Nestled in the Himalayas, Manali is a quaint hill station located in the northern region of India – Himachal Pradesh. The cool climate, snow-clad mountains, and unparalleled natural beauty make Manali an ideal holiday destination for travellers. This small hill station spreads on the banks of river Beas and is home to many beautiful places. From the snow paradise Rohtang Pass to the adventure hub – Solang Valley, Manali is full of great places to visit. And today, in this article, we will talk about the 20 best places you can visit on your next trip to Manali.
Take a look at our 20 best places to visit in Manali, which you should not miss on visiting.
Hidimba or Hadimba Devi Temple, also locally known as Dhungri Temple, is one of Manali’s most famous spiritual places. Surrounded by tall deodar trees, this temple displays the memory of Hidimba Devi, the wife of Bhima, a character from the Indian epic Mahabharata. Hadimba Devi temple is an ancient cave-like structure famous for its unique shape. If you are looking for the most beautiful places in Manali, you should visit Hadimba Devi Temple.
The Mall Road, famous for shopping in Manali, is spread about 1.5 km from the bus stand to Model town. It is considered the heart of Manali having many small Tibetan tent shops, showrooms, restaurants, and hotels. You can see or buy costumes like Himachali Topi, Chola, Jabiru, Chuba, and Dora here.
The place which is said to be the birthplace of Manali is Old Manali, situated at a distance of 2 km from Manali bus station. This place shows a cultural glimpse of Himachal. Koti Banal architecture’s houses and spiritual temples are perfect examples of historical marvels. Along with cultural glimpses, Old Manali has many cafes, restaurants, and stay options that make this place a must-visit in Manali.
One of the famous temples of Manali, Siyali Mahadev Temple is the primary worship attraction for Lord Shiva’s followers, which is just 1.8 km away from Manali. Siyali Mahadev Temple is entirely made of wood and offers a fantastic sight. Due to its architectural beauty and natural surroundings, it is one of the best places for Manali sightseeing. So if you’re in Manali, you must visit this place.
Vashisht Temple is one of the oldest temples of Himachal Pradesh, located in Vashisht village, which is 2.7 km from Manali. Offering a glimpse of the exquisite architecture and culture of Himachal, this temple is dedicated to Maharishi Vashistha and is one of the spiritual places to visit in Manali.
Located at a distance of 5.1 km from Manali’s Mall Road, Nehru Kund is a wonderful place to see in Manali. This place has a natural bath and pool dedicated to the first Prime Minister of India, Lt. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. The source of this natural pool is the Bhrigu lake, which later joins the Beas river.
One of the most ancient temples in Manali, Manu temple is a beautiful temple dedicated to Maharishi Manu, “The creator of human life.” The shape of the temple is similar to Himachali and Tibetan monasteries, with the center part square and the lower part even and straight. This temple is a center of attraction for its spiritual importance and surrounding scenery.
Himalayan Nyingmapa Gompa, located 400 meters from Manali’s Mall Road, is a Buddhist monastery in Manali dedicated to spirituality and Lord Buddha. This monastery displays the architecture of Tibetan culture along with a giant statue of Lord Buddha. Here the disciple of the monastery, Shakyamuni, preaches generosity and compassion toward human welfare, following the footsteps shown by Gautama Buddha.
One of the best Manali tourist places, Jogini Waterfall is located at a distance of 4.8 km from Manali. Here the water flowing from a height of about 150 feet turns the surrounding environment milky and mixes in the Beas river, exciting visitors. Along with trekking, you can also enjoy camping here and give yourself a feeling of freedom close to nature.
Located at a distance of 4 km from Manali, Van Vihar Park is one of the main attractions of Manali. Van Vihar Park offers a wonderful boating ride along its artificial lake surrounded by nature. It is one of the emerging tourist places in Manali. So if you want to spend your leisure time with your partner, this is the place for you.
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Manalasu is a beautiful river flowing in Old Manali, which rises between Lamadug and Appa Rear hills in the Himalayas. It is a very small river, which covers a distance of only 3 to 4 km and joins the Beas River. One can go camping and trekking along the Manali River.
