State: Himachal Pradesh
District: Kullu
Famous for/as: Hill Station
Languages: Pahari, Hindi, English
Best Season: Oct - May
Weather: Summer 14 to 20°C, Winter -7 to 10°C
Altitude: 1950 m
Pincode: 175131
STD code: 01902
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 lies 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 colourful 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 afforests 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, trekking 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 to tourists. Gifted with breathtaking sceneries, Manali serves as a perfect place for those who want to be in the midst of blossoming greens and valley views.
by Afia Ahmad on Feb 07, 2011 Passes of Himachal Pradesh are unique tourist attractions where travellers can enjoy trekking along with various other mountain sports. Rohtang pass and Baralacha Pass are few popular names and read below to find more details on passes in Himachal
by Afia Ahmad on Feb 07, 2011 This article highlights some of the most popular watersports in Himachal Pradesh like rafting and angling with the destination, best time to enjoy the water sports and various other information related to watersports in Himachal.
by Afia Ahmad on Feb 07, 2011 Skiing and Heli skiing are the most popular winter sports that tourists can enjoy in Himachal Pradesh. Read below to find information on where to ski, when to ski and all the nuances related to skiing and heli skiing in Himachal Pradesh.
Feb 13, 2012 11:51 AM The recent snowfalls in Manali have provided a huge boost to tourism in the state. Tourists are mesmerized to have glimpses of this sight. Read on to know more…
Dec 15, 2011 04:08 PM Tourists flock to the city of Manali during New Year’s Eve and Christmas, but this year the hotel bookings have been started long before the festive season due to the early snowfalls in the city. Read on to know more..
Dec 13, 2011 05:50 PM Snowfalls have begun in Himachal Pradesh and it has already sparked off the tourist season in the state. Read on to know, what more to expect from the hill stations this year...
History
The charm of Manali’s history lies in the various myths that have been woven stupendously to awe any reader or visitor. Various folklores claim the origin of Manali to be an important place in the Mythological epic, Mahabharata.
Manali got its name from the term ‘Manu’ who was a sage. A temple dedicated to the sage can be found here.
The Nomadic hunter tribe of ‘Rakshas’ are known to have been the earliest inhabitants of Manali. Shepherds from the Kangra Valley were the next occupants of this city. One of the most popular inhabitants of the city was the ‘nar’, of whom only a few are surviving today. An interesting legend revolving around them is that they were known to make ‘Rakshas’ work as servants for them.
The orchards and the fauna, for which Manali is very popular, were brought in the city by the British. It is said that when these apples trees were first planted, the fruits grew in such abundance that the tree was unable to bear their load and collapsed.
Travel within city
Manali is a very small and picturesque town and travelling around Manali is very easy indeed. There are buses that ply rarely to all the local tourist destinations. Taxis, rented cars and bikes are available for commuting.
Bus
While travelling in Manali, buses can best be avoided. This is because the bus service in Manali is quite poor, and buses are normally very crowded as it is the preferred mode of transport for the locals. The buses are few and not so frequent. Hence travelling through buses can be quite hard. Bus fares will range around Rs 3 to 10.
Taxi
Taxis will also be available in Manali, and they charge around Rs 1500 per day. Taxis are a safe mode of transport, and you can opt for these during night time.
Auto Rickshaw
Auto rickshaws in Manali are very costly, and do not run on meter. Auto rickshaw drivers may demand exorbitant amounts to travel from one point in the city to another point. A trip from the Mall Road in Manali to the Solang Valley can cost you around Rs 200 through an auto rickshaw, while the same trip will cost you just Rs 10 through bus. There are no separate night fares.
Rented Bike
Hiring a bike is a good way to make your commute in Manali easier. In order to rent a bike, you will need to shell out around Rs 500 to 600 per day.
Food
Manali offers numerous restaurants and cafes that serve a wide range of Indian and Continental dishes. Most of the eateries are located on Mall Road and are open from 8 am till 10 pm.
For tourists seeking vegetarian restaurants, Raj Rasoi on Mall Road is the ultimate place, offering vegetarian Indian and Chinese cuisines. Their Gujarati and Punjabi Thali are famous. Shan-e-Punjab on Mall Road, is another vegetarian restaurant specializing in Punjabi and Indian cuisines.
For Chinese and Tibetan Food, Chopsticks is the best place. Located on Mall road close to the bus station, the restaurant also serves cold beers, fruit wines and tea. Khyber and Johnson’s Cafe located on Circuit House road, are bar-cum-restaurants having a wide menu of non-veg delights and well stocked bars.
Shopping
A shopping indulgence in Manali should include a visit to Bhuttico for various types of shawls, Tibet Art Collections for souvenirs, Tibet Emporium for Tibetan knicks-knacks and HimCoop for home-made jams, jellies and dried fruits. The shops are situated on Mall Road and are open from 10 am till 9 pm. Bargaining is a must.
Excursions
Kullu - Kullu is just 44 km from Manali and is known for its scenic beauty as well as adventure sports. Tourists can enjoy rafting and trekking. Other attractions are Himalayan National Park, Jagannath Devi temple, Chandrakahni pass and Jalori Pass.
Manikaran - A pilgrim destination famous for its medicinal hot water springs, holy gurudwara, temples and web of historical and mythological legends. Tourist can take bath in the private hot spring pools and pay homage to the holiest pith in the country, Kulant Pith. It is 38 km from Manali
Naggar - A heritage village, Naggar is 25 km from Manali and is famous for its architectural Naggar Castle and the Roerich Gallery. The village is scenically located on the banks of River Beas and is ideal for enjoying fishing and trekking.
Raison - This is a small collection of villages located on Beas River and popular for its fruit orchards. The village is surrounded by the Himalayan Mountains and serves as an excellent base for camping as well as rafting. Raison is 30 km from Manali.
Malana - An ancient village 20 km from Manali, Malana is famous for its isolated beauty. The village, believed to be one of the world's oldest democracies, can be reached via trekking from Manali.
Bhuntar - The village of Bhuntar is 50 km from Manali and the place has the nearest airport to Manali. The town is laden with natural beauty and has the popular Bushweshwar Temple located 5 km from the town.
Hi i am plaining my visit to Manali -kullu-manaikarn tour.. can anyone suggest fr a couple the Nov month is good time and if you know the Tour and cotact no pls share.
