Manali 

Manali is a famous hill station located in the Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh. The place is especially famous as a Honeymoon destination as well as a trekker's paradise. It is located on the banks of the Beas River and provides a gateway for various activities including skiing in the Solang Valley during the winters or trekking in the Parvati Valley. Other adventure sports that can be done in the valley include paragliding, rafting, and mountaineering in the mountain range of Pir Panjal which is home to the 4,000 meters high Rohtang Pass.

Manali is located between the Pir Panjal mountain ranges and the snow-capped Dhauladhar ranges. The place offers the most beautiful views, lush green forests, sprawling meadows with colorful flowers, gushing blue streams, a natural mist lingering in the air, and the fragrance of the pines and freshness all around. If you want to visit the mountains then Manali is the place you should definitely visit.

Manali has it all whether it is a museum, temple, little villages or bustling streets, river adventures or trekking trails. It has everything to offer for its tourists all year round. Manali has clean roads, eucalyptus trees, pretty little eateries, local market places, and cafes with nice decors that serve delicious local food at pocket-friendly prices.

Old Manali is a serene and peaceful place surrounded by nature everywhere with the beautiful sounds of birds twittering or the sound of the roaring waters of the Kullu River.

There are plenty of activities to do and places to visit in the beautiful hill station of Manali. Some of these are as follows:

1. Naggar Castle

Manali is home to the Naggar castle. The Naggar Castle is located in the forests of the Naggar town. It is a large stunning historical building. During the early time, the castle was the residence of Raja Sidh Singh of Kullu. The Castle has been designed with both the traditional Himalayan and European architecture. The Naggar Castle has majestic fireplaces, nicely built staircases, and meticulous wood and stone works which makes it one of the best places to visit in Manali.

2. Solang Valley

The Solang Valley is located between the Beas Kund and the Solang village. It is one of the favorite spots for the tourists and the locals as well. It is also known as the Snow point. The place has amazing views with glaciers and snow-clad mountains. The drive from Manali to Solang itself is mesmerizing because of the amazing views. The slopes of the Solang Valley are known to be popular for skiing during the winter season. During the summer season, the Valley becomes a paragliding haven. If you're an adventure lover then do visit the Solang Valley for some of the best activities. 

3. Rohtang pass

Rohtang pass is a place that comes between Manali and the desserts of Spiti and Lahaul. It is a big snow desert-like landscape that is must visit when you're in Manali. It is a popular spot to visit in Manali that receives over 25 lakh visitors each year. It is a big stretch that connects the Lahaul and Kullu valleys. If you love adventure and natural beauty then visit this place. There are various activities including Mountain biking or skiing or parasailing.

4. Hadimba temple

Hadimba Temple is located in the middle of the forests surrounded by deodar trees. It is a small temple dedicated to Hidimba, the wife of Bhima. Bhima was one of the five Pandavas that were a part of the great Indian epic Mahabharata. The Hidimba Devi Festival is held at the temple every year. It is a three-day festival that is attended by devotees from all across the world. Some of the festivities include colorful folk dance performances.

5. Vashisht Temple

This temple has a hot water spring where you can take a dip that will make you feel refreshed. It has been said that taking a bath here will remove all the impurities and ailments from your body.

6. The Great Himalayan National Park

It is the latest addition to the list of National parks in India. The wildlife in this region is amazing and the National Park helps us to appreciate that.

7. Jogini Waterfall 

These falls are located around 3 kilometers from Manali and around 2 kilometers from the Vashisht Temple. The Tourists need to trek from the temple to the Jogini Waterfall.

8. The Manali Winter Carnival

 It is the Carnival held in Himachal Pradesh celebrated to welcome the new year. It had been started in the year 1977. It takes place in January every year. The Winter Carnival in Manali is celebrated with the band performances, food festivals, street plays, folk dances, adventure sports, and many more activities. Skiing competition is also held during the Carnival to enjoy the beautiful snow.

Manali is famous for the adventure activities in Himachal Pradesh. You can enjoy a wide array of adventure activities from white river rafting to trekking to zorbing to horse-riding to skiing to paragliding. These sports are available with a basic training course and the operators are also well-organized and trustworthy.

How to Reach Manali

The nearest railway station to Manali is in Joginder Nagar. It is located 50 km from Manali. But this station is not connected to all of the major cities of India as it is a narrow-gauge station. The nearest broad gauge railway stations are in Chandigarh (310 km) and Ambala (300 km). 

The nearest airport is located in Bhuntar around 50 km from Manali. You can easily book a bus or taxi from any part of India to Manali.

You can also reach Manali via the Leh to Manali route. Keep in mind that the Leh-Manali route is open for about 4 to 5 months during the summers as the snow is removed by the Border Road Organization in India. 

The Best Time to Visit Manali

The best time to visit Manali is between the months of October to June. You will witness bright, and colorful flowers in their full bloom as a nice pleasant climate. The temperatures range from 10 degrees to 25 degrees Celcius.

The time between December to February is best if you wish to see a lot of snow. Manali becomes a snow paradise during the winter months and the temperatures range around sub-zero.

 Visiting Manali during the monsoon season gets a bit tough due to the landslides, land blockages and floods.

Also read:- Visit the Ananthagiri Hills near Hyderabad for a peaceful vacation

image source- the Times of India, holidify , tripoto , goibibo