Top 10 Places in Manali to Visit in 2023

Manali, a historic town, lies in the lap of the Kullu Valley. Encircled by mountains at arm’s length, Manali’s major boon is its adjacency to the snowline. This lovely valley is distant from the heat and dust. There are magnificent and several places in Manali to visit. It is an ideal location for honeymooners, a fascinating destination for trekking, and is famous for its shiny Gompas.

About Manali, Himachal Pradesh

Manali is an important hill station in northern India and a popular tourist destination, attracting thousands of people each year. Manali derives its name from Manavalaya, a Sanskrit word, which means “Manu’s Abode” or “Manu’s Home“. According to tradition, Saint Manu stepped out of his boat in Manali to rebuild human existence after the great floods destroyed the globe.

Himachal Pradesh’s Manali features towering snow-capped mountains, steep boulder-strewn gorges, dense woods. Meadows of wildflowers, little beautiful hamlets, fruit-laden orchards, and the Beas river winding through it. Its mild climate makes it an excellent retreat for those who want an escape from India’s harsh summers.

The breathtaking scenery of Manali is perfect for hiking, skiing, trekking, paragliding, hand gliding, jeep safaris, and other adventure activities. Aside from sightseeing and adventure activities, visitors to Manali may also enjoy shopping. Woollen apparel such as shawls, pullovers, local tweed, hats, carpets called namdas, and silver jewellery are available from local artisans and are likely to captivate the tourist.

How to Reach Manali?

By Air: Manali doesn’t have its own airport. The nearest airport is Bhuntar which is 52 km south of the town.

By Train: The nearest narrow-gauge railhead is 135 km distant in Jogindernagar. The nearest broad-gauge railheads are in Chandigarh (310 km) and Ambala (330 km).

By Road: Manali has an extensive road network. Luxury buses run by Himachal tourism ply to Manali regularly.

Best Time to Visit Manali

Summer (March- June): The best time to visit Manali is from March to June. The air temperature will be 10-25 degrees Celsius. The weather of Manali remains cool and inviting with greenery, and that’s why Manali is popular among Indians. As stated, it’s a popular time so expect a crowd.

NOTE: Book your tickets as early as possible. And this is not the best time to save money and go for hotel deals, in fact, sometimes you will not even find a hotel.

And don’t forget to pack some warm clothes as the nights during summer are a bit more chill.

Monsoon (July-September): Not a time to travel in Manali, the chances of landslides are high. The place receives heavy and random rain showers. This season may ask you to cancel your plans anytime. But undoubtedly, the greenery of Manali enhances during the monsoon.

NOTE: Pack waterproof clothes, shoes and check the weather forecast if you are heading during the risky monsoon.

Winter (October-February): This is a good time to travel to Manali. But during the initial months expect the roadblocks. The air temperature remains below 0 degrees Celsius and the weather gets colder during the coming months. Town offers many adventure activities like trekking, skiing, etc during the winter.

NOTE: Pack enough warm clothes, extra clothes, and medicines for the safe side. Only go there if you want to enjoy the snow and other snow-related activities. As the best time for sightseeing is during summer.

Top 10 Places in Manali to Visit

India’s Manali is popular for its religious places like temples and gompas, breathtaking panorama, and adventure activities. The best places in Manali to visit mentioned in this travellingortraveling blog are Hadimba Devi Temple, Vashisht Baths, Jagatsukh, Arjun Gufa, Old Manali, Gadhan Thekchhokling Gompa, Himalayan Nyingamapa Gompa, Solang Nullah, Rohtang Pass, and Kothi.

#1 Hadimba Devi Temple

A four-story wooden building in the centre of the magnificent woodland park, known as Dhungri van vihar. The Dhungri or Hadimba temple, which was built in 1553, dedicates to the Goddess Hadimba. It features intricate wooden carvings of dancers and characters from various Hindu tales.

The walls are adorned with bull and other animal horns. . Every May, a significant festival is held at the temple, during which sacrifices are made in honour of Hadimba Devi.

