Manali – Valley of the Gods
Standing at 1,950 m in Himachal Pradesh, in the Beas river valley, Manali lies on an ancient trade route to Ladakh. Fruit orchards; rich meadows of beautiful flowers; snow-laden peaks in the distance; dotted with temples and monasteries; Manali is known as the ‘Valley of the Gods’. It got its name from Manu, considered to be the creator of human beings, and has a temple dedicated to him.
Temperatures here can go as high as 25oC in summers and dip to sub-zero, around –7oC in winters. Light woollens during summer months and heavy woollens during winters are a must. The rainy season, July-September, is known for its treacherous landslides.
Manali is a trekker’s delight. One can trek to the originating place of the Saini river and the Tirthan river, and camp in the alpine pastures for an unforgettable holiday. The National Park contains untouched coniferous forests, vicinity to glaciers, and is home to many Himalayan wildlife species.
Those who persevere by camping at Lambadug or Gallant Thatch are rewarded by sightings of musk deer, monal and brown bear digging and pug marks of the snow leopard.The hot natural sulphur springs at Vashisht and the green fields and colourful meadows of Kothi are rejuvenating. The Solang Valley offers spectacular views of snow-capped mountains and glaciers, while the Rohtang Pass, 51 km away, connecting Manali to Lahaul-Spiti and Leh, is famous for the panoramic vision of the Himalayas.
