It has been a long time since Himachal Pradesh is quite a common place among the people of India and as well as abroad. And in recent years, Manali is among one of the few places that has been major attractions among tourist in the Himachal Pradesh range. Situated at an altitude of 6,726 feet in the Beas river valley, Manali is a small hill station with a population of over 8000 in Himachal Pradesh range. So, if you are planning to spend a splendid holiday in lap of nature and under snowy mountains, then undoubtedly Manali is going to be the first choice for you. It will not be difficult to pick places to visit in Manali as it offers plenty of enticing places to its visitors. Some of them are described below.
Hadimba Temple:
Among the many attractions of Manali, Hadimba temple will definitely comes first for its archeological and historical significance. According to mythology, Bhima is among the five brothers of great Pandava in the epic Mahabharata and Hadimba was his wife who has later became goddess of the royal family of Kullu. It was built in the year 1553 and dedicated to goddess Hadimba. A natural cave, which protects the footprints of Hadimba goddess, is around the temple. As it is in the located in the middle of the forest, it is a popular picnic destination among the locals. In this temple, different mythological characters and motifs of cosmic dancers & animals are nicely depicted by wooden carvings.
Monasteries and the Manali Gompa:
Manali also has three beautiful Tibetan monasteries for its visitors. All of them are built in recent times. In these places, you can find a wide range of collection of Tibetian carpets and handicrafts which are offered for buying by local Tibetans. Two of these three monasteries are in walking distance at Manali down-town and one is in Aleo which is situated on left bank of Beas River.
Solang Valley:
Located at a distance of 13km from Manali, Solang valley offers spectacular views of snow-capped mountains, glaciers and peaks. It is situated over the Kullu valley. It is a splendid valley between Beas Kund and Solang village. The Manali Mountaineering Institute gives ski lifting training here.
Rothang Pass:
There are hardly few people who completed his visit to Manali without visiting Rohtang Pass. Only 51 kms away from Manali, you can get a magnificent panoramic view of Snowy Mountain from a height of 3980 meters which will definitely make lifetime impression in your mind. This pass once served as an important trade route in ancient times. The holly Beas Kund from where the River Beas has started flowing is also situated here. It is considered as holly spot for Hindus because the great Sage Vyas has meditated in this place.
Martin Wynn
