Download - Manali Tourism
INTRODUCTION
TOURISM IN HIMACHAL PRADESHHimachal Pradesh is one of India’s best
tourist attraction regions, with its green
valleys, snow covered Himalayan
ranges and unique beauty, and it is
indeed a comfortable place for tourists.
The region has a rich cultural heritage
that attracts thousands of tourists each
year. In Himachal, every town, every
holy shrine, and the land around is
steeped in a culture and history that
goes back over four millennia. Bordering Tibet in the east and bound by the states
of Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, Himachal is a favourite
destination for tourists as well as pilgrims.
A visit to the state of Himachal Pradesh can be amazingly invigorating, with a
view of towering snow clad peaks glistening in the early morning glow of sunrise,
or rippling waters in rivers and streams, a fragrant breeze whispering some long-
forgotten tale through towering pine forests, or stark brown mountains standing
guard over this timeless land.
The most visited places in Himachal Pradesh include Shimla, Manali, Dharamshala
and Macleod Gang. With the amount of tourists coming to Himachal increasing
with each passing year, it is predicted that Himachal will be soon recognized as a
tourism powerhouse at national as well as international level in near future.
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MANALIBlessed with some of the most spectacular and beautiful landscapes anywhere, it is
a travelers paradise -lofty snow peaks, deep gorges, lush green valleys, fast flowing
rivers, enchanting mountain lakes, flower bedecked meadows, beautiful temples
and monasteries steeped in time. May it be for relaxing, sightseeing, trekking,
mountaineering, fishing, para-gliding, skiing, ice skating and golf, Himachal has it
all.
A stunning hill station surrounded by massive snow clad mountains and thick
pinewood forests, Manali has the twisty Beas River as its magnificent centrepiece.
Manali in the state of Himachal Pradesh is popular for its breath-taking Himalayan
beauty. A scared land, which is the abode of various Gods and Goddesses, this
striking hill resort has a full calendar of numerous colourful events and festivals.
Popular as the queen of valleys, Manali is named after the law giver of ancient
India, Manu. Manali literally means the abode of Manu and hence this place has
huge importance from the perspective of the ethnic culture and tradition of India
Manali tourism is fuelled by two main seasons. The summer Holiday season when
many people and families travel to this place on Manali holiday packages and the
second big push to Kullu Manali tourism comes from the wedding season with
thousands of honeymoon couples heading to the region.
Manali also turns out to be an enchanting stopover for one who is driving up to the
snow-clad hues of Ladakh route some of the highest mountain passes in India.
Manali also has some of the ancient hamlets inherited by the Tibetans that comes
on your way to Leh-Ladakh. In addition, the popular treks from Manali are -
Chandrakhani - Malana trail, Beas Kund Trek and Bhrigu Lake Trek.
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PLACES TO SEE IN MANALI•Rohtang Pass:The Rohtang pass is 51 KM north of
Manali and it is located on Manali
Keylong Highway at an altitude of 3,978
meters (13,050 ft.). This pass opens for
tourist from April end to October end of
the year. In May, Rohtang becomes a
place for nature enthusiasts and adventure seekers. The snow-covered mountains
provide the perfect opportunity to go skiing and snow scooter riding. All types of
food stuff, coffee and drinks are available at Rohtang pass and these are sold by
local people. The weather here is highly unpredictable.
•Hadimba Temple
Hadimba Temple in Manali is one of the
major tourist attractions when it comes to
local tourist places. It is a four storey
wooden temple. The temple is surrounded
by a cedar forest at the foot of the
Himalayas. About 70 meters away from the
temple, there is a shrine dedicated to
Goddess Hadimba’s son, Ghatotkacha who
was born after she married Bhima. The sanctuary is built over a huge rock jutting
out of the ground, which was worshiped as an image of the deity. The structure
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was built in the year 1553 and is one of the most visited tourist destination in
Manali.
•Solang Valley
13 km from Manali Solang valley is a
splendid valley between Manali and Kothi
which offers views of the glaciers and
snow-capped mountain peaks. The plateau
is frequently used for holding camps by the
trekking parties. Good skiing slopes of the
Mountaineering Institute. Venue of annual
winter carnival from 2nd January to 6th
January. Bus service are available upto
Palchan village (10 km) and then by jeep or on foot during winters.
