Manali is a city in the Kullu Valley of the Kullu district in
Himachal Pradesh. Its geographical coordinates are 32.2396 degrees
North, 77.1887 degrees East and is located at an altitude of 1,926
meters above sea level. Located in the Himalayan valleys, the area is
mainly irrigated by the Beas River and the Sutlej River.
Kullu District shares its boundaries with Spiti and Lahul on North
East, Kangra on North West, Mandi on South West and Shimla and Kinnaur
on South East.
Manali derived its name from Manavalaya i.e. the abode of Manu. As
per the mythological tale Manu was the only survivor of the Mahajal
Pralay (meaning the great flood) in the ancient history of civilization.
It was Manu who was believed to be the father of the human race.
Manali is nested in the Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh. It is
about 40 km from the district headquarters Kullu. Manali is the
enchanting origin point where trade was commenced in the ancient past.
The route crossed Rohtang and Baralacha passes and goes via Lahul and
Ladakh to Kashmir extending upto Spiti.
Manali is a mesmerizing romantic paradise and a very popular
honeymoon destination. Tourists from all over the country including
overseas countries love to spend the summer in Manali. The winters are
ideal for a cozy holiday and for snow lovers. Manali is an amazing
destination for adventure sports where one can enjoy the sport of your
choice. The Tourism Department has also very liberally encouraged the
sports all over the state and has created extremely comfortable and
helpful facilities for sports lovers. The hills and valleys are so
fascinating that one wishes to stay back here forever away from all the
stress, noise and pollution that haunt city life.
Tibetan Market
The Tibetan Market located on the
Mall road in the heart of the city is a major shopping place for
tourists. Beautiful Tibetan handicrafts and carpets is the highlight of
the market at economical prices. Shopping in Manali without a visit to
this market is in vain.
Winter Carnival
Manali is the place to enjoy
chilled winters, snowfalls and bon fires. The winter carnival is the
most awaited event in the valley. Declaredas a state level festival, the
carnival attracts a lot of inquisitive tourists and fun lovers.
Cultural groups and students from various colleges of India visit Manali
to participate in the carnival. The festival is held at 'Manu Kala
Kendra' in Manali inthe second / third week of January for fivedays. The
festival includes artist’s performances; competitions in classical
music (vocal and instrumental), folk songs, folk dances, classical
dances, group dances, group songs, fancy dress, film songs, film dances,
one act plays, and street plays. The competition for the youngsters
includes the Men's Personality Contest and Winter Queen Contest. There
is a huge crowd that gathers to view this contest. On the last day of
the carnival the Winter Queen contest and Men's Personality contest is
held. The chief guest gives away the prizes to all the winners of the
five-day long festival.
Sports
River Rafting, Skiing, Paragliding,
Trekking, Hiking, Mountaineering, Kayaking, Mountain Biking, River
crossing, Jeep Safari, Motor Cycling, Rock Climbing, Angling
Jeep Safari–The Jeep Safari takes visitors to a
beautiful ride of the highest mountain highways of the world. The ride
goes from Manali to Lahaul and then to Leh, Ladakh thorough the Rohtang
Pass. The drive is magnificent and views the beautiful hill and valley
view. Visitors can also drive through the rocky wasteland of Spiti
through the Kunzum pass towards Tabo, the "Ajanta of the Himalayas" and
Spiti Valley. This is a splendid experience of one’s life time where you
are the closest to nature and its landscapes.
River rafting– Rafting is an amazing adventure for
water lovers. Rafting facilities are offered by private operators and
also tourism department. Water sports center has been set up to provide
the adventure sports option to tourists. Rafting is done on the high and
low tides of River Beas. Kayaking is also great fun at the Pandoh Dam
on the way to Mandi. Rafting is done from morning to evening based on
the climatic conditions and water waves. It is a real thrilling
experience for sports men and also for tourists who are doing it for the
first time. The sport is equally enjoyed by children also. Professional
guidance is a must for this sport else it could be hazardous. Tourists
need to check the registration license of the guide issued by the
District
Administration.
Paragliding– It is organized in Kullu valley
throughout the year at Solang Valley. The valley is located 14 kms from
Manali and also in other locations like Marhi, Fatru, Bijli Mahadev etc.
The sport has two kinds of flights:
1. Short flights: It
is ideal for visitors who are new to the sport. The visitor is taken
100 - 150 meters up the slope from where he takes a flight along with
the pilot in the two seater paraglider. The flight lasts for
approximately 60 - 90 seconds.
2. High flying: This
flight lasts longer and is ideal for those who are more experienced and
daring. The flight lasts for about 20-30 minutes. Flightsare arranged at
Fatru, Kothi and Bijli Mahadev.
Trekking–It is a more popular and a sport that is
done by almost every tourist who visits Kullu. Comfortable walking
shoes, water proof warm jacket, woolen / tennis socks, stockings,
sunglasses, headgear, water, food, torch, first aid box, umbrella and
rucksack are the essentials that one needs to carry while going on this
expedition. Local guides and tour operators are available to guide
visitors to the right path of trekking.
Skiing–The popular slopes for skiing are the Rohtang
Pass and Solang Nallah. Easy slopes are ideal for beginners by taking
course or hiring an instructor for a short while from the Directorate of
Mountaineering and Allied sports or any agency that is registered with
department of Tourism. Skiing is done throughout the year at Rohtang
pass. Experienced skiers really enjoy heli-skiing during winter. Beas
Kund, Chandertal and Malana glaciers are the most popular among ice
climbers.
Camping- Camping is a complete stress busters and an
ideal getaway from the hectic city life. The landscapes and freshness
of the environment takes one close to nature and is a great rejuvenator.
The dense woods of the cedar forests and the mountain valleys fulfill
one’s desire to live in raw natural environment and camping is the right
choice. You don’t need an expert or any kind of a practice for this. It
is a very simple way to enjoy nature. Professional guidance is needed
to choose the right site and follow eco-friendly rules. The Beas Kund
Camp at Rohtang Pass is a popular camping destination. Raison and Shoja
also have beautiful camp sites. Solang valley, Kothi and Manali camp
have luxury camping amidst the Apple Orchids. The other camping sitesare
Malana, Pulga and Kheer Gangain.Camping equipment, training, safety
precautions and experienced trainers and guides are available in
abundance from local tour operators and Tourism department. A number of
adventure lovers carry their own tents and enjoy camping with friends
and family. A number of tour operators provide camping packages that
include tent accommodation, food, adventure activities, bonfires and a
whole lot of fun activities. The best time for camping is from April to
June and from September to October.
Mountaineering– A great adventure that is widely
enjoyed by visitors. There are a number of unexplored and popular peaks
in the area that are great fun to climb. Proper equipment, water, food,
comfortable shoes, first aid box and road map are the essentials for
this sport.
The Mountaineering Institute in Manali is located at a distance of
about 3 km from the main city junction near the River Beas. It provides
training facilities for basic and advance climbing both for Indian
nationals and foreigners. Skiing and trekking equipment can be hired
from the institute by booking in advance. It also offers accommodation
and boarding arrangements.
The nearest big town from Manali is Kullu which is about 40 km. Kullu
is another great holiday destination and is also referred to as the
“Valley of Gods”.
