For all those who wish to escape to the enchanting Himalayas in the summers, Manali can be the obvious choice. Just a mere mention of this unpredictable beautiful place rings happy memories in mind and the fresh air of Manali refreshes the mind and body of all the tourists and visitors.
Manali is located in the Beas river valley, and is quite close to the Kullu valley. Both Kullu and Manali are small towns of tranquil natural beauty and sparse population. Over the years, Manali has emerged as a significant hill-station for enthusiastic travelers. It is a sacred place and is even known as the “Valley of Gods.” Beautiful gardens, apple orchards, gardens of pears abound throughout Manali. The National Highway-21 connects Manali with Delhi. Bhuntar is the nearest airport. Manali attracts a lot of travelers and trekkers throughout the year. For the sports enthusiasts, this place offers a wide array of activities like skiing, hiking, river rafting, para gliding, and mountain biking. For me, the best feature of Manali is its cool climate and the fascinating Beas. The river Beas or Bipasha, runs throughout and is breathtaking in its beauty and grandeur!
The stay at Manali gives an unforgettable experience, it’s a amalgamation of all the elements loved by an environment lover creature like its scented fresh mountain air, Quiet and serene pathways pure and beautiful people. Many temples and religious places have an individual importance, the Hidimba Devi temple being the most important. It is a very famous and ancient cave temple. Other notable tourist attractions in and around Manali are, Naggar Fort, Buddhist Monasteries and the Gumphas, Himachal Cultural Museum, Nehru Kund, Manu Temple, Rohtang Pass, Kothi, Solang Valley, Vashisth, Arjun Gumpha, Rahalla Falls, Jagatsukh, etc.
Chail with its carpet of lush green meadows, is also famous for the world's highest cricket ground. And, while from one side of Chail you can see the twinkling lights of Shimla, Solan from the other side you get a view of the highest peak in this region of the Himalayas, Choor Chandni, which literally means 'the mountain of the silver bangle'.
The Rohtang Pass is a must visit for any mountain lover. You will feel incredibly cold even on a hot summer day. Here you can take the opportunity of trekking and skiing and get a spectacular view of the surroundings. Rohtang Pass is considered as the gateway to Lahaul and Spiti. This pass is open to travelers from June to November. There is a small lake nearby called Dassaur Lake. The Vashisth hot water springs also attracts considerable tourists every year. If you are staying in Manali for few days, a quick visit to Manikaran would be an added advantage. Located 85 kilometers from Manali, this spot has some great known for their healing properties.
In Chail Sancturay Barking deer and Kalijin in the forests are sure to meet and greet the visitors at dusk and dawn. The Deodar and Oak forests with grasslands around the township are, the abode of wildlife. One can see Sam bar, Goral and Cheer Pheasants at Blossom and Jhaja. Trekking from Chail to Gaura and Jhaja is common and rewarding as one is sure. to see wildlife and beautiful snowy peaks.
