Manali

If Himachal were the queen of all hill stations, Manali would undoubtedly have been its tiara. At the far northern end of the Kullu Valley lies this poetic tourist town called Manali. Crowned atop the scenic mountains of Himachal Pradesh, Manali is comfortably nestled at a height of well above 2000 metres, and is one of the choicest holiday destinations in North India. 

As you levitate yourself to the holistic highs of Himachal via the mystic serpentine roads, the uphill drive seems like an indulgent experience in itself. Though approaching Manali may seem like a bit of an anti-climax after the scenic drive up, the surrounding area of Old Manali is bound to leave you astounded by its sheer natural beauty. Scenic hills dressed in lush green attire, spellbinding valleys scented with the smell of pines and the trout-filled Beas River gurgling down the mountains; all of them complement each other in the perfect manner to create the magical realm of Manali.

By Air: Bhuntar, which is located 50 km from Manali is the closest airport to Manali. The Bhuntar airport is well connected by flights to Delhi. There are tasi services available between Bhuntar and Manali.
By Train: One of the most convenient and faster ways to reach Manali is to avail the broad gauge trains. Trains to Manali take you to the nearest station broad gauge railway stations of Kalka, Chandigarh and Pathankot. Some of the trains that run from these stations are:
Kalka Howrah Mail connecting Kalka and Howrah
Shatabadi Express Kalka to New Delhi
Shatabadi Express Chandigarh to New Delhi
One can reach Manali from these stations reached by road.
By Road: Traveling to Manali by road is one of the easiest ways to reach the beautiful destination. You can plan your trip accordingly by going through the list which provides information on the distance of Manali from major Indian cities. 

Salong Valley : Solang Valley, popular as a picnic spot, has a 300 metre high ski lift, which is well known amongst skiers. Known as Snow Point, it is located between Beas Kund and Solang Village. At the valley, tourists can enjoy varied activities like horse riding, paragliding, skiing and zorbing. An annual winter skiing festival is held every year. On the top of the hill, a shrine of Lord Shiva is located.
Hadimba Devi Temple : The Hadimba Temple is an ancient cave temple dedicated to Hadimba Devi, sister of Hadimb, who was a character in the Mahabharata. Goddess Hadimba was the sister of the demon Hadimb who ruled the mountains and was feared by all.
The Castle : The Castle was built around 1460 AD, by Rajah Sidh Singh of Kullu. The mediaeval structure is located in Naggar, which is a part of the Manali region. An architectural blend of western and Himalayan style is displayed by the castle.
River Beas : The Beas River, also known as Vipasha in Sanskrit, flows in Himachal Pradesh and Punjab. From its originating point (4361 m) in the Himalayas, this holy river passes through lush evergreen forests and hills before reaching Punjab. Here, it embraces the Satluj River and finally enters the territory of Pakistan, covering a total length of around 470 km. The river is the main drinking water source of the population living in Kullu, Mandi and Kangra regions.
Old Manali : Old Manali is famous for its orchards and old guesthouses. At a distance of 3 km from the main town, the ruined fort of Manaligarh is located. In this region, tourists can also find the Manu Maharishi Temple, dedicated to sage Manu.
Van Vihar National Park : Van Vihar National Park is one of the most frequented attractions in Manali. Located favourably on the Mall Road, this park is populated with many deodar trees that provide shade to the whole area.
Nicholas Roerich Art Gallery : The Nicholas Roerich Art Gallery is located at a distance of 2 km from Manali, in Naggar. In the museum is housed a private collection of paintings of the Russian painter Nicholas Roerich.The artist’s private rooms have been preserved in the upper floor of the museum. Paintings of Kullu, Spiti and Lahaul made by the painter have been housed in the ground floor of the gallery.
The Great Himalayan National Park : The Great Himalayan National Park harbours one of the few known viable population of Western Tragopan, along with more than 300 species of birds and over 30 species of mammals.
Rohtang Pass : Rohtang Pass is a very beautiful and popular spot in Manali with more than 25 lakh visitors every year. In winter, the mountains at the Rohtang Pass are completely covered in snow and it is impossible to get there. Hence, the pass remains closed during winters (from October) and generally opens again in May. 
Rozy Falls : A visit to Rozy Falls gives one the opportunity to spend moments of repose in Mother Nature's lap. The forested mountains and vast green valleys encircling the waterfall form a truly sensational backdrop.