•Buddhist Monasteries
The Gadhan Thekchhokling Gompa in
Manali was constructed in the year 1969.
The architecture of the monastery represents
the Tibetan style of architecture designed
with hued frescoes. The statue of the Lord
Buddha presides in the monastery. The
monastery is run by the local people who
gather funds through donations. Tibetan
Monastery is one of the oldest and famous
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place in Manali. Due to huge number of Tibetan peoples settled in Kullu Manali
Tibetan Monasteries has been set up. The main attraction of the monastery is the
handicrafts of Tibetan artistry and the carpets that are woven and sold in the
monastery.
•Vashisht Temple and Hot Sulphur Spring
The village is 6 km from Manali at the
banks of the Beas River opposite Old
Manali. Vashisht is reachable from Manali
by half an hour walk or a short drive up a
slanting road by Auto Rickshaw for Rs.50.
Most foreign tourists preferred staying here
or at the Old Manali than the Manali. Rich
traditions and nice cafes are integral for
backpackers. Vashisht has all that. Like Old Manali, Vashisht is crowded with
tourists during peak seasons. Indian tourists mostly come here to bathe in the hot
springs inside the temple.
• Kothi
About 16 km from Manali, Kothi is a quiet
but picturesque spot. If you are looking for
some peace and serenity in this busy hill
station, the small village of Kothi is a
splendid option. In earlier days, it was
considered to be the base camp for difficult
treks to Rohtang and other peaks.
Reminiscent of an old world charm, the P a g e 5 | 13
village has been a backdrop for a number of films. From anywhere in the village,
the view down below is simply breath taking to say the least. Sudden thermal
springs, picturesque picnic spots and the calm of the village is sure to take you to a
different place
•Manu Rishi Temple
Manu Rishi Temple in Manali,
dedicated to sage Manu, who according
to Hindu mythology, is the creator of
human race. Manu Rishi Temple, built
in the pagoda architecture is a noted
pilgrim centre in Manali. One can find
various artefacts along with the idols of
gods and goddesses in different
postures, in this five-storeyed structure.
•Jogni Waterfall
This is nearly 3 km trek from Vashisht
templeAfter visiting the Vashisht temple
complex you can start the trek. The trek
route passes through narrow lane by the
side of temple and it goes through apple
orchids, tall pine trees small water
streams. On the way few restaurants and
guest houses are also available. A gentle
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walk will take 30 minutes to reach the base of the waterfall. Jogini Mata temple is
at the base of the waterfall. From here if you can climb then can reach the top point
of the waterfall. The stiff climb will take 20 minutes more to reach at top.
Naggar
Nagar, a lovely village set on a hill
sourrounded by forests, was the
capita of kullu in the 16th century
and the monuments in the region
are witness to its glorious past. The
Naggar Castle, a stone and wood
structure built by Raja Sidh Singh
over 500 years ago, has been converted in to a heritage hotel. The gracefully
built castle has a temple in the courtyard and also houses a small museum. The
paintings and Photographs of the late Nicholas Roerich are exhibited in the
Nicholas Roerich Gallery.
Manu Temple
Manu Temple is located in old Manali, at a
distance of three kilometers from the main market.
The temple is dedicated to the Indian sage Manu,
who is said to be the creator of the world and the
writer of Manusmriti. Travelers are advised to
wear dresses covering the knees and shoulders,
while inside the temple. To reach the temple, one
has to traverse through the slippery stone paths
that lie before its premises. The ancient temple is a P a g e 7 | 13
prominent place of worship for the local people of Manali, who arrive every day to
offer their prayer to the creator of humanity.
Bhrigu LakeBhrigu Lake is a lake located at
an elevation of around 4,300
metres (14,100 ft) in Kullu
district, Himachal Pradesh,
India. It is located to the east of
Rohtang Pass and is around 6
kilometres (3.7 mi) from Gulaba
village. It can be reached by trekking either from the Vashishth temple,
which is famous for its hot water springs, which is close to the town of
Manali or from Gulaba village. It is named after Maharishi Bhrigu.Legend
has it that the sage used to mediate near the lake and hence it has been
rendered sacred; the locals believe that due to this the lake never freezes
completely.
