Dec 06, 2016 04:24 PM
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Situated at a height of 6260 feet above sea level, Manali is one of the most popular, beautiful and awe-inspiring hill stations in this country.
Surrounded by majestic hills and woody forests, the quaint charm of Manali has captured the world's attention and has become one of the most visited tourist destinations in India. The pristine River Beas flows right through the town, creating a mesmerizing and spellbinding landscape. Nestled at one end of the Kullu Valley, Manali is a popular hill station with attractions such as the Rohtang Pass and Solang Valley nearby. Rohtang Pass is covered with snow throughout the year and is a good experience in itself. During this season, Solang Valley comes alive as it is the prime spot to enjoy snow and snow-based activities. This is the ideal place for tourists looking to unwind and rejuvenate in the lap of nature, for there is no place in the country more vibrant and charming as Manali. This town also has a multitude of options for tourists looking for adventurous activities like trekking, paragliding, skiing, zorbing, white water rafting etc. Besides adventurous activities, Manali also has a lot of temples which all tourists and devotees love to visit including the Raghunath temple and Jagannathi Devith Temple being one of the important ones. Hadimba Temple, a 14th century temple is famous for its wooden architecture and for its religious values. Manali is also used as the base town for the Manali-Leh highway and Leh is around 479 km from here. Lahaul and Spiti district can also be accessed from here during the summers using the same highway.
How to reach Manali:-
The nearest railway station from Manali is in Joginder Nagar which is 50 kms away. But this is a narrow guage railway station and hence is not connected to all the major cities in the country. The broad guage railway stations nearest to Manali are in Chandigarh(310 kms) and Ambala(300 kms). The nearest airport is in Bhuntar, which is also 50 kms away. Buses and taxis are easily available from these places and other parts of North India to Manali. Manali can also be reached from Leh by the Leh-Manali route, though it is open for only 4 or 5 months in an year during summers when the snow is removed by the Border Road Organization of India. Still, this road is very picturesque and is one of the most beautiful ways to reach Manali.
Local Food and Cuisine of Manali:-
Manali is a hill station glittering with amazing restaurants, cafes and bars, that an take care of any need, desires or cravings that its visitors may have. You will find countless restaurants with a rich variety and some of the most delicious food on their menus. You can find Italian, Chinese, Korean, Continental, Indian, Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese cuisines here along with the popular Tibetan Momos
The cafes with a parallel culture of their own, cater to younger crowds. These cafes serve pizzas, momos, banana pancakes and apple pies throughout the day and you can also try Yak's cheese here. Along with these do relish the street food there with Samosas, Aloo tikki, Bread Pakoras, Paav Bhaji, Gulab Jamun and more filling the streets with colors and fragrances. Other than these, the city has an equally rich platter of local Himachal food.
Places to Stay in Manali:-
Again owing to its high popularity, tourists coming to Manali are spoilt for choice. There is a wide range of hotels here from budget to luxury resorts for those who wish to splurge. Homestays are also available here.
Commuting Within Manali:-
Taxis are easily available to cover the town. Walking is a therapeutic option.
Best Time to Visit Manali:-
The summers in Manali are from March to June and are extremely pleasant with the temperatures ranging from 10 to 25 degrees. The winters are chilly with minimum temperature falling to sub zero levels. This is the ideal time for tourists to enjoy snowfall in Manali. However, if you are planning to visit Rohtang Pass, you should not plan your trip from January to April as the roads to the pass are closed.
Ideal duration: 2-4 days
