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Hill
Stations in Himachal
Pradesh |
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Manali Hill
Station in Himachal
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Facts
& Figures of Manali
Location - Himachal Pradesh.
Altitude - 1950 m.
Best Time - All Round The Year |
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Manali (alt. 1,950 m or 6,398 ft), in
the Vyas 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, with population of approx. 30,000. 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.
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 the favorite
destination for honeymooners in last years. Statistics show
that around 550 couples reaches 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.
Tours in Himachal provides a
wonderful opportunity to explore the wonderful natural
beauty of Manali Tour Package - which has been the second most preferred
mountain place other than Kashmir for travelers,
vacationers, families, nature lovers, adventure seekers,
couples and honeymooners. Especially for honeymooners,
Manali tours presents a breathe taking picture-perfect
lush-green landscapes and sheer & serene ambiance. Manali
tour also deserves the attention of adventure seekers and
provides a wide range of adventure and sport options. Come
and experience nature by its fullness on your Manali tours
and travel. See & feel the captivating view of snow-capped
mountain peaks, explore the fruit orchards or flower
gardens, indulge in adventure sports, and explore the
beautiful landscapes blessed with superb nature not
forgetting its well preserved mystic history in your tours
to Manali in Himachal Pradesh, India.
Prime Attractions of Manali :
Temple Of Manu
Slippery stones paths lead through the old village houses up
to the temple of Manu. Manali is named after the sage Manu
who meditated when he came in this area.
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Malana Valley
In the valleys of Kullu and Manali below Chanderkhani Pass,
situated at an altitude of 2,76m is a little hub of hundred
houses. The village, which consists of 1,000 tribals, has an
immaculate system of self-governance. |
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Rohtang
Pass
Rohtang Pass, 51 kms from Manali. Located at a height of
3980 m, the Pass once served as a crucial trade route, and
still remains the gateway to the districts of Lahaul and
Spiti.The Pass is open from June to November each year, and
provides wonderful views of the entire surroundings. Just
beyond the Pass is the Sonapani Glacier and the twin peak of
Gaypan. The Beas Kund, the source of the Beas river, a holy
site for Hindus, as the sage Vyas is said to have meditated
at this spot, is also accessible from the Rohtang Pass. |
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Solang Valley (14 kms)
Solang Nullah is in a side valley at the top of the Kullu
valley. It is the site of Manali’s ski school and, once the
snow has gone, all the local paragliding 'schools'. Phatru
is a steep, rocky face above Solang Nullah, facing roughly
east. There is no top landing, but good bottom landing near
the school or in the fields above Solang village on the
opposite side of the river. From 10am until 1pm or so there
are many excellent thermal sources. In the afternoon the sun
is often hidden by cloud forming on the higher mountains
behind and it can get rough as soon as it is out of direct
sun. In a picturesque setting this has good ski sloped and
picnic spots. Around 14 kms from Manali, is the Solang
valley, that boasts of the glacier nearest to the resort.
Replete with terrific picnic - spots, the amazing ski slopes
here are full of hectic activity, come January - February.
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Hadimba Devi Temple
Hadimba or Dhungiri temple in Manali is one of the most
important temples in the region. This four story wooden
temple is located in the middle of a forest called the
Dhungiri Van Vihar.
Vashisth Village
Famous for the sweeping valley views and sulphurous
hot-water springs, the large settlement of Vashisht,
formerly known as Bashist, just 3km from Manali, is an
amorphous jumble of traditional |
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timber houses and modern
concrete cubes, divided by paved courtyards and narrow muddy
lanes.
Naggar
Nagar, a lovely village set on a hill sourrounded by
forests, was the capital of kullu in the 16th century and
the monuments in the region are witness to its glorious
past. The temple of the area, such as the grey sandstone
Gauri Shankar Temple of Shiva that lies close to the Castle,
the chatar Bhuj Temple, Tripura Sundri Devi Temple, the
Jagti Patt Temple, with its triangular slab of stone, strewn
with rose petals and rupee notes and the Murlidhar Temple,
are worth a visit. The paintings and Photographs of the late
Nicholas Roerich are exhibited in the Nicholas Roerich
Gallery. He was an artist, Writer, Photographer, Archelogist,
Explorer and mystic. Inside the Museum, one can see the
beds, librery, settees, writing tables, toiletries, and
samovars of the Roerich family. |
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Adventure Activities -
ADVENTURE SPORTS IN MANALI :
RAFTING
The Beas River flowing through Kullu valley is suitable for
not only white water rafting but is ideal for canoeing and
kayaking too. The Beas River from the Manaki to Jhiri near
Bajaura in Kullu district has become very popular among the
lovers of river rafting and many competitions have been
organised in the same. |
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The trip starts from Mohal and covers a total distance
10-kms. The season normally starts from May to mid-June and
rest depends on the arrival of monsoon. The various clubs
provide the basic equipment required for the water sports.
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SKIING
Near Manali there are some slopes, which have been rated the
best for skiing in the world. The Solang Nullah, Patalsu,
Kothi, Marhi and Rohtang slopes are very good for skiing in
the winters as well as in summers. In fact Patalsu and
Rohtang slopes are the only places where one can do summer
skiing. The slopes are being further developed to
accommodate more trainees and tourists.
The national level skiing competition is held on the slopes
of Solang |
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Nullah and the winter carnival is organised at
Manali. The place has immense potential to offer some
world-class ski slopes and they are being developed on the
same lines. There are private organizations that provide
training as well as equipment for skiing. The Mountaineering
Institute has put up a small ski lift at Solang Nullah.
PARAGLIDING
Paragliding is a combination of hang gliding and
parachuting. In parachuting one has to jump from an aircraft
whereas in paragliding one has to run down hill. The slopes
of Solang Nullah provide just the right kind of slopes for
paragliding during summers. There are organizations, which
offer packages for paragliding. One can hire equipment from
the private organizations in Manali and around. |
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