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tourist
destination for the honeymoon lovers. It is an excellent place
for a holiday, a favorite resort for trekkers to Lahaul, Spiti,
Kinnaur, Leh and Zanskar regions in Kashmir valley. The
landscape here is breath taking. One sees well-defined snow
capped peaks, high mountains which are surrounded by silent
snows and deep boulder strew gorges, the Beas river with its
clear water meanders through the town. On the other side are
deodar and pine trees, thick forests, tiny fields of wild
flowers, small picturesque hamlets and fruit orchards. Manali
is also a sacred pilgrimage place for the Hindus. December to
February are the best season for snow-skiing and heli-skiing
in Manali. The climate of Manali is very cold. The summers are
cool and the winters are also very cool. Due to its altitude
the climate of Manali is loved by one and all. The best time
to visit Manali is in the month of May and October.
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 be 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.
Shopping in Manali
For the shopping purpose, the Mall is a perfect place in
Manali. In the Mall you can purchase various items like
clothes, decorative pieces, gift items and woollen goods
particularly the shawls. The New Shopping Centre Market near
the bus stand also sells a good selection of items. Around the
bazaar there are innumerable stalls stacked with hand-woven
goods. The other specialty of Manali is the Himalayan
handicrafts, mainly assorted Tibetan curios such as prayer
wheels, amulets, dorjees or thunderbolts, masks, musical
instruments, jewellery and Thangkas.
Festivals in Manali
The Himachal's Winter Carnival is held in the month of
February. During this period the snow plays a major role. Ski
slopes of Kufri, Manali and Narkanda come to life with
adventure seekers competing their way downhill. For the
adventure lovers, Manali offers best opportunity for heli-skiing.
The Gompa is covered with brightly coloured frescoes and a mid
size Buddhist statute. The Gulaba Camp is the beautiful place
famous for sightseeing, picnic and photography.
Tourist Attraction in Manali
The major tourist attraction in Manali is the Hidimba Devi
Temple. This temple is one of the most important temples in
the region. This four storey wooden temple is located in the
middle of a forest. Another attraction in Manali is the
Vashisth Village. This village is known for the sweeping
valley views and the Sulphur hot water springs. Gadhan
Thekchoking Gompa is the another attraction in Manali. This
Gompa dominates the Tibetan area around the bottom of the Mall
in Manali. The other tourist attractions in Manali are Manali
Sanctuary, Manu Temple, Club House, Tibetan Monasteries, Nehru
Kund, Solang Valley, Kothi, Rahala Water Falls, Rohtang Pass,
Arjun cave and Jagatsukh.
More....
Adventure in Manali
Heli-Skiing is the most famous adventure sports for the high
mountain thrills. This adventure sport is available in the
Hanuman Tibba, Rohtang Pass, Deo Tibba and Chanderkhani Pass
near Manali. Heli-skiing is an expensive sport because
participants are taken to high snow draped peaks or ridges by
the helicopter and dropped there. It is a thrilling experience
as the skier rapidly zooms down the slopes.
How to reach Manali
By Air:
The Bhuntar airport is the nearest airport near Manali. It is
about 52 kms from Manali. From Bhuntar one can take a taxi or
a bus to Manali.
By Rail:
Joginder Nagar is the nearest railway station to Manali. This
narrow gauze railway station is about 95 km from Kullu. The
other nearest railway stations are Chandigarh and Pathankot.
From the station one can take a bus or taxi and as well as
enjoy the beauty of Kullu while going to Manali.
By Road:
The road to Manali passes through the picturesque valley of
Kullu. Manali is connected with the other major tourist places
like Delhi, Ambala, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Haridwar, Shimla,
Dharamsala and Chamba/Dalhousie by the motorable roads. It is
connected with Leh during July to October. |