 Mall Road : The Mall Road is the throbbing nerve street of Manali, and is lined with plenty of hotels, eateries and shopping opportunities. That explains the top three things you can do around here - sleep, eat and shop. Buzzing with activity throughout the day, especially during the peak summer season, this is the perfect place to begin exploring Manali, as your hotel is most likely to be around the corner. Ranging from trinkets like key chains and keepsakes to the extortionately priced pashmina shawls, the Mall Road in Manali is the answer to all your shopping needs. 
 Bhuttico : Bhuttico is a cooperative shop in Manali that was established in 1944 by a group of village women. Known for shawls of different variety, Bhuttico charges fixed price and is a good place to gauge price and quality. 
 Manu Market : Manu Market is a quaint marketplace, located next to the Main Street in New Manali. It is an Indian-style market with narrow lanes lined with shops, a good number of restaurants serving delectable cuisine and few economy lodging options. From clothes to footwear, food, electrical appliances, cooking utensils, Tibetan jewellery and all sorts of knick-knacks, there are seemingly endless items on sale in this market. 

Famous Himachal Food : The state, Himachal Pradesh, is famous local dish is Sidu. It is a kind of bread made of wheat flour molded along with yeast and the dough, followed to rise for 4 to 5 hours. Famous Sidu is a kind of bread made from wheat. Wheat flour is kneaded with yeast; dough is made to rise for about 4-5 hours. Later it is stuffed with fat, roasted over slow fire and finally steamed for few minutes. 
 Food for summers in Himachal Pradesh : Is another food that Himachalis love to have in summers? It is a easily digestible fermented food made from wheat in Kangra, Bilaspur, Mandi Hamirpur, and Kullu districts of Himachal Pradesh, India. 
 Food for winters in Himachal Pradesh : What the Himachalies love is the sizzling Luchi-Poti or Lamb Intestines in the winter season. It is one of their favourite dishes. ‘Pahari Madra’ is another delicious recipe from the state. It is made of Rajmah or Kabuli Chana or Raungini with pure desi ghee. Makki or Lentils and spices with Chhachh or buttermilk are eaten by hardy mountain folk.
 Food for Special occasions in Himachal Pradesh : Dham is a traditional meal of the state generally prepared on festivals. It is cooked by 'botis'. Botis are a sect in Brahmins who are chefs from generations. The preparation starts from the earlier night. The meal is generally served in leaf plates.

Salong Valley : Solang Valley, popular as a picnic spot, has a 300 metre high ski lift, which is well known amongst skiers. Known as Snow Point, it is located between Beas Kund and Solang Village. At the valley, tourists can enjoy varied activities like horse riding, paragliding, skiing and zorbing. An annual winter skiing festival is held every year. On the top of the hill, a shrine of Lord Shiva is located.
Hadimba Devi Temple : The Hadimba Temple is an ancient cave temple dedicated to Hadimba Devi, sister of Hadimb, who was a character in the Mahabharata. Goddess Hadimba was the sister of the demon Hadimb who ruled the mountains and was feared by all.
The Castle : The Castle was built around 1460 AD, by Rajah Sidh Singh of Kullu. The mediaeval structure is located in Naggar, which is a part of the Manali region. An architectural blend of western and Himalayan style is displayed by the castle.
River Beas : The Beas River, also known as Vipasha in Sanskrit, flows in Himachal Pradesh and Punjab. From its originating point (4361 m) in the Himalayas, this holy river passes through lush evergreen forests and hills before reaching Punjab. Here, it embraces the Satluj River and finally enters the territory of Pakistan, covering a total length of around 470 km. The river is the main drinking water source of the population living in Kullu, Mandi and Kangra regions.
Old Manali : Old Manali is famous for its orchards and old guesthouses. At a distance of 3 km from the main town, the ruined fort of Manaligarh is located. In this region, tourists can also find the Manu Maharishi Temple, dedicated to sage Manu.
Van Vihar National Park : Van Vihar National Park is one of the most frequented attractions in Manali. Located favourably on the Mall Road, this park is populated with many deodar trees that provide shade to the whole area.
Nicholas Roerich Art Gallery : The Nicholas Roerich Art Gallery is located at a distance of 2 km from Manali, in Naggar. In the museum is housed a private collection of paintings of the Russian painter Nicholas Roerich.The artist’s private rooms have been preserved in the upper floor of the museum. Paintings of Kullu, Spiti and Lahaul made by the painter have been housed in the ground floor of the gallery.
The Great Himalayan National Park : The Great Himalayan National Park harbours one of the few known viable population of Western Tragopan, along with more than 300 species of birds and over 30 species of mammals.
Rohtang Pass : Rohtang Pass is a very beautiful and popular spot in Manali with more than 25 lakh visitors every year. In winter, the mountains at the Rohtang Pass are completely covered in snow and it is impossible to get there. Hence, the pass remains closed during winters (from October) and generally opens again in May. 
Rozy Falls : A visit to Rozy Falls gives one the opportunity to spend moments of repose in Mother Nature's lap. The forested mountains and vast green valleys encircling the waterfall form a truly sensational backdrop.