If you are planning to escape the humdrum of dreary everyday life escape to a pleasantly mystic hill station amidst the snow-clad mountains and alluring environs, then Manali might just be the perfect option for you. The beautiful hill station nestled in the lap of Himachal Pradesh boasts of wonderful weather and has a lot to offer, making it a memorable experience in all seasons. Manali is situated at a height of 2,050 meters from sea level in the Beas River Valley. It offers a picturesque and delightful view of the neighbouring valleys and houses scores of scenic sights and temples, splashing rivers, water streams, and sky-high mountains.
The hill town is evergreen and the perfect place to unwind and celebrate your vacation amidst the beauty of nature and several attractions like hills, kunds, adventure parks, and waterfalls, all vying for your attention. While here, engage in some rip-roaring adventure activities during summers, play in the pristine snow with your loved ones in winters or take a leisurely stroll through the meandering mountain roads of the Mall Road and make some amazing memories to treasure forever! The best places to visit in Manali specifically bring to the fore the Solang Valley and Rohtang Pass, so ravishing and intriguing. Things to do in Manali are not solely restricted to sightseeing, trekking, water rafting or temple hopping. There are many other things to explore in Manali and you can keep stumbling on new attractions every day. Once you have visited Manali’s top attractions, there are also a few offbeat activities to do in Manali that reveal a less-touristy side of the city. Based on your interest and inclination, you can hit on a different approach to sightseeing by exploring the city’s most vibrant areas, seeing Manali’s vivid museums, enrolling for a special yoga session at the orange-roofed ashram for complete rejuvenation and peace or listening to the soothing music of the streaming waterfalls. Each of these unique things to do in Manali will help you discover a new aspect of this popular hill town. If you are adventurous, enthusiastic, and ready to explore Manali, the city is your playground.
The culture, history, and food in Manali are incredible and if you have not already tried it, be sure to have a bite of the tangy local delights such as the flavorsome Mittha, nutty red rice, and Channa Madra. Manali is frequented by travelers for sightseeing and corporate meets. Below is a list of top 9things to do in Manali for you to relish the perfect experience in this hilltop destination. Make sure you indulge in most if not all of the fun activities in and around Manali on your next trip here.
The Himalayan countryside is very scenic. On your trip to Manali, do visit some villages like Malana, Kothi, and Vashisht. Malana is also known as one of the beautiful villages in India and the rustic place is worth exploring once! Gulaba is also one of the secret sites of Manali, unperturbed by commercialization and surrounded by snow-covered mountain peaks, lush grassland, and the flowing Beas River. Kothi is also one of the awe-inspiring destinations near Manali that is perched beautifully at the foothills of Rohtang Pass, approximately 12 kilometres from Manali. This picturesque village offers a magnificent view of the snow-capped mountains and glaciers in the backdrop of the Beas River flowing through a very deep and narrow gorge at this point. Also, Kothi is an idyllic place to spend a night camping and makes for a good halt if you are planning to climb the Rohtang Pass Valley on foot while enjoying the beauty of nature.
Location: Manali
If you are going to Manali, you should not miss this tourist destination as nothing is better than a refreshing hot water bath at one of the religious centers in Manali, Manikaran. The sulphur water bath here is quite popularly known in the place and has various religious beliefs attached to it, which tell different stories about the emergence of these hot springs. Manikaran Gurdwara is a famous pilgrimage site, especially for Sikhs and Hindus and people believe that the waters of Manikaran have healing properties and is capable of curing problems like muscle pain and rheumatism. As per legends, the holy site was built by Shri Guru Nanak Devji and his disciple Bhai Mardana. Visit the tranquil Gurudwara and pay homage to Guru Granth Sahib along with countless other devotees. On a visit to this, don’t forget to take a bite of the sacred langar and take a dip in the hot water springs famed for their healing properties.
Location: Manikaran, Manali
One of the prime tourist places in Manali for visitors and pilgrims is this historic temple situated around 1.5 kilometres from the Mall Road. The four-storey wooden temple was constructed by Raja Bahadur Singh in the year 1553 and is beautifully placed in the middle of thick coniferous forest, Van Vihar. The pagoda style building is dedicated to Goddess Hadimba, wife of Bheema from Mahabharata, and is deeply revered by locals. Visit the temple for its peaceful setting and to appreciate its historical and archaeological significance.