#2 Vashisht Baths

A small village near Manali is famous for its scenic beauty. It is a little place, 3 km out of Manali but on foot, the distance is a bit shorter. There is a temple that dedicates to Lord Rama and Vashisth Muni in the hamlet. It has some hot water springs in the area that according to beliefs have therapeutic powers.

#3 Jagatsukh

Jagatsukh, among the biggest villages in the Kullu district, is the former capital of Kullu. The village is about 6 kilometres from Manali. Village is notable for its Shiva temple built in the “shikhara style“, as well as the historic and fascinating Devi Sharvati temple. The Arjun caves are only a short distance away.

#4 Arjun Gufa 

The ‘Arjun Gufa,’ or Arjuna’s cave, is on the left bank of the Beas, 5 km from Manali, near the town of Prini. Here, Arjuna performed austerities to get the Pashupata Ashtra, or weapon, from Lord Indra.

#5 Old Manali

The historic Manali region is around 3 kilometres from present-day Manali. The Manali region is full of ancient-looking guesthouses and orchards where cattle roam freely. The Manu Maharishi temple is nearby, where Manu meditated when he visited this region.

#6 Gadhan Thekchhokling Gompa

This Gompa towers above the little Tibetan hamlet in the town’s south. It is a relatively modern monastery, erected in the late 1960s, and it is also fairly lovely. It contains several colourful paintings and a medium-sized Buddhist figure.

A list of Tibetan martyrs murdered during the Chinese occupation of Tibet from 1987 to 1989 is displayed on the exterior wall. The gompa also serves as the hub of a minor carpet-making business.

#7 Himalayan Nyingamapa Gompa

Himalayan Nyingamapa Gompa, one of Manali’s most prominent Buddhist Gompas, was erected in a contemporary architectural style by Tibetan exiles. The Buddhist Gompa is in Manali’s Tibetan bazaar. The Nyingamapa Gompa, designed in the Pagoda style, is extremely appealing.

Although not as large as the other Buddhist monasteries in the area, the Himalayan Gompa, with its yellow-coloured head, attracts a lot of visitor attention. The gold statue of Lord Buddha, within the main shrine of the Himalayan Nyingamapa Gompa, is the most notable feature of the Gompa.

Aside from the magnificent Buddha statue, the monastery is known for its exquisite wall murals, which showcase exceptional Tibetan craftsmanship.

#8 Solang Nullah 

This location, 14 km northwest of Manali in the Solang Valley, has the greatest ski slopes in Himachal Pradesh. The Mountaineering and Allied Sports Institute maintains a 300m high ski lift. And the best and most popular month to ski is February.

The HPTDC offers a seven-day ski course package that includes lodging at the Hotel Rohtang Manaslu in Manali. The Mountaineering and Allied Sports Institute and the North Face Ski School also provide the same kind of courses.

#9 Rohtang Pass

The Rohtang Pass, at 4,112 meters, is the highest point on the Manali-Keylong route, 51 km from Manali. Throughout the year, the Rohtang Pass features large snow-covered glaciers. During the summer, it becomes one of the best places in Manali to visit. Mountain biking, hand-gliding, skiing, hiking, and jeep safaris are all available here.

The Nehru Kund (6 km) en route to Keylong is a pure water spring and picturesque place named after the late Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru. The magnificent Rahalla falls (16 km) are located at an elevation of 2500 m.

#10 Kothi

It is a beautiful little town, 12 km from Manali on the Keylong road at the foot of Rohtang Pass. There are beautiful views from Kothi, and the Beas River flows through a deep and narrow gorge in this area.

The well-placed Public Works Department (PWD) Resthouse is a popular all-night stay. Nearby the rest house is an awe-inspiring gorge where Beas enters a chasm about 61m deep and just a few meters broad.

To be honest, people usually travel to the Kullu district especially Manali for its weather, scenery, and adventure activities. And I don’t think you will miss any interesting and famous places after reading these top 10 places in Manali to visit. Wishing you a cool, happy, and safe journey 😉

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