Manali is a famous hill station located in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. Lying on the mountains near the northern end of the Kullu Valley, the hill station is a popular tourist destination. Manali was the beginning of an ancient trade route to Ladakh. Known as the home of the Saptarishi (Seven Sages), the town and its surroundings hold great significance to Indian culture. Manali is a scenic hill station surrounded by snow covered mountains, dense pine forest with the ever flowing Beas River adding to its grandeur.
The hill station is also particularly popular among the adventure sports enthusiasts because of its adventure sports friendly landscape which provides enough opportunity for activities such as trekking, river rafting, skiing and paragliding.
Exotic flora and fauna such as apple trees and trout were introduced by the British to the region because of it favorable conditions. With the rise of militancy in Kashmir, Manali became famous as a new alternate tourist destination in the region in the late 80s.
Manali is about 550km from Delhi. It also happens to be on the road to Leh from Delhi. The nearest airport is Chandigarh. Manali is well connected to neighboring towns and cities such as Kullu, Chandigarh, Bilaspur etc., by road. There's no railway presence in Manali and the major railway stations nearby are Chandigarh, Kalka and Pathankot.
Breathtaking scenic beauty and spectacular view of the surroundings are the main draws of Manali. Gardens and apple orchards add to the scenic appeal of the region and it is also a popular destination for winter sports.
Besides being a popular hill station, Manali is also a place of cultural and religious significance. Hadimba Temple, built in 1533 A.D. and famous for its carved doorway is the most famous religious places in the region which also include Manu Temple, Vashishta Temple and several Tibetan monasteries. The Rahgunath temple, famous for its seven day long Dussehra festivals is another prime attraction of Manali. Dedicated to Raghunath Ji, the temple was built in 1650 AD. The temple which is situated in a hillock also provides a panoramic view of Kullu valley.
Other major attractions in and around Manali include Rohtang Pass which is a high mountain pass on the Himalayas, Solang Valley which is well known as a destination for both summer and winter sports and Jagatsukh which is known for its old temples. Rohtang Pass is a famous mountain pathway connecting with Spiti and Lahaul. Laying amid a scenic landscape at the height of 4111 meter the pass is a popular picnic spot. Due to heavy rainfall in the winter the pass is open only during the period of May to September.
I am traveling less in order to be able to write more. I select my travel destinations according to their degree of usefulness to my work.