Manali is one such locations in India that will be in everybody’s travel list. Manali qualifies as a hill-station as it is at a height of 8500+ ft above sea level. It qualifies as a valley as it is surrounded by the mighty peaks and mountains on all the sides. It qualifies as a riverside destination due to River Beas flowing through the scenic landscapes. It qualifies of being a tourist destination as there are various awesome places that attracts visitors of all ages. It qualifies as a backpacker destination as it is the starting point for many adventurous treks/hikes in the region. It qualifies as a rider destination as it acts as the gateway to the mighty Himalayas, and the starting point of the popular Manali-Leh biking trail!

Manali is a small town with River Beas flowing gently through the valley, and is surrounded by the huge mountain peaks. The source of water for River Beas comes from the lake Beas Kund that is located at 20 km from Manali. The water from Beas Kund together with the melting of snow during summer is the primary source of water in this region. The road to Manali almost goes parallel to the river. It is very common for people who drive to Manali take multiple breaks just to stop by the riverside and enjoy the beauty of the nature!

Snow-capped Mountains

Manali being such a picturesque town, you can enjoy nature’s beauty from almost any part of the town. A small stroll through the town will take you through all the places of interest, as well as show you the glimpses of the beautiful snow-capped mountains.

Beauty begins at home… err… at the balcony of the hotel room

Looks like the beginning of a trek route!

A beautiful waterfall…. From a distance…

River Beas

Apart from walking on the well laid tar roads, you can also stroll through the banks of River Beas. As the origin of the river is not very far from Manali, and flows through gentle plains, the current of clear water is not very high. You can get into and play in the cold river water almost anywhere in the town.

Hadimba/Hidimba Temple

Hadimba Temple in Manali is one of the very few temples dedicated to Goddess Hadimba, the wife of Bhima (from Mahabharata). The temple is surrounded by dense Deodar trees on all the sides. It is amazing to walk around 500 m amidst the tall trees to find a small shrine standing out! The temple has four tiered roof, three of them constructed of wooden planks. A large inverted metal cone is placed on the top of third tier to form the summit of the temple. The doors and the outer walls of the temple are beautifully carved with artwork.

Hidimba Temple

Deodar forest

Ghatotkach Temple

About 100m from Hidimba Temple is a tree temple dedicated to Gatotkach, the son of Bhima and Hadimba. This is an open temple which was built by the people of the town in 1997.

Tibetan Monastery

Manali is also famous for its Tibetan Monasteries. The Himalayan Nyingamapa Gompa, one of the many monasteries, is located near the main market of Manali. The monastery has beautifully decorated interiors.

Solang Valley

Solang Valley has a post for itself. Please see here for the same.

Location

Locate on Maps

Hadimba / Hidimba Temple

Tibetan Monastery

Where to stay?

Manali

Distance Chart