Location: Hadimba Temple Road, Old Manali
Manali offers exciting rendezvous for snow lovers and skiing provides the perfect opportunity to enjoy the thrill of winter sports here. Enjoy the splendid alpine views while gliding down the snow-covered slopes on your ski. Come winters, the fantastic slopes of the Solang Valley offer some great exciting opportunities for skiing and other adventure sports such as parachuting and paragliding. The snow-covered slopes evaporate during the summer, resulting in the ideal ground for zorbing or globe-riding, where visitors can be tossed down the hill, inside an unbreakable, bouncy ball.
Getting tossed in a giant transparent ball down a slope is one of the popular activities to do in the hill station.
Location: Solang Valley, Manali
Rohtang Pass, also known as the Snow Point of Manali draws a large number of people from across the country to engage in some rip-roaring adventure sports during summers. During the winter, the mountains of the Rohtang Pass are completely covered in snow and it remains closed for public from October until May. One of the adventure hubs in Manali, the mountain pass is situated at an altitude of 3,979 metres above sea level and at a distance of 51 kilometres from Manali. The beautiful valley is a gateway to neighbouring valleys of Lahaul Spiti, Pangi, and Leh. Tourists can enjoy several thrilling activities like snow scooter, skiing, paragliding, mountain biking or ATV here along with the beautiful views of glaciers, peaks, and snow. You can also enjoy camping in this landscape and indulge in the natural grandeur of the place.
Location: Rohtang Pass, Manali
The Manali Wildlife Sanctuary is located at a distance of 2 kilometres from the city centre and is a natural paradise bestowed with lush greenery, snow-covered mountains, and a variety of flora and fauna. Spread over a huge land of 7,413 acres, it provides a unique opportunity to experience the sights and sounds of beautiful, colourful birds and exotic animal species. The exquisite greenery and the presence of wild mountain animals at this amazing sanctuary make it one of the favourite things to explore in Manali. Dating back to the year 1954, the place houses many animals like the musk deer, Himalayan black bear, flying fox, stripped hyena and barking deer, among others. One can also spot rare and endangered animals like leopards, brown bears, and goral. The dense forest of this Manali Wildlife Sanctuary is covered with rich vegetation and trees like Deodar, Horse Chestnut, Kail, Maple, and Walnut.
Location: Manali
Khajjiar, also known as the ‘Mini Switzerland of India’, is a true paradise for nature lovers and adventure junkies. The fresh air, in the lap of nature, is beyond amazing and it’s also an area known for its adventure activities like zorbing and paragliding, where you can experience rolling down the hill in a huge unbreakable and transparent ball that will make your world go round and the hilly green slopes of Khajjiar are the perfect place to indulge in this thrilling activity. Don’t worry if you are a bit scared, the guides will take care of you and you can even zorb with a friend or loved one. While there are great zorbing options available in Manali, Khajjar offers the best experience. Usually, the best months for doing zorbing here are from January to May and October to December.
Soaring the skies on a glider is among the fun activities to do in Manali. The thrill of enjoying a flight like a bird promises to awaken the true adventure enthusiast in you while you witness the breathtaking view of the Dhauladhar Mountain Range and the meandering Beas River. The flying time varies according to the winds.
Location: Khajjar, Manali
Manali is a broad, open valley, formed by the River Beas and white water rafting in the icy cold water of the river is totally a rip-roaring experience. The River Beas is at its strongest here and the valley is famous for its 14 kilometres stretch of white water right down to Jhiri, making it perfect for rafting on its wide currents. There are many private operators and adventure sports companies, which offer river rafting packages in Manali. For those who crave for fun water sports, river rafting is the activity to pursue and doing it in Manali just makes it even better. Gear up for the thrill of surviving the swift waters on a raft and let this experience be among the favourite adventurous activities of your holiday in Manali.
River Beas, which is known among the best stretches for rafting in India, provides short stretches for beginner’s level as well as challenging ones for people pro at adventure. April to June is considered to be the most favourable months to engage in all the river rafting activities. The rafting activity is done with a trained guide for safety purposes and you are guaranteed a thrilling experience.
Location: Manali
You cannot afford to miss a visit to Solang Valley when visiting Manali. To experience the delights of the valley, try riding a yak, which is a top rated activities to do in the Solang Valley and a great way to explore the area and click some amazing photos. The route through the Solang Valley is full of great places to stop and so many people enjoy taking this journey riding on the back of a yak.
Location: Solang Valley, Manali
Now that you know about the best things to do in Manali, what are you waiting for? The hill station of Manali remains an ideal getaway for all those seeking respite from the scorching heat and overcrowded city life and continues to enthral its visitors with open hands round the year. In totality, the time of September to March is the best time to visit Manali and take in all of these activities. Head back home after your trip with some amazing memories to cherish forever in your travel diary!
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