Vashisht village is on the way to the Rohtang Pass, just 3km from Manali. Situated on the banks of the Beas, the village is renowned for its hot springs and temples. The hot springs are very popular, with the spring water routed for bathing in Turkish-style, shower-fitted baths. Of its temples, visit the pyramidal stone temple dedicated to Vashisht Muni and the one for Sri Ram. In the other direction, towards Kullu, is the Mountaineering Institute on the left bank of the Beas. It holds basic and advanced training courses in trekking, mountaineering, skiing and water sports. The institute rents all necessary equipment for these adventure sports.

Around Manali:

Just about 24km before entering Manali, take a slight detour towards Naggar, the erstwhile capital of the Rajas of Kullu. A charming castle, the former palace of the kings, is the main attraction here. Now a hotel run by Himachal Tourism, it is a wonderful example of traditional local architecture. With an excellent view of the Beas and the valley, the Naggar Castle is an ideal destination for lunch.

Close by in Naggar is Roerich Museum, the former home of Russian painter Nicholas Roerich. It is now a museum and houses his works. About 4km from Manali, towards Naggar, is the Arjun Gufa near the village of Prini. The cave is thought to be the spot where Arjun meditated for the weapon of Indra. Jagatsukh, 6km from Manali, is located on the banks of the Beas on the road to Naggar. It is well worth a visit for its ancient temples of Shiv and Sandhya Gayatri.

Situated between Solang village and Beas Kund (where the Beas originates) is Solang Valley, 13km from Manali. It is accessible through a narrow road that is nearly always clogged with traffic. Very often the first experience of snow for most Indian travellers, Solang has some of the finest ski slopes in India that host an annual ski festival in the winters. The Mountaineering Institute imparts ski training here and has a guest house and hut.

The way from Manali to Lahaul and Spiti is through the Rohtang Pass. At 13,058ft, the pass is 51km from Manali and is open only from June to October, being snow-bound the rest of the year. Kothi, 12km from Manali on the way to Rohtang Pass, is picturesque and has been host to a number of Bollywood movies. Further down, 16km from Manali, are the Rahala waterfalls.

Activities:

Manali offers a host of adventure sports such as skiing, heli-skiing, trekking, hiking, paragliding, river crossing, rafting, kayaking or mountain biking. There are good hikes and treks to Beas Kund, Manalsu Nalla, Hamta Pass, Malana village and Parvati Valley, among others. One of the best treks is from Solang Valley on to Dhundhi, from there to Dussar lake and then onwards to Manali. It is advisable to take a guide on this five-day excursion.

Skiing can be pursued at Solang from January to March and at the Rohtang Pass during summer. Get in touch with the Mountaineering Institute, which offers skiing, mountaineering and kayaking courses.

A new sport gaining popularity is yak skiing. According to Time magazine, it involves a skier waiting at the bottom of a slope and a yak at the top of the hill; yak and skier are connected by means of a rope going around a pulley at the top of the hill. To engage the yak, the skier must shake (and swiftly put down) a bucket of nuts. This attracts the yak, which charges downhill and pulls the skier upward by means of the rope.

Trout fishing is also possible in the Beas River, though a permit has to be procured from the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation.

Food & Shopping:

Manali is one place you don't have to stick to standard fare. Due to the heavy influx of foreign tourists, the food is eclectic and of good standard - whether it is Chinese, Tibetan, Italian or German. Go for momos, thupkas, pizzas, pastas and a variety of western confectionaries.

Freshly baked or grilled trout is a treat here - try it at Johnson's Cafe in the Mall. Il Forno on Hidimba Temple Roadis a restaurant serving authentic Italian pizzas, pastas, and dessert, while for authentic Chinese head for Chopsticks on the Mall.

Tibetan Kitchen in Old Manali, next to the Clubhouse is a good place for Tibetan and Chinese cuisine, and if you are in the mood for Mexican or Italian go to Moondance in the same area. The German Bakery on Mission Road is famous for its bakery items and Western snacks.

Manali has a decent amount of shopping to offer, the most popular items being Tibetan handicrafts such as shawls, socks and curios. Typical Himachali shawls, topis, Kullu coats, carpets and jewellery are all easily available on Mall Road at the government emporium and a few private stores.

Tourism Info:

Tourism Information Centre

The Mall, Manali?175131

A popular tourist destination at 570km from New Delhi and 280km from Shimla, Manali is the northern-most town of Himachal Pradesh's Kullu Valley. Situated on the national highway that leads to Leh, Manali is also the gateway to the remote and desolate valleys of Lahaul and Spiti.

According to Hindu legend, it was named after the sage Manu after he steered a boat of survivors to safety here during a great flood. In present times, the town was first 'discovered' by the hippies of the 70s and 80s. Later, in the 90s, domestic tourism to Manali got a fillip owing to insurgency in Kashmir. It caught the public's imagination and was soon a legitimate boomtown, eventually growing far beyond its original village size. Today, much of the main town centre, which is based around its bus terminal, is a hotchpotch of thoughtless construction, an overcrowded bazaar and copious amounts of litter, much like any other popular destination.

However, pack a rucksack, venture out a little into the countryside and you see all of its natural charm in abundance - the beautiful Beas river, ancient temples, hot water springs, dense forests of pine and deodar, and picture-perfect villages surrounded by great, snow-capped mountains - leaving most people promising to come back for more.