Places to see in Manali-
Manali the land where once sage Manu dwelled has many temples and religious places that are centre of attraction among the tourists. But by far the most important thing that people like is its sheer natural beauty. When you are in Manali you will feel like you are in heaven with nature sprinkled every spells to beautify it.For this reason Manali is somtimes reffered as 'Switzerland of India'.Here in this post I have given a brief but enjoyable account of places of interest in Manali.
Hidimba Temple-
Famous for its exquisitely carved doorway this temple was built in 1553. The temple has four tiered pagoda style roof and it is the most important structure in Manali both archaelogically as well as religiously. The temple is dedicated to Hidimba or Hadimba who was wife of Bhim one of the Pandavs in the epic of Mahabharat.The temple is situated about 1 km away from main Manali amidst a forest called as Dhungiri Van Vihar.Due to this the temple is sometimes called as Dhungiri temple. The temple has some intricate wooden carvings which depicts mythological characters and motifs of animals and cosmic dancers. Every year in May a major festival is organized here. This place is a popular picnic spot among the tourists.
Manu Temple-
The temple lies about 3 kms from old Manali bazaar (Market) and is the only temple dedicated to rishi Manu , the creator of human race on earth. The temple lies across the Manalsu river which flows beside the Hadimba temple and meets the river Beas shortly after.Vashisth-
Just three Kms from the Manali lies the village of Vashisth which is famous for its hot sulphur springs. Some temples also lies in this village which is dedicated to Rishi Vashisth and Lord Rama. Thge sulphur springs are said to have miraculous power and patients specially of skin diseases take a bath in the spring to get rid off their diseases.Jagatsukh-
The village lies 6 kms away from Manali on the left bank of river Beas on the Manali- Naggar road. Th place houses very old temples dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Shandhya Gayatri.The temple has been built in Shikhara style and is worth visiting.Arjun Gufa-
Arjun Gufa lies just ahead of Jagatsukh about 4kms from Manali near the village of Prini and on the road towrds Naggar. It is said that Arjun one of the Pandavs has meditated and performed his penance here. The place gives an excellent view of mountains and panormic view of Manali.Rohtang Pass-
Situated at a height of about 3700 mts , Rohtang pass is situated on the highway to Keylong or Leh about 51 kms from Manali. The site offers an excellent view of mountains and panorma and one of the most important excursions from Manali. The pass is open from june to October each year It is a gateway to Lahaul Spiti, Pangi and Leh valley.It is the highest point on the Manali-Keylong road and provides a wide panoramic view of mountains rising far above clouds, which is truly breath taking. Close by is a small lake called Dassaur Lake. Beas Kund, the source of river Beas, is also nearby.Just beyond the Pass is the Sonapani Glacier and the twin peak of Gaypan.Rahalla falls-
Rahalla falls are located about 16 kms away from Manali just before the start of the Rohtang pass and at an altitude of about 2500 mts.If one goes to Marhi on foot from Kothi from the old road, the sight of the falls is fascinating. It is a good picnic spot for tourists and locales alike.Nehru Kund-
This place is located about 5 kms from Manali on Manali- Leh highway and is named after the first prime minister of India Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru. It is said that Pt. Nehru used to drink the water of this spring during his stay in Manali.This spring is believed to originate from the Bhrigu lake situated high-up in the mountains. The water of this lake is cold and clear and the view of the spring is spectacular.Kothi-
The village lies about 15 kms from Manali and is situated on the bottom of Rohtang Pass. The village provides a spectacular view of the gorge through which Byas river flows. The village is pictursque and is known for its idyllic view.A PWD rest house is situated on a ridge overlooking a narrow valley with a very good view of mountains and valleys. Shooting of many films has been done here and it is the finest place for peace lovers and solitude lovers.Solang Valley-
The valley is about 13 kms from Manali and lies between the Solang village and Byas Kund (the source of the water of river Byas).Solang valley offers the view of glaciers and snow capped mountains and peaks.Apart from this the place has some nice ski slopes making it a finest place for people loving ice games.Located here is a hut and guest house of the Mountaineering and Allied sports Institute, Manali. Now a few hotels have also come up. The winter skiing festival is organised here. Training in skiing is imparted at this place.In recent times some hotels has also been erected at this place.Mountaineering Institue-
This Institute organises basic and advance training courses, in trekking, mountaineering, skiing and water sports and is located about 3kms from Manali towards the kullu.Skiing and trekking equipments can be hired from here by booking in advance. Tourists can visit an interesting showroom here.