Best Places to Visit in Manali, Himachal Pradesh

Manali: An escape to life!

Mention Manali and the next thing your mind pictures are the adventures the resort town offers. Manali is a must-visit destination for anyone seeking a unique and unforgettable travel experience. With its stunning natural beauty, thrilling adventures, rich culture, and warm hospitality, this charming hill station is sure to captivate your heart and leave you with lasting memories. Nestled in the Beas River Valley and is surrounded by snow-capped peaks, lush green forests, and gurgling streams. It is an ideal destination for nature lovers, adventure enthusiasts, and anyone seeking a break from the hustle and bustle of city life. The town is also known for its vibrant culture and traditions, which are reflected in its colourful festivals and events. In addition to its natural beauty and adventure activities, Manali is also known for its delicious food and warm hospitality. The town has a vibrant culinary scene that offers a range of local and international cuisines, including traditional Himachali dishes, Tibetan food, and popular street food.

The hill town in Himachal Pradesh is undoubtedly one of the most visited tourist destinations in India, but let’s travel it the right way!

Hadimba Temple

Also known as Dhungri Temple, the Hadimba Temple brings the epic, Mahabharata to life. Dedicated to Hidimba Devi, one of the wives of the Pandava Prince Bhima, the temple is nestled among tall deodar trees.

The temple is built in pagoda style and its sanctum is a cave shrine believed to house the actual footprints of the deity. The temple without any doubt is one of the best places to visit in Manali with the snow-clad Himalayas in the backdrop.

Solang Valley

An open valley of meadows, cobalt blue skies and spectacular vistas is the most popular tourist attraction in Manali. Solang Valley is a great melange of nature surrounded by the heavenly ranges of Himalayas.

The valley bustles with tourists all year round. During summers, tourists enjoy adventure activities such as paragliding, zorbing, camping, rock climbing and gondola ride among others while in winters, the valley turns into a snow territory with exciting snow sports such as skiing and snowboarding.

Various state and national level ski-championships are also organised in the valley every year.

Rohtang Pass

On a winding mountain road, located on the Pir Panjal Range is the most touted tourist attraction of Manali, Rohtang Pass. A personal favourite of all nature lovers, artists and photographers the pass offers access to Lahaul and Spiti in summers.

Due to immense snowfall, the pass remains closed during winters from the month-end of November. Tourists can also enjoy thrilling adventures like skiing, paragliding and trekking here.

To protect the delicate beauty of the pass, alpine ecosystem and small creeks, the Government has restricted overcrowding of the destination by enforcing regulated access of tourists. While in Manali, you cannot afford to miss out on this tourist attraction at all!

Old Manali

Old Manali is a land of the by-gone era when Manali used to be a quiet pilgrimage town before the travelers found it. The town offers quiet local settlements with old mountain houses surrounded by apple orchards with snow-clad mountains in the backdrop, an ideal setting for a dream summer holiday.

You can also find rustic temples, river-side cafes and small trekking trails to enjoy Manali as you should. The local markets sell hand-made products as souvenirs and life slows down in this part of the hill town only to let you breath and relax in the bliss of nature, i.e., Old Manali.

Manali Gompa

If you are searching for a place to fill you with spiritual bliss, Manali Gompa is where you need to be. Also known as the Gadhan Thekchhokling Gompa, this Buddhist monastery was built by the Tibetan refugees in 1960.

The exquisite architecture with the pagoda-style yellow roof and magnificent murals depicting the ethics of Buddhism make this Buddhist temple a top tourist attraction in Manali.

Travelers visit Manali Gompa to put their lives on a stand still and take in all the beauty and spirituality offered by the complex. The stalls in the premises sell unique Tibetan handicrafts and rugs as souvenirs.