Manali : Himachal Pradesh

Manali is located in the district of Kullu in Himachal Pradesh. Situated at an altitude of about 1950 m above sea level, it is about 250 km away from the state capital of Shimla.

History of Manali :

The story of the establishment of Manali is very interesting. One day, Varvasvata, the seventh incarnation of Manu found a tiny fish in his bathing water. The fish told him to look after it with devotion as one day it would do him a great service. The seventh Manu cared for the fish till the day it grew so huge that he released it into the sea. Before departing, the fish warned Manu of an impending deluge when the entire world is submerged. When there was flood, Varvasvata and seven sages were saved by the fish. As the water subsided the seventh Manu’s ark came to the rest on a hillside and thus the place came to be known as Manali. As the earth slowly dried, here arose a place of breath taking natural beauty. Today this place is a prime holiday destination for the tourists.

Things to do in Manali :

As an important hill station and tourist destination of India, Manali offers much in terms of natural beauty such as panoramic views of the surrounding snow-capped mountains, flower gardens and orchards with green and red apples; places such as Solang Valley known as a winter sports location; the Nehru Kund, which is a clear water spring; the Kothi Village, offering views of a deep gorge through which River Beas flows; and the Rahalla Falls.

Apart from being a hill station, there are also several other attractions that are an integral part of Manali tourism. The Hadimba Temple built in 1533 AD is dedicated to Hadimba, the wife of Bhima who was one of the Pandavas. The Manu Temple dedicated to the sage and lawgiver Manu is located in old Manali. The Vasishta Temple dedicated to Lord Rama and Sage Vasishta is known for its hot springs. The nearby town of Jagatsukh is home to a few old temples dedicated to Shiva and Sandhya Gayatri.

Manali is a haven for adventure sports enthusiasts. The hill station offers ample opportunities for tourists to participate in activities like skiing, paragliding, trekking, river rafting and fishing. Many Manali holiday packages also include the above sightseeing attractions and activities.