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Located at an altitude of 6260 feet, lies the most popular, awe-inspiring and beautiful hill station – Manali. Nestled on the Beas Valley between the Dhaulandhar and Pir Panjal ranges, Manali makes for a picture-perfect retreat that attracts thousands of tourists every year. Manali offers a mix of adventure and tranquility with its calming backdrop of the majestic Himalayas. The quaint landscape of Manali includes verdant forests, jaw-dropping vistas, gushing streams and waterfalls, dense deodar and pine forests, and sprawling meadows.
If you want to experience the great feel of waking up to an outstanding sunrise with magnificent views or sitting by the snow-fed stream, you should definitely visit Manali. It is an ideal place both for adventure enthusiasts and nature lovers. Moreover, the Tibetan monasteries and ancient temples of Manali attract the spiritual enthusiast as well!
Manali got its name from Manu the Sanatan Hindu. Manali is, in fact, derived from Manu-Alaya which refers to “Abode of Manu.” According to the legends, Manu stepped outside his ark which was in Manali to re-form the life of humans following a great flood that shattered the world. Thus, a temple devoted to sage Manu is still present in Old Manali.
After the 1980s, Manali saw a huge surge in its tourist traffic and it changed into a busy town, a wonderful and must-visit tourist spot. It was the Britishers who introduced farming of apples here. The very first apple orchard in Manali was established near Patlikuhal by the Britishers. Till date, apple, pear, and plum are a major income source for the inhabitants of Manali.
A popular honeymoon and backpacking spot, Manali is a famous tourist place for both international and domestic tourists. Explore the best of this city by visiting the places listed below:
Winter Carnival: The people of Manali welcome the New Year with this Winter Carnival. You can enjoy the different celebrations and events that take place in this carnival. You also get an opportunity to enjoy adventure sports, street plays, food festivals, folk dance, etc. by attending this carnival.
Paragliding: Manali is quite popular for paragliding with its clear blue skies, beautiful valleys, and snow-covered mountains. It offers perfect wind conditions for paragliding. Both domestic and international tourists can come and enjoy this wonderful sport here.
Enjoy Delicious Food: Gratify your taste buds when in Manali with mouth-watering South Indian and Punjabi cuisines at different restaurants and cafes.
Bike Ride: Manali offers a bike ride trip for the adventure junkies as well. Ride through Rohtang Pass to relish the majestic vistas of snow and valley.
Zorbing: Another fun adventure to enjoy in Manali is Zorbing. It can be enjoyed both by adults and kids alike. You will be put in an orb and pushed down the hills.
River Rafting: Both amateur and experienced rafters can witness great views of the varied landscaped of Manali while rafting. Many private companies provide river rafting to tourists with excellent equipment and security.
Skiing: For those who aren’t faint-hearted can enjoy the exciting sport of skiing here. Visit Solang Naag to enjoy Skiing to its fullest with a very thick layer of snow.
Shopping: Mall Road in Manali offers great shopping opportunities for tourists. Come and shop some local, interesting delights of Manali from Mall Road like artificial jewelry, Tibetan artifacts, woolen products and more.
Manali is located at a distance of 270 km from Shimla, 309 km from Chandigarh, and 544 km from Delhi. Manali can be easily reached via road through these places. The closest narrow-gauge railway station to Manali is the Joginder Nagar Railway Station located 175 km away and the closest broad-gauge railway station is the Una railway station located 250 km away. The nearest airport to Manali is the Bhuntar Airport located nearly 50 km away.
Don’t forget to add this little heaven of Manali in your places to visit list when you plan your trip to Himachal Pradesh. The trip will leave you baffled and speechless for sure!