SOLANG VALLEY

Solang valley is also known as the ‘Snow Valley,’ which is famous for hosting various winter adventure sports like skiing, parachuting, paragliding, trekking, and mountaineering. This dazzling valley is one of the most picturesque sights in Manali and is located at an average altitude of 2,560 meters above sea level. It is one of the most favorite trekking hotspots of the tourists, holidaying in Manali. Solang Valley is located between the Solang village and Beas Kund and offers majestic views of glaciers and snow capped mountain. The Mountaineering Institute of Manali has installed a ski lift for training purpose and there is a small hut and a guest house that belongs to the Mountaineering and Allied Sports Institute. The winter skiing festival is also organized in Solang every year and the activities like Zorbing, Horse riding & Snow Motor Bikes riding are offered for the entertainment of tourists.

KOTHI

Kothi is also called Koshtampi. It is little below Kalpa, and is overshadowed by the Kinner Kailash peak. The village with its attractive temple, gracious willows green fields, fruit trees makes an altogether lovely landscape. Goddess Shuwang Chandika temple is in the village.

ROHTANG PASS

Rohtang Pass (Bhoti: Rohtang , lit: pile of corpses, due to people dying in bad weather trying to cross the pass) (altitude 3,978 m or 13,051 ft), is a high mountain pass on the eastern Pir Panjal Range of the Himalayas around 51 km (32 mi) from Manali. It connects the Kullu Valley with the Lahaul and Spiti Valleys of Himachal Pradesh, India. Manali-Leh Highway, a part of NH 21, transverses Rohtang Pass.

The pass is open from May to November. It is not particularly high or difficult to cross on foot by Himalayan standards, but it has a well-deserved reputation for being dangerous because of unpredictable snowstorms and blizzards. This pass is an ancient trade route between the people on either side of Pir Panjal. The local name for this pass is a generic name of pass.[citation needed] There are many other passes in Lahaul and Spiti which have specific names (Kunzam La, Baralacha La, etc.). This is suggestive of the fact that this must have been the oldest and most frequented pass in the region, or the fact that it is the main pass leading from one cultural region to another, quite different one, to the north.

National Highway 21 (NH 21), the road through the Kullu Valley, past Manali and over the Rohtang Pass to Keylong, and Lahul and on to Leh in Ladakh, has become very busy during the summer months as an alternate military route, following the Kargil Conflict in 1999 in addition to tensions in Kashmir. Traffic jams are common as military vehicles, trucks, and goods carriers try to navigate the tight roads and rough terrain, compounded by snow and ice at certain points and the large number of tourists vehicles.
Unknown Waterfall on the way to Rohtang. Several episodes of the History Channel’s Ice Road Truckers series spinoff IRT Deadliest Roads dealt with truckers crossing the Rohtang Pass to deliver supplies.

Rohtang Road Tunnel

Due to the military significance of the highway and the need to keep it open the entire year, the Indian government began building the $320 million 8.5 km (5.3 mi) long Rohtang Tunnel in 2010 to bypass Rohtang pass for creating a much safer and faster year-around link to Keylong, Lahaul and Spiti and Leh in Ladakh. The tunnel will also shorten the distance by about 50 km (31 mi) and reduce the travel time between the southern and northern faces of Rohtang pass by five hours. While it now takes 4 to 6 hours to ascend, negotiate and descend the Rohtang pass, it will take only about 30 minutes to travel through the Rohtang tunnel.

HADIMBA DEVI TEMPLE

Hidimbi Devi Temple, also known variously as the Hadimba Temple, is located in Manāli, a hill station in the State of Himāchal Pradesh in north India.It is an ancient cave temple dedicated to Hidimbi Devi, sister of Hidimba, a figure in the Indian epic Mahābhārata. The temple is surrounded by a cedar forest at the foot of the Himālayas. The sanctuary is built over a huge rock jutting out of the ground which was worshipped as an image of the deity. The structure was built in 1553.

Mythology
The Hidimba Devi temple is built around a cave where Hidimba performed meditation. Hidimba was supposed to have lived there with her brother Hidimb, and not much is known about their parents. Born into a Rakshas family, Hidimba vowed to marry one who would defeat her brother Hidimb, who was supposed to be very brave and fearless. During the Pandava’s exile, when they visited Manali; Bhima, one of the five Pandavas, killed Hidimb. Thereafter, Hidimba married Bhima and gave birth to their son Ghatotkacha.

A Mahabharat Narration
The Indian epic Mahabharata narrates that the Pāndavas stayed in Himachal during their exile. In Manali, the strongest person there, named Hidimba and brother of Hidimdi, attacked them, and in the ensuing fight Bhima, strongest amongst the Pandavas, killed him. Bhima and Hidimba’s sister, Hidimbi, then got married and had a son, Ghatotkacha, (who later proved to be a great warrior in the war against Kauravas). When Bhima and his brothers returned from exile, Hidimbi did not accompany him, but stayed back and did tapasyā (a combination of meditation, prayer, and penance) so as to eventually attain the status of a goddess.

