Exotic Manali Himachal

Somewhere in the vast expanse of the snow-capped Himalaya, 6,000 feet above sea level, lies the stunningly beautiful riverside town of Manali. It's the perfect place for romance and adventure. The world renowned tourist attraction Rohtang Pass is frequently called the 'honeymoon couples paradise' Honeymoon couples huddle close for warmth and intimacy; children, invigorated by the cool mountain air, prance gaily; young adventurers head out in search of heart-stopping thrills; locals, in colourful mountain gait, shuffle to work... Slowly, as the chilled air permeates the senses, you succumb to the magic of the mountains. In this idyllic town, you don't really have to go anywhere to do sight-seeing. There's hardly a place that doesn't have a view of a stupendously beautiful mountain or the cool, clear waters of the pebble-strewn river Beas. Popular excursions just add to your experience of the Manali magic.

The fresh green meadows of Solang Valley, the high-altitude road to Rohtang Pass, the pristine valleys of Lahaul and Spiti, the hot springs of Manikaran, ancient temples and humming Tibetan monasteries are just some of the attractions of this beautiful place. The landscape lends itself to an incredible range of outdoor sports such as river rafting, paragliding, zorbing (which is rolling downhill inside a huge plastic orb), skiing, trekking, and mountain-climbing. Of course, the humble walk becomes an experience in itself in the thick wooded groves of deodar, pine, sal, rhododendron, oak, fir and birch. Evenings are a good time to descend into the Manali marketplace, a motley montage of curios, kitsch and food. From charming Tibetan shops to touristy trinkets, and Tibetan momos to Lebanese, Japanese and Italian food, Manali is a delightful blend of cosy and cosmopolitan.

Places of interest

HADIMBA TEMPLE (1 km): Built in 1553 with a superbly crafted four tiered pagoda roof, it is famous for its exquisitely carved doorway.

MANU TEMPLE (2 km): This is dedicated to the sage Manu situated at old Manali. VASHISTH (3 km): Well known for its hot springs. There are old temples dedicated to the sage Vashisth and to Lord Rama. MONASTERIES: There are three recently built Tibetan monasteries at Manali.

JAGATSUKH (6 km): The one time capital of Kullu. Here are old temples dedicated to Lord Shiva and to Sandhya Gayatri. The Arjun caves are just ahead.

SOLANG VALLEY(14 km): In a picturesque setting this has good ski slopes and picnic spots. TOWARDS THE ROHTANG PASS: On the road to Keylong is the Nehru Kund (6km) which is a clear water spring scenic spot named after the Late Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru.

Kothi (12km) is a picturesque village and has a thrilling view of the deep gorge through which the Beas swiftly races. The beautiful Rahalla falls (16km) are at at altitude of 2500m.

A crucial link on the old trade route and still the gateway to trans Himalayan Lahaul, the Rohtang Pass is at height of 3978 m.

CLUB HOUSE: The Club House with its comprehensive facilities that include a roller skating rink, an auditorium, billiards rooms, a library, a bar and restaurant makes wonderful outing for the day.Bungee jumping is also provided.

CAFE JUNIPAR: Himachal Tourism also runs the Juniper cafe and Chandratal restaurants at Manali.

Ranbir Singh Rana is a certified Guide for Himachal Pradesh.
Leads All type of Manali Tour Packages, adventures tour, cultural tours in Kullu Manali, Shimla, Dharmshala and Dalhousie For more Detail please Visit http://www.manalipackagetour.com/.

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