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The picturesque hill station of Manali is located at the head of the Kullu valley and is roughly around 280km away from Shimla. Manali is at an altitude of 2050 metres above sea level and lies along the Beas river. Manali is surrounded by snow-capped mountains and lush deodar and pine forests, which makes it a very attractive tourist spot.
Due to its spectacular sights, Manali is often considered to be a honeymoon destination for newly-wed couples although several backpackers also consider it an excellent holiday spot. With a huge number of places to visit in Manali, it’s no wonder that it is always filled with tourists. Nevertheless, people come here for some thrilling adventure activities as well. From skiing, to rafting to paragliding, there is much here to enthral adventure seekers. Apart from these, Manali tourist places also include several gompas or Tibetan monasteries and is considered to be a gateway to Lahaul and Spiti. Here are some of the must visit places in Manali.
If you can’t wait to check out these Kullu Manali tourist places for yourself, do take time to look at the SOTC website for some excellent packages and offers on Manali tour packages and Himachal tour packages.
If you want to enjoy snow activities without the crowds that are inevitably present at Solang, then head to Gulaba which is yet another Kullu Manali tourist place where you can enjoy activities like skiing, tobogganing, paragliding and other such activities. Adventure sports in Gulaba can be done between 6 am and 6 pm.
One of the must visit places in Kullu Manali is Hadimba temple. This beautiful temple is surrounded by lush pine and cedar trees and the pagoda shaped temple is unique with its carved wooden doors and the 79-foot tower above it. Also, the uniqueness lies in whom it is dedicated to, as Hadimba temple’s deity is the wife of the Pandav, Bhima. The effigy of Hadimba Devi is made of brass and it is one of the most popular places to visit in Manali.
Manali’s proximity to Spiti and Lahaul ensures that there is a good number of Tibetan residents here. The monasteries, or Gompas, are therefore not to be missed. The Himalayan Nyingmapa Gompa and Gadhan Thekchhokling Gompa are certainly some of the most popular places to visit in Kullu Manali. The façade of these monasteries has a royal bearing and there is quite a bit of Tibetan art and craft to see here. Meditation retreats are popular with visitors while the monasteries are also known to be a good centre for shopping Tibetan arts and crafts.
Nehru Kund is a spring that can be found on the Leh National Highway and it is certainly one of the top places to go in Manali. Come here for the serene atmosphere and the spectacular surrounding with mountains and lush trees everywhere. This natural spring of cold water is said to come from the Bhrigu lake which is at a height of 4300 metres. The name of the spring comes from Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru who used to drink water from this spring whenever he stayed in Manali.
Manali sightseeing is incomplete without a visit to the Manali Wildlife Sanctuary. Enjoy the sight of the undulating hills around you, while the forests are lush with deodar, walnut, horse chestnut and maple trees. But the best part of this visit are the animals you can see such as Monal or musk deer or brown bears. If you can trek up to the snowy areas, you can even see Ibex herds. Camping in the sanctuary adds to the thrill and sense of adventure here, making it one of the best things to do in Manali.
One of the places to go in Kullu Manali is Jogini Falls. Come here to transport yourself to another world altogether, where the sounds of nature combine with the roar of water as it hits the pools from a veritable height. The views here are amazing, and you will want to stick around as long as possible to enjoy the lovely atmosphere. Do make sure you wear comfortable shoes with a good grip and follow the regular trek path so you can stay safe.
One of the top Manali tourist places to visit is Solang Valley. It is the venue for the winter skiing festival that is held here every year and people flock here to participate. Solang Valley is known for some wonderful activities such as paragliding, zorbing, skiing and yak riding as well. Located near Manali, the valley lies between Beas Kund and Solang village and it’s also a great place for couples because of its stunning beauty.
The Vashisht temple, around 3 kms away from Manali is a pyramid shaped stone temple and the water spring here is known to have medicinal properties. Thanks to this, it is certainly one of the top places to visit in Kullu Manali. People come here to feel relaxed and experience the rejuvenating qualities of the hot springs.
