Discover Manali: The Valley of the Gods
Manali sits at 2,050 metres at the head of the Kullu Valley in Himachal Pradesh, where the Beas River emerges from the high Himalayan passes. Its name comes from the sage Manu, who is said to have taken shelter here after the great flood described in Vedic scriptures — the name Manali derives from “Manu-Alaya” (abode of Manu). The town is surrounded on all sides by dramatic mountain scenery: the Rohtang Pass (3,978m) to the north, the Hampta Pass (4,270m) to the east, and the Solang Valley snow fields to the northwest.
Manali is India's premier adventure tourism destination. The town offers an exceptional range of activities: skiing and snowboarding at Solang Valley and Rohtang in winter; river rafting, kayaking, and white-water sports on the Beas from April to June; mountain biking and trekking in summer; and paragliding from the Solang Nala meadows year-round. The Rohtang Pass connects Manali to the stunning Lahaul and Spiti valleys, and the newly opened Atal Tunnel (world's longest highway tunnel at 8.9 km) provides all-weather connectivity to Lahaul.
Old Manali — the village above the main town — has a completely different character from the tourist-heavy main bazaar. Its narrow lanes are lined with apple orchards, traditional wooden Himachali houses with carved balconies, and a cluster of bohemian cafes and guesthouses that give it the feel of a mountain village that has somehow accommodated the world. The Hadimba Temple (3 km) — a 1553 CE pagoda-style temple to Goddess Hadimba, wife of Bhima from the Mahabharata — is Manali's most photographed landmark, set in an ancient cedar forest.
The Kullu Valley below Manali is famous for its apple orchards and the Kullu Dussehra festival — one of India's most spectacular, when hundreds of local deities (devtas) are carried in procession to pay homage to Lord Raghunath. The Great Himalayan National Park (75 km), a UNESCO World Heritage site, offers exceptional wildlife trekking through pristine alpine ecosystems.