RAHALA FALLS

The stunning Rahala Falls is located at a height of 8,500 ft and about 16 km from Manali. It is located on the way to Rohtang Pass and whoever visits the Rohtang valley makes a halt at Rahala Falls to enjoy the scenic beauty of the place. One can click pictures, trek above the cliff and enjoy the melting ice of this fall. The Rahala waterfall is a result of melting glacier, and so the water of this fall is extremely cold. This fall is set amidst dense forest of deodar, silver birch trees, and fresh and aromatic air. This place is easily accessible from Manali and one can take a bus, car, bike, or pony to reach the spot. The view of the place is really attention-grabbing and it gives mental peace to the visitors. The pleasant weather and the marvelous surroundings make it one of the best attractions in Manali.

GADHAN THEKCHHKLING GOMPA

The Manali Gompa was built in 1960 by Tibetan refugees and also known as the “Gadhan Thekchhokling Gompa,” this renowned Buddhist monastery is one of the finest attractions in Manali. This prominent monastery is small in size, but the spiritual energy exuded by it is boundless and which is why countless tourists from all corners of India visit this divine place to seek blessings. The monastery houses a majestic façade that is complemented with a pagoda-style yellow roof and inside there is a large image of Buddha and exquisite murals that demonstrate Buddha’s philosophy of non-violence. Within the complex, there are small shops that sell unique Tibetan handicrafts and carpets.

VASHISHT TEMPLE

Vashisht is a small village located around 3 km from Manali across the River Beas. This beautiful village is famous for its sulphurous hot water springs and Vashisht temple, built just next to the springs. The water from this spring is believed to have great healing powers, which can cure many skin diseases and other infections. There are Turkish-style bath houses available here that contain the hot water from the springs, which are used to take bath and enjoy the warmth of the place in privacy. There are separate baths for both men and women, fitted with showers.

Vashisht also houses many temples that are dedicated to a local saint Vashisht and Lord Rama. This place has a refreshing atmosphere that allows one to indulge in exotic baths while seeking blessing from the presiding deity of the temple.

JAGATSUKH TEMPLE

This temple is located in a small village located only 6 km south of Manali in the northern end of the Kullu Valley. Jagatsukh, which is well known for its old temples, houses a Shikhara style built Shive temple, also known as Jagatsukh Shiva Temple. This temple is surrounded by picturesque valleys and lofty snow-clad mountains that look even striking during the winters. Other than being a Hindu pilgrimage site, this place is a perfect honeymoon destination and a lot of tourists visit this spot to enjoy the wholesome beauty of the place.

Jagatsukh was the former capital of Manali and presently is the biggest village in Kullu district. Its main claim to fame is the Gaurishankar Temple, which is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. Jagatsukh can be easily reached by taxi from Manali.

MANU TEMPLE

This magnificent temple is dedicated to the sage Manu, who is said to be the creator of the world and the writer of Manusmriti. The Manu Temple is located in old Manali, at a distance of three kilometers from the main market. Though this area is quite congested, the presence of the River Beas adds to its attraction. The temple is one of the prime attractions in Manali and is believed to be the same place where sage Manu meditated after stepping on earth. This place has a distinct historical background that appeals to most of the people who visit Manali. The popularity of this majestic temple lies in the fact that it is the only temple dedicated to Manu; so whoever visits Manali makes it a point to visit this temple. The travelers are advised to wear dresses covering the knees and shoulders, while inside the temple.

MANALI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

The exquisite greenery and the presence of wild mountain animals make the Manali Wildlife Sanctuary one of the must see destinations in Manali. This amazing sanctuary is located about two kilometers away from the main town and is spread over 3,180 hectares of land. Established in the year 1954, the Manali Wildlife Sanctuary includes animals like the Himalayan Black Bear, Musk Deer, Flying Fox, Stripped Hyena, Himalayan Tahr, Indian Hare, Barking Deer, Palm Civet, Serows, Himalayan Yellow Throated Martens, and Kashmir Flying Squirrels. Endangered animals like leopards, Brown Bears, and Goral can also be seen here. The rich forest of this Manali sanctuary is covered with trees like Deodar, Horse Chestnut, Kail, Maple, and Walnut. The best time to visit this marvelous place is during winter, when the surroundings are livelier and more enjoyable.

GREAT HIMALAYAN NATIONAL PARK

Spread over an area of 754 sq. km, the Great Himalayan National Park is the newest addition to the list of India’s most amazing national parks. Built in the year 1984, the park lies at an altitude of 1500 to 6000 meters. The exquisite location and scenic surroundings of this park are highlighted with Deodar and Oak trees. The park has many important wildlife species native to the Western Himalayas, like Musk Deer, Brown Bear, Goral, Thar, Leopard, Snow leopard, Bharal, Serow, Monal, Kalij, Koklas, Cheer, Tragopan, Snow cock etc. Many people visit this amazing park to experience trekking and camping in the alpine pastures of the Kully region. The best seasons to visit this park are summer and autumn.

Which is the best time to visit Manali ?

October to February is the winter season and is considered to be the best time to visit Manali if you like the cold and January is best to enjoy the chilly pleasure of fresh snowfall . The temperature drops down below zero degrees Celsius.

When there is snow in Manali ?

In December fresh snowfall in and around Manali