Manali Travel Guide

Manali Situated at the northern end of the Kullu Valley, Manali has spectacular views of snowcapped peaks and wooded slopes and the popular resort of Manali is the last major settlement in the Kullu Valley. When travellers first discovered it during the 1960s, Manali was a peaceful mountain Shangri –La with old stone houses and tranquil alpine scenery.

The Beas rushes along its rocky course amid grassy meadows carpeted with wild flowers  and wagtails  hop along from stone to stone along the stream’s  edge. There are marvellous walks too through dappled orchards and fairy tale forests of Deodar.

It is named after Manu the Law Giver who arrived here by boat when fleeing from a great flood. In the summer Manali is packed  with Pahari-speaking  Kullus, Lahaulis, Nepali  labourers, Tibetan  refugees and foreign  and Indian tourists and the new town  have become  increasingly  crowded with  dozens  of new hotels.

Manali with its Mountaineering Institute is a popular base for trekking and mountaineering in summer and skiing in winter. Interesting routes into the surrounding Valleys, over the high passes, are provided with tourist huts and rest houses for trekking  enthusiasts.

The Manali market is crowded with myriads of interesting shops selling Tibetan carpets  and crafts  and the appetizing  aroma of steaming  noodles hanging about the little restaurants. The main market areas are the Underground Market under Hotel Ibex and the NAC Market behind the bus stand.

Around Manali

Gadhan  Thekcockling  Gompa:- Tibetan  refuges  built this gompa  in the late 1960s;  the gompa  has some brightly  coloured  frescoes  and a  central statue of Sakyamuni   Buddha  and dominates the Tibetan  area at the bottom  of The Mall. It is open from 6a.m. to 7 p.m. and there’s a Rs. 2 charge for photography.  

Old Manali:- The original settlement  of Manali  is about 2.5 km. north-west of ‘New’ Manali. It’s a pleasant (but rapidly developing) area of old guesthouses and orchards.
The modern but tasteful Manu Maharshi Temple is built on the site where Manu  meditated after he arrived  in the area. Old Manali is uphill from The Mall on the far side of the Beas. Follow the road to the left at the top of The Mall.

Hidimba Temple : A pretty path leads to the Hidimba Temple standing tall amidst the stately deodars. The ancient temple is built like a pagoda and its lintel and door frame have intricately carved wood. Inscriptions proclaim that it was built by Maharaja  Bahadur Singh in 1553.  A colourful festival is held here in May every year.

Vashist Springs (1982 mts.): Above Manali are the sulphur springs at Vashist. Near the modern baths is an old stone lined pool (3 kms.).

Jagatsukh: A Jagatsukh, in the midst of a picturesque village, are old temples. The elegant Gauri Shankar shrine built in the 8th century is the earliest surviving stone temple in this area. Jagatsukh was also once the capital of Kullu (6 kms.).

Arjun Gufa: Legend has, it that it was here that Arjun practiced austerities to get the Pashupata Ashtra, the sacred weapon from Lord Indra (5 kms.).

Nehru Kund: A spring of cold clear water along the road to the Rohtang Pass (6 kms.).

Solang Valley : Enroute to Kothi, close to the Rohtang Pass is the beautiful Solang  Valley. There are marvellous views of the snowcapped peaks and glaciers. Excellent ski slopes and a good ski lift make it a popular resort in winter.

Kothi: Located at the foot of the Rohtang pass, Kothi is a picturesque spot and a convenient camping site not too long ago, when the pass was crossed on foot. The well appointed P.W.D. rest house has a panoramic view of the magnificent mountains cape. The River Beas swirls through a deep chasm close by (12 kms.).

Rahalla Falls (2501 mts.): This splendid cascade is about 4 km from Kothi (16 kms.).

Rohtang Pass (3980 mts.): Manali is also a good starting point for visits to the Lahaul  and Spiti Valleys  over the Rohtang  Pass. The Pass is open for just four months in the year, from June to October, when the snow melts.

Beas Kund: Easily accessible from the Rohtang Pass, the Beas Kund is the origin of the River Beas. The river gets its name from the great sage Vyas, who is said to have mediated here.

Brighu Lake: A fine 2-day excursion from Manali is the trek to Brighu Lake (4200 mts.) below Brighu  peak. The lake can be approached from Vashisht and Gulaba, the latter being the easier route.

Local festivals:
Mid-February: Week long Winter Sports carnival.
May: A 3-day colourful Dhungri Forest festival at Hadimba Devi Temple celebrated by hill women.

Places to Eat:

The Sa-Ba Restaurant in Nehru park, at the top of The Mall, has good Western food. Sher-e-Punjab, on The Mall, has a sterile setting, but its Indian food is recommended.

Johnson’s Café is farther uphill and a bit more upmarket. This is a pleasant open-air garden café.

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