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Places to see in Manali

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There are many places to see on a trip to Manali, if you are not travelling with your own vehicle. Most tourists hire a taxi (various kinds available), which takes you around to all the sight seeing spots in and around Manali (Rohtang, Manikaran etc). It costs about Rs. 1500 per day, or little over Rs. 3000 if you book together for 3 days (in the peak season). The second most common way is to hire a motorbike. Public transport is not so good. There are cheap bus services, but they are not so frequent. Yet, if you are going to stay for a long time, it is better to know the times and use them, as other modes of public transport and exorbitant compared to bus. For e.g., auto rickshaws take Rs. 200 from manali mall road to Solang valley, while the bus will cost you just Rs. 10.

Popular adventure and fun places to see in Manali

Rohtang Pass

Rohtang pass is considered one of the best places to see in Manali

Rohtang Pass is a adventure tourist site where it can be cold even on a summer day. It is the highest point on the Manali-Keylong road and provides a wide panoramic view of mountains rising far above clouds, which is truly breath taking. Many beautiful places are nearby such as Dassaur Lake. Beas Kund, the source of river Beas, is also nearby. The road to Rothang Pass closes during winters. Important to note that the road to Rohtang Pass is closed off at Manali bridge, on all Tuesdays between 0900-1800 hrs for carrying out road widening work & repairs. If you are able to leave early, before 0900, you can avoid the traffic rush (found on all other days) and have Rohtang Pass to yourself.

You should prepare yourself for stoppages (extending upto a few hours) on the return trip due to repair work and traffic jams. If you are driving up, prepare yourself for the rough broken roads at many places, sheer blind turns and tight hairpin bends, which can be exhilarating depending on the state of your nerves. If you are hiring a vehicle then better rent a four wheel drive vehicle from Manali. Sometimes the local people along with police does not allow the non-four wheel drive vehicles from going beyond Snow-Point (a place 16 kms before Rohtang Pass)and force to hire their owned 4WD vehicles at exorbitant prices which can be up to 1500-2000 INR per person. This happens in the winter times when there is heavy snow fall. The tours organized by HPTDC does not go up to Rohtang pass and terminate at Snow-Point. Shared taxis are also available. 

Fun park near Hadimba Temple

There is fun park located near Hadimba temple which is one of the best places to see in Manali.

Solang Valley

Popularly known as Snow Point, is 13 km northwest of Manali and famous for its 300-meter ski lift. The Ski Lift ticket is Rs. 400 per head. It is a picturesque spot and offers splendid views of glaciers and the snow-capped mountains. Jagatsukh, the former capital of Manali, is also an important spot.

Rahala waterfalls

Rahala waterfalls are about 16 km from Manali at the start of the climb to the Rohtang Pass, are the beautiful Rahalla Falls at an altitude of 2,501 m.

Rozy Falls 

On the way to Rohtang amazing water fall worth seeing. this water fall looks amazing between the high hills.

Old Manali

At a distance of 3 km northwest of Manali is Old Manali, famous for its orchards and old guesthouses. You can visit Manaligarh fort here. There is also the Manu Maharishi Temple, dedicated to sage Manu.

Naggar

The Castle, Roerich House and Art gallery are places to see. Moonlight dinner on the balcony of Hotel Castle restaurant is worth experiencing, with the lovely sight of twinkling lights below in the Beas valley. Bijli Mahadev temple, about 20 kms from Naggar, is also worth visiting.

Zana Falls

15 Kms from Naggar and 35 Kms from Manali, at Zana Village, beautiful Water Fall is worth visiting. The valley provides amazing views. There is one water fall on the road side and two other water falls which are not much explored by tourists and are amazing. Moreover Traditional Himachali food is available here at small hut like shops.

Beautiful Log Hut Area and Club house

In fact both these places especially log hut area have some good hotels to stay.

Kothi is one of the best places to see in Manali

Kothi is located at the bottom of Rohatang Pass. It is a beautiful and photographic village where tourists can capture different thrilling views of the deep gorge through which the Beas swiftly runs. This is an amazing place to experience the natural beauty of high altitude mountains.

Nehru Kund

Nehru Kund is located at the distance of around 6 km from Manali. It is one of the natural springs of natural water in India. Nehru Kund is takes its name from the late Prime Minister Jawar Lal Nehru. Pandit Nehru used to drink water from this Kund, while his journey to Manali. The Nehru Kund is on the Manali-Keylong road, about 6 kms from Manali. It is understood that a landslide has wiped out this spring.

Popular Temples to see in Manali

Vashist Hot Water Springs and Temple

Around 3 km from Manali, across the Beas river is Vashist, a small village with natural sulphur springs. Modern bathhouses, with Turkish-style showers, have the hot water piped into them for the convenience of the visitors who come here to benefit from the medicinal properties. Vaishisht, also boasts a pair of old stone temples, opposite each other above the main square. Dedicated to the local patron saint Vashista, the smaller of the two opens on to a partially covered courtyard, and is adorned with elaborate woodcarvings. Those lining the interior of the shrine, blackened by years of oil-lamp and incense smoke, are particularly fine. The temple tanks are underground hot-water/sulfur springs. Be wary of hanging up your trousers or bags on the hooks provided, pickpocketing is a daily occurrence. Hand over your wallet to a trusted person for safekeeping before you enter the springs for a bath.

Beas Kund

Beas Kund is  an igloo shaped temple, on top has a spring which is the origin of River Beas.

Hidimba Temple

Hidimba Temple is an ancient cave temple dedicated to Hidimba Devi, who was a character in the Indian epic, Mahabharata. The temple is surrounded by a cedar forest at the foot of the Him?layas. The sanctuary is built over a huge rock jutting out of the ground, which was worshiped as an image of the deity. The structure was built in the year 1553.

Maa Sharvari Temple

Maa Sharvari Temple is represented as KULDEVI of the kings of Kullu in early times and is worshipped as a manifestation of Durga maa, and image of the goddess is also enshrined here. The divinity is popularly worshipped throughout the region during the festivals and the Goddess is transported to Kullu to visit the Lord Raghunathji during Dussehra festival. This temple is on the top of above the Shaminallah village, which is around 5 Kms from Manali, accross the Beas river on the left bank on the way to Naggar Casttle

Gauri Shankar Temple

Gauri Shankar Temple at DASHAL village (700 mtrs. from Sarsai )on the main left bank Kullu Manali Highway. It is a 12th century protected monument. Also see lush green apple orchards, play with water stream out there.

 

Buddhist Monasteries to see in Manali

  • Monasteries: Manali is known for its shiny gompas or Buddhist monasteries. It is maintained by donations from the local community and by sale of hand-woven carpets in the temple workshop.
  • The Manali Gompa Manali Gompa was built in 1960. It is one of the most important places for Buddhists. Buddhists come to this place from Ladakh, Tibet, Spiti, Lahul and Kinnaur. Manali Gompa is world famous for a large statue of Buddha and for its wall paintings.
  • There are some interesting temples of Tibetan Buddhist lineages located between old and new Manali.