Van ViharVan Vihar National Park is one of the
most frequented attractions in Manali.
Located favorably on the Mall Road,
this park is populated with many
deodar trees that provide shade to the
whole area. For the convenience of
visitors, the ark is provided with
concrete as well as wooden benches. It is an ideal place for enjoying picnics P a g e 8 | 13
and spending moments of repose with your loved ones. Its well-laid paths
are perfect for a long and refreshing stroll amid lush greenery. In addition
to these, visitors can indulge in boat rides in the park's small pond.
OUTDOOR ADVENTURE ACTIVITIES
1. Rock Climbing and Bouldering:
In Himachal region rock climbing has
great option. In adventure sports there is
no substitute for the Himalayas
professional climbers from all over the
world to take up the challenge of some
of the most exciting and toughest, rock
climbing options in the world. The
courses are conducted by certified
instructors.
2. River Rafting:
River rafting in the Himalayas is quite
unlike anywhere else in the world. It
provides the best opportunity to enjoy
and experience the natural beauty of the
spectacular landscape with deep gorges,
towering snowcapped peaks, hilltop
monasteries, hillside villages etc. Today
Manali is one of the most trusted
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adventure destination in the region. Rafting is carried at various points between
Manali to Kullu. The most popular ones are Pirdi, Babeli and Bajaura.
3. River Crossing:
River Crossing was introduced by
Mountaineering Institute, Manali, and a
provides a unique experience for all guests
and tourists – both children and adults. The
Area around Manali offers numerous
streams for this adventure experience. This
adventure sport involves crossing a river
with ropes and equipment’s needed for it
and is one of the most preferred adventure
sports among the tourists.
4. Angling and Fishing: -
Himachal Pradesh is an excellent
destination for fishing and angling. Brown
and Rainbow trout are famous all over the
world as the best game fish. The Beas
River and its side streams like the Sarvari,
Parbati, Sainj, Hurla and Tirthan are good
for the fishing sport.
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5. Paragliding:
Paragliding is fast becoming one of the
most accepted adventurous sports in
India. Till now there are very locations
which organized this sport. Himachal
Pradesh in north India is one most
prime destination for Paragliding. Since
last many years, people from all over
the world flocks to Himachal Pradesh
to experience this exhilarating event.
6. Skiing and Snowboarding:
North of Manali stretch vast open
spaces and some of the finest ski slopes
in the state. Surrounding this fine ski
area are majestic snow clad mountains
their lower slopes carpeted with stately
Pine, Fir and Deodar trees in this
serene white wonderland. Various Tour
and Travels organizes ski packages for
both the novice and the expert.
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Packages are economical and conducted by expert, professionally trained skiers &
Snowboarder.
CONCLUSIONEven though the tourism sector is still flourishing in Manali but due to the recent
scenario in tourism sector related to ban imposed by NGT and with each passing
year Manali reaching its maturity phase it has become crucial to not only introduce
new and alternate tourism attraction but there is also improvement in the current
facilities and infrastructure available in Manali. With the emergence of more and
more stiff competition from other districts in Himachal Pradesh as well as from the
other states it has become crucial to come up with the solution of current problems
faced by Manali as soon as possible.
Though the future of tourism is mostly secured but with construction of Rohtang
Tunnel, Manali may face stiff competition from the Lahaul and Spiti because of its
more natural beauty, heritage and culture and also from its more diverse, richer ad
unexplored tourist destinations. As National Green Tribunal (NGT) has tightened
screws on unplanned tourist activities on ecologically fragile Rohtang Pass, Manali
is looking for possibilities to develop more snow points to ease burden over
Rohtang.
Already facing severe challenge to its existence, the tourism industry of Manali
was hit badly again as three-month relief to taxis and private vehicles being used
for tourism purpose to travel on Manali-Rohtang Highway ended on Nov. 30,
2015.
Manali is continuously losing its tourism to other states as almost all major tourist
activities are already banned here. So it has become necessary for state government
to come up with a solution to ensure welfare of the locals and thus maintaining the P a g e 12 | 13
status of Manali as a top tourist attraction among the domestic and international
tourists.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. www.tripadvisor.in
2. www.visitkullumanali.com
3. www.makemytrip.com
4. HPTDC Brochure
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