Manali, in the Beas River valley, is an important hill station in the mountains of Himachal Pradesh, India, near the northern end of the Kullu Valley.

Manali is administratively a part of the Kullu district. The small town was the beginning of an ancient trade route to Ladakh and, from there, over the Karakoram Pass on to Yarkand and Khotan in the Tarim Basin.

Manali and the surrounding area is of great significance to Indian culture and heritage as it is said to be the home of the Saptarshi, or Seven Sages.

Tourism in Manali

Manali is a popular Himalayan tourist destination and accounts for nearly a quarter of all tourist arrivals in Himachal Pradesh. Manali's cool atmosphere provides a contrast to hot Indian summers.

Manali is famous for adventure sports like skiing, hiking, mountaineering, paragliding, rafting, trekking, kayaking, and mountain biking. Yak skiing is a sport unique to this area. Manali also featured in Time magazine's "Best of Asia" for its "Extreme Yak Sports". Manali also offers hot springs, religious shrines and Tibetan Buddhist temples.

Manali has become a favorite destination for honeymooners since the last few years. Statistics show that around 550 couples reach Manali daily for honeymoon in season (May, June, December, January) and around 350 couples reaches Manali daily in rest time.

Manali is known for its shiny gompas or Buddhist monasteries. With the highest concentration of Tibetan refugees in the entire Kullu valley, it is famous for its Gadhan Thekchhokling Gompa, built in 1969. The monastery is maintained by donations from the local community and through the sale of hand-woven carpets in the temple workshop. The smaller and more modern Himalayan Nyingamapa Gompa stands nearer the bazaar, in a garden blooming with sunflowers.

Places of interest

Naggar Fort, south of Manali is a reminder from the Pala Empire. Made from rocks, stones, and elaborate wood carvings, it is an ensemble of the rich and elegant art works of Himachal. The castle was later converted to a hotel and is currently under himachal tourism.

Hidimba Devi Temple, erected in 1553, is dedicated to the local deity Hadimba, wife of the Pandava prince, Bhim. The temple is noted for its four-store pagoda and exquisite wooden carvings.

Rahla waterfalls lie some 27 km (17 mi) from Manali at the start of the climb to the Rohtang Pass, are the beautiful Rahla Falls at an altitude of 2,501 m (8,205 ft).

Solang valley, popularly known as Snow Point, is 13 km northwest of Manali.

Manikaran, located about 45 km. from kullu on the way to Manali is known for its hot spring near the river Parvati.

Rohtang, located about 40 km from manali is one of the most famous snow point, but its closed during winters due to snow.