Beas River is the famous river of Manali, whose origin is Beas Kund. Manali Beas Kund is a revered and beautiful trekking spot. This river meets Maharana Pratap Sagar after traveling about 312 kilometers. Riverside camping in Manali has become famous because of the river Beas, as the river provides a beautiful view of the flowing stream to every tourist.
A trip to Manali is complete with visiting Kullu. At a distance of 40 km from Manali, Kullu is a beautiful valley on the banks of the “Beas” River. Kullu is among the best places to visit in Manali. Tirthan Valley, Jalori Pass, Gauri Shankar Temple, Bada Bengal, and Rohtang La, Dhakpo Shedrupling Monastery are some of the top places to visit in Kullu Manali.
Manali also organizes winter sports for tourists in winter. The venue is Solang Valley, located about 11 km from Manali on the Rohtang route. Adventure activities like paragliding, ice skiing, ropeway, and ice horse riding are organized in Solang Valley, making it the adventure hub of Manali.
Hampta Pass, located 17 km from Manali, makes every trekker feel like heaven. Therefore, Hampta Pass is one of the best places to see in Manali. Along with the surrounding beauty, this place offers excellent views of Manali Valley (Kullu Valley), Solang Valley, and Beas River.
At a distance of 13 km from Manali, Sethan village/valley is one of the must-visit places for every tourist visiting Manali. Anyone who wants to avoid crowded places in Manali can visit this place, as this place is away from all kinds of crowds. The place is known for its beauty and Buddhist culture, where many Tibetan Buddhists live.
Located 36 km from Manali, Rohtang Pass is a perfect destination for every biker, offering every biker an adventurous experience like the roads of Leh Ladakh. At an altitude of 3,980 meters (13,058 ft), this place is very scenic and dry, making it ideal for winter skiing. The long queues of vehicles in winter also show the importance of this place and how famous it is.
Located 28 km from Manali, the Atal Tunnel is the highest (3,048 m) artificial tunnel in India, named after former Prime Minister of India Atal Vihari Vajpayee. It comes under Atal Tunnel Highway 3. This tunnel will provide this adventurous experience primarily for the biker traveling from Manali to Leh Ladakh, a must for every biker on the journey ahead.
Rahana Falls is one of the major attractions in Manali. Located 28 km from Manali on the Leh-Ladakh highway, Rahana falls a paradise for bike lovers. This place is a relaxing spot for tourists traveling to Leh Ladakh by bike or car. The spectacular views of the vast Himalayas can be seen from here. This fast-flowing waterfall attracts visitors and compels them to spend a few moments there.
Gulaba village or Gulaba valley is one of the most beautiful villages of Himachal. It is situated 27 km from Manali near Rohtang Pass. The place is located at an elevation of 4000 meters. Therefore it attracts huge snowfall in winter, making it one of the best tourist places in Manali.
Hadimba Devi Temple, Manu Temple, Vashishtha Temple, Bijli Mahadev Temple, and the Himalayan Nyinmapa Tibetan Buddhist Monastery are the primary spiritual centers of Manali where you can find grace. On the other hand, some of the most beautiful places to visit in Manali include Jogini Waterfalls, Solang Valley, Rohtang Pass, Naggar, Gulaba, Sthan Valley, Old Manali, and Hampta Pass.
For snow lovers, the best time to visit Manali is from December to February, as Manali experiences snowfall during this time. To get relief from the scorching heat of summer, you can also visit Manali from April to June.
Rohtang Pass is located at a distance of 35 km from Manali, at an altitude of 3,978 meters above sea level, and touches the Manali Leh Ladakh Highway.
Snowfall in Manali is at its peak from the end of December to the end of February.
In December, places to visit in Manali include Solang Valley, Gulaba Village, Naggar, Old Manali, and Sethan Valley. Rohtang Pass remains closed due to heavy snowfall.
You can cover Hadimba Devi Temple, Jogini waterfall, Manu Temple, Old Manali, Solang Valley, and Vashisht Village in just a day, which are all located within a range of 15 to 20 km from Manali.
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