| The Mall or main bazaar is the hub of
activity, flooded with shops, restaurants, trekking and mountaineering outfits and wayside
food stalls. You can set off for long walks in the nearby forests, up pretty, secluded
mountain trails, charming villages and Tibetan settlements. To get a flavour of ancient
Manali, walk across the Manalsu Nala, to the old village of Manaligarh
with its ruined fort and the Manu Maharishi temple. This is a peaceful
place for some quiet rumination. The Godhan
Thekcholing Gompa with its yellow pagoda roof and brilliant frescoes is one of
the many Buddhist temples in Manali. Don't miss the famous Hadimba Temple
at Dunghri village, where you can see the enormous footprint of the giant wife of the
Pandava hero, Bhim, embedded in a stone cave.
Manali is an adventure and mountaineering sports paradise.
Fishing, white water rafting, canoeing and kayaking are organized on the swiftly flowing
Beas, between Bhuntar and Larji. The slopes of Solang Nala, Patalsu, Kothi, Marhi
and Rohtang Pass have been vamped for skiing. Para gliding, heli-skiing
and trekking are organized by Himachal Tourism, by the Mountaineering Institute and by
private operators in and around Manali.
Choose Manali today as your next holiday destination and
discover why this is the "chosen land" of Himachal.
Getting to Manali
Manali is 585 km from Delhi via Mandi, 284 km from Chandigarh and 274 km from Shimla. The
nearest airport is at Bhuntar, near Kullu, 50 kms from Manali. Regular bus services and
fixed-fare taxis connect the town to the airport. The bus stand is in the centre of town
on the Mall, with road connections from Kullu and major north Indian cities. The nearest
railhead is on the narrow gauge line at Jogindernagar (135 km) and the broad gauge line at
Chandigarh or Ambala.
Best time to visit Manali
Each season in Manali has its own charm. Winters are snowy, summers are crowded and the
monsoons are heavy. The best seasons are March-April and after the monsoons between
September and November. Travel with sufficient warm clothing and rain gear in any season.
Accommodation in Manali
Manali has no dearth of accommodation options, from luxury resorts and up-market hotels,
to guesthouses, tourist lodges, campsites and low budget hotels. For more information
contact Himachal Tourism at Chanderlok Building, 36, Janpath, New Delhi. Tel 011-23325320
/ 23324764 |
