COTTAGES IN MANALI
Earth, upon which this moving, breathing life exists;
May she bestow on us the finest of her harvests! -Artha veda
Feel the pulse of nature with your visit to Himachal Pradesh, a beautiful place blessed with scenic beauties and unsurpassable landscapes. This region treasures a large number of hill stations that experience a heavy influx of visitors all the year round. Manali is one among the famous hill stations in Himachal Pradesh, India. Located at an altitude of 1,950m in the Beas River valley, it is administratively a part of the Kullu district. Currently it bears a population of 30,000 approximately and treasures Indian culture and heritage. It is regarded as the home of Seven Sages or Saptarshi. This small town initiated the ancient trade route to Ladakh over the Karakarom pass towards Khotan and Yarkand in the Tarim Basis.
Known as the "Valley of the Gods, the name ‘Manali’ originates from ‘Manu’, the Brahmin lawgiver in ancient legend. The word literally means “the abode of Manu”. It is believed that sage Manu stepped off his ark in Manali with the sole motive of recreating human life after a great devastating flood had engulfed the world. In fact an ancient temple dedicated to sage Manu is situated in the Old Manali village.
Manali is believed to have been sparsely inhabited by ‘rakshas’ or nomadic hunters in ancient times. Gradually with the arrival of Kangra valley shepherds agriculture started in this region. 'Naur' or 'nar', a caste unique to the Kullu valley is regarded as one of the earliest inhabitants of Manali. Apple trees and trout remained indifferent to Manali flora and fauna until the British introduced them. At present, plum, pear and apple are the best source of income for most of its inhabitants. Initially Manali was a quiet village that got transformed into a crowded and bustling town with the introduction of tourism in the region. It was only after the rise of militancy in Kashmir in the late 1980s that tourism in Manali gained a boost and led towards the erection of many hotels and restaurants.
Manali is well connected by road to Delhi by the world's highest motorable road NH-21 and NH-1 that goes on to Leh. Various towns that lead to Manali from New Delhi include Ropar in Punjab, Ambala and Panipat in Haryana, Chandigarh (Union Territory), and Sundernagar, Bilaspur and Mandi in Himachal. Not easily approachable by rail, Manali is connected with nearest broad gauge railheads that are at Pathankot (325 km (202 mi), Kalka (310 km (190 mi) and Chandigarh (315 km (196 mi). Joginder Nagar (135 kilometres (84 mi) has the nearest narrow gauge railhead. The airport nearest to Manali is at Bhuntar offering best flight services on daily non stop basis. Kingfisher Red, Air India, MDLR Airlines etc. are some of flights available here that connects Manali to other parts of the country.
Visit to Manali will let you feel the ecstasy of nature away from the humdrumness of busy city life. Manali experiences cold winters and pleasant summers. Temperature here ranges from 4 °C (39 °F) to 30 °C (86 °F) all the year round. In summers the average temperature remains in between 14 °C (57 °F) and 20 °C (68 °F), whereas in winters it drops down and remains in between −7 °C (19.4 °F) and 10 °C (50 °F). Snowfall in Manali takes place in January or early February.
Stand still and consider the wondrous works of God. - Job 37:14
Manali is a preferred holiday and weekend destination in the Himalayan region. Lots of tourists flock to this place to enjoy cool and salubrious climate. This place is liked by adventure freak travellers and nature lovers. Various adventure sports such as trekking, kayaking, skiing, hiking, mountaineering, paragliding, rafting and mountain biking, etc takes place every year. In fact, Manali is also famous for its Yak Skiing and has been featured for its "Extreme Yak Sports" in Time magazine's "Best of Asia"
Honeymooners opt to spend cosy moments in Manali amidst laps of nature. Around 550 couples visit Manali daily during May, June, December and January months. This place has hot springs, religious shrines and Tibetan Buddhist temples including Gadhan Thekchhokling Gompa, built in 1969. Modern Himalayan Nyingamapa Gompa that stands nearer the bazaar is worth visiting as it has a beautiful garden blooming with sunflowers. Various monasteries in this region are an abode of a large number of Tibetan refugees in the entire Kullu valley.
Some of the preferred tourist spots and places of interest in and around Manali includes:
Rahla waterfalls- The breath-taking Rahla Falls are perched at an altitude of 2,501 m (8,205 ft). These waterfalls are located at the start of the climb to the Rohtang Pass and are approximately 27 km (17 mi) from Manali.
Solang valley- The Solang Valley is located at a distance of 13 km northwest of Manali. This place is one of the favourite tourist spots around Manali and is popularly known as Snow Point.
Manikaran- Known for its hot spring near the river Parvati, Manikaran is located on the way to Manali about 45 km. from Kullu
Rohtang- The Rohtang Pass is one of the most famous snow point that remains closed during winters due to snow. It is located about 40 km from Manali and remains one of the best places of attractions in the valley.
Naggar Fort– Located in the southern parts of Manali this place reminds of the Pala Empire. An ensemble of the stupendous artwork of Himachal, this fort is made from elaborate wood carvings, rocks and stones and has been converted to a hotel operating under Himachal tourism.
Hidimba Devi Temple- Well known for its exquisite wooden carvings and four-store pagoda, this temple was erected in 1553. The temple is believed to have been dedicated to the local deity Hadimba, wife of Bhim, the Pandava prince.
Manali offers memorable holiday experience. Cottages in Manali are best in comfort and luxury. These are widely preferred for unique hospitality and family stay. Manali hotels & resorts are nestled in the lap of nature with snow-capped peaks and apple orchards in the backdrop. Located in pollution free and “away from the crowd” areas of Manali, these cottages have excellent interiors and reasonably priced tariffs. Available with self cooking facilities, adventure and thrilling activities, these cottages offer personalised services. There are multiple accommodation options available within the cottages – studio, single, double and even 4 double bedroom cottages for large families are available.
Plan an exciting vacation or weekend and embark in this exotic destination with lots of luxurious hotels that promise warm welcome to their visitors all around the year. The tranquil environment and unique hospitality is sure to make one’s trip to this region a memorable one.
