Manali
About the city
The Kullu valley has an ancient town in its lap called Manali. Surrounded by towering peaks at an arm length, Manali's major asset is its proximity to the snowline. It is flourishing orchard industry, a popular honeymoon destination and trailhead for numerous treks as well as a great countryside ideal for adventure sport lovers. Manali literally means the ‘Home of Manu'. Manu is the mythological character who is supposed to have survived when the world was drowned in Flood. He then came to Manali and recreated human life. Thus, the area of Manali is sacred and Hindus treat the temples over here as pilgrimage.India Travel Destinations provides a window of opportunity through which tourists and interested travelers can go ahead and explore the natural beauty of Manali, the prominent Hill Station in India. Tours to Manali in Himachal Pradesh opens up new vistas of nature seeking before us with all its resplendent glory. Manali is a charming and ebullient Hill Station in India capping the hills in Himalayas in Himachal Pradesh.
Demography
Manali has a population of about 6200. Males constitute 64% of the population and females around 36%. Manali has an average literacy rate of 74%, higher than the national average of 59.5%. The male literacy is about 80%, and the female literacy is around 63%. In Manali, 95 of the population is under 6 years of age.History
Manali derived its name from ‘Manavalaya', meaning the abode of Manu or the “Hlome of Manu”. According to the Hindu mythology, Manali was the home of the lawgiver, Manu. Legend has it that when a flood deluged the earth, Manu and gods were towed to dry ground by a giant fish, which was the seventh avatar of the Lord Vishnu. The area where Manu eventually found refuge was Manali. Whether that's actually how it happened or not, Manali remained a fairly quiet place, more or less unknown to the outside world, till recently, during the 20th century, the British started to frequent the town-its climate and natural beauty. Manali gradually began to acquire the reputation of a tourist destination. This reputation got a bit tarnished during the 1970s and 80s, however, mainly because of the discovery that marijuana grown around the town was particularly good.Vaivastava, the seventh incarnation of Manu found a floating fish in his bathing water, which he nurtured till it grew into a mammoth fish big enough for sea. Then, the story goes that the saint and Manu went on making a big vessel as the fish warned them of a gigantic deluge, which was soon to take over mankind. The place where this all saving and securing vessel was built is known to all of us as, "Manali. "Currently, it is this life saving height of the mythical age of Saints, Asuaras and Gods, which provides succour and relief to the people in search of calm and quietitude amidst nature's solitude.
Situated at the northern end of the kullu valley, Manali has spectacular views of snowcapped peaks and wooded slopes. Manali literally means the 'Home of Manu'. Manu is the mythological character who is supposed to have survived when the world was drowned in Flood. He then came to Manali and recreated human life. Thus, the area of Manali is sacred and Hindus treat the temples over here as pilgrimage.
Surrounded by towering peaks at an arm length, Manali's major asset is its proximity to the snowline. It is a flourishing orchard industry, a popular honeymoon destination and trailhead for numerous treks as well as a great countryside ideal for adventure sport lovers.
Manali, with its mountaineering institute, is a popular base for trekking and mountaineering in summer and skiing in winter. Interesting routes into the surrounding valleys, over the high passes, are provided with tourist huts and rest houses for trekkign enthusiasts.
Adventure Sports in Manali
Manali Mountaineering Institute
The Mountaineering Institute located at Manali provides training facilities for basic and advance climbing both for Indian nationals and foreigners. This institute also conducts other adventurous sports activities like high altitude trekking, minor mountaineering, rock-climbing, skiing, and high altitude rescue and relief courses. The institute has sufficient lodging and boarding arrangements and equipment can be hired for trekking purposes.Skiing in Manali
Near Manali there are some slopes, which have been rated the best for skiing in the world. The Solang Nullah, Patalsu, Kothi, Marhi and Rohtang slopes are very good for skiing in the winters as well as in summers. In fact Patalsu and Rohtang slopes are the only places where one can do summer skiing. The slopes are being further developed to accommodate more trainees and tourists.The national level skiing competition is held on the slopes of Solang Nullah and the winter carnival is organised at Manali. The place has immense potential to offer some world-class ski slopes and they are being developed on the same lines. There are private organisations that provide training as well as equipment for skiing. The Mountaineering Institute has put up a small ski lift at Solang Nullah.