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MANALI
GROUP
HOTELS :
CITIES
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MANALI HOTELS
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MANALI SIGHTSEEING
GENERAL
INFO
 Once called the
"end of the habitable world," Manali is an important
hill station of northern India and is the destination of
thousands of tourists every year. Its cool atmosphere provides a
perfect haven for the ones afflicted by the hot Indian summers.
Besides offering quite a few places for sightseeing, Manali is
also famous for adventure sports like skiing, hiking,
mountaineering, paragliding, rafting, trekking, kayaking, and
mountain biking. In Manali, one can find high mountains shrouded
by silent snows and deep boulder strewn gorges. There are thick
forests, filled with cool breezes and bird song. There are
fields of wild flowers, small picturesque hamlets and
fruit-laden orchards, especially apples.
SIGHTSEEING
HADIMBA TEMPLE
 With a four-tiered, pagoda shaped roof and a front doorway carved with
figures and symbols, the lovely temple stands as a mute tribute to the
supreme artist who sacrificed the very hand with which he carved his pa
en in wood to the goddess of the Dhoongri Temple- Hadimba Devi, wife of
Bhim--the Pandva. Every year in the month of May there is a major
festival.
RAHALLA FALLS
About 4 kms away from Kothi and 16 kms from Manali town, at the start of
the climb to the Rohtang Pass, are the beautiful Rahalla water falls at
an altitude of 2,501 metres (8,500 ft). It is approachable by bus, jeep
or pony.
ROHTANG PASS
Situated about 51 kms from Manali town at an altitude of 4,111 metres
(13,400 ft) on the highway to Keylong, is Rohtang Pass. Now regular bus
service plies over it from Manali to Keylong in Lahaul district. Here
one sees the majesty of the mountains at its height and splendour. At
the top of the Pass the air seems to glitter against the snow as you
look down over herringboned ridges into the Lahaul Valley. There is a
beautiful Dashohar Lake left to the pass, where pilgrims go every year
on the auspicious day of 20th Bhadon. This is the only access to Lahaul
valley. The pass is open from June to September each year although
trekkers can cross the pass a little earlier.
 TIBETAN MONASTERY
It is new and colourful. A pleasant place to visit. It is famous for
carpet weaving. Visitors can buy carpets and other Tibetan handicrafts
from here.
BEAS KUND
The famous Beas Kund, the source of the Beas river, at the Rohtang Pass
is easily accessible. The great Vyas Rishi performed 'tapa' here during
the Mahabharat Kal. The place is still hallowed by the celestial light.
It was because of this that the river got the present name of Beas.
JAGATSUKH
It is one of the biggest villages in Kullu district. Jagatsukh is on the
left bank of the Beas and the road from Naggar to Manali runs through
the village. Jagatsukh is 12 kms from Naggar and 6 kms from Manali. The
place is famous for very old temples, in the village, particularly the
Shiva Temple in Shikhara style and nearby old and interesting Devi
Sharvali temple.
 MANU
TEMPLE
3 kms. from the main bazar
in old Manali lies the temple of MANU RISHI. It is believed that this is
the only temple of Manu in India, who was the creator of human race on
the earth. DHUNGRI TEMPLE
The Dhungri or Hadimba temple is a four storey wooden building in
the middle of a lovely forested parkland, known as the Dhungri Van Vihar.
Erected in 1553, the temple is dedicated to the goddess Hadimba and the
features intricate wooden carvings of dancers and characters from
various Hindu stories. Every May, there is a major festival at the
temple, when sacrifices are carried out in honour of Hadimba.
SOLANG NULLAH
Some of Himachal Pradesh's best skiing slopes are at Solang Nullah,
about 13 kms north-west of Manali. February and March are the best
months to ski. The area is very pretty in spring and summer and offers
great hikes.
KAISHDAR
Kaisdhar is 15 kilometres from Kullu, over and across a steep mountain
is a quiet secluded spot of a great beauty known for its magnificent
scenery and innumerable walks. There is a Forest Rest House, where
visitors can stay.
KASOL
Situated on the banks of Parvati River, Kasol makes a good holiday
destination. 42 kms away from Kullu charmingly located on an open space
which slopes down to a broad expanse of clear white sand at the edge of
the river. The place is also well known for trout fishing.
MUSEUM
Museum of Traditional Himachal Culture : This small, privately
funded museum near the Dhungri temple is worth a quick visit. The
curator has spent years collecting folk art and handicrafts from
surrounding villages to protect the traditions of the Kullu valley. MANDI
The historic town of Mandi is built along the banks of the river Beas.
It has long been an important commercial centre and the sage Mandvya is
said to have meditated here. This one time capital of the princely state
of Mandi is a fast developing town that still retains much of its
original charm and character. Mandi is renowned for its 81 old stone
temples and their enormous range of fine carving and is often called the
Varanasi of the hills. Formerly and important junction on the salt route
to Tibet, Mandi is the gateway to the Kullu valley, and the junction of
roads from Kullu, Kangra and Shimla. Mandi which means market, is quite
a good place to break the journey between Shimla and the Kullu valley.
REWALSAR
Rewalsar Lake is high up in the hills, 24 kms south-west of Mandi and
set beside the village of Rewalsar. It is a lovely area, with some
pretty scenery and is worth a day trip or an overnight stay. The small
lake is revered by Buddhists because it is where Padmasambhava departed
for Tibet. Hindus also revere the lake because it was where the sage
Rishi Lomas did his panance as a dedication to Shiva, who in return gave
Rishi the seven lakes in the vicinity, including Rewalsar. Around the
lake, there are three Hindu temples dedicated to Rishi Lomas, Shiva and
Krishna.
NAGGAR CASTLE
Naggar was capital of the Kullu valley for nearly 1500 years. The
castle, built about 500 years ago as the raja's headquarters, was
converted to a hotel in 1978. The castle is built around a courtyard and
there are varandahs right around the castle's exterior, providing
stupendous views over the valley. Inside the courtyard is the small
Jagtipath temple containing a slab of stone said to have been carried
there by wild bees, and a small museum.
ROERICH GALLERY
1 km past the castle is the interesting Roerich gallery, a fine old
house displaying the artwork of both the eccentric professor Nicholas
Roerich and his son Svetoslav Roerich. Just uphill from the gallery is
the Urusvati Himalayan Folk & Art Museum which houses a collection of
embroidery and folk art.
JAGANATHI TEMPLE
Devi Jaganathi Temple is a beautiful picnic spot at an altitude of 5,000
ft and at a distance of about 4.8 kms from Kullu. It can be covered
through a bridle path.
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