Manali is a major hill town in the upper Kullu Valley, surrounded by snow peaks, thick forests, apple orchards and the Beas River. The main town has hotels, a mall-road-style bazaar, Tibetan market, temples and cafés, while Old Manali feels more village-like with wooden houses, homestays and relaxed cafés. From here tourists go to Solang Valley, Atal Tunnel–Rohtang, ski slopes, paragliding points and treks such as Hampta Pass and Bhrigu Lake. Because scenery, adventure sports and easy road access are all together, Manali has become one of India’s most visited mountain destinations.
About this place
History & highlights
The name Manali comes from Manu-Alaya, “the abode of Manu”. In Hindu tradition Manu is the law-giver and progenitor of humans; valley legends say his boat came to rest here after a great flood, making this region a rebirth place for humanity. Historically Manali was a small settlement in the old Kullu kingdom, located on trade and pilgrimage routes towards Lahaul and Ladakh. For centuries life centred on farming, orchards and herding. After Independence, road construction and promotion of Rohtang as a snow spot turned Manali into a national holiday town. In the last few decades, the boom of adventure tourism and the Atal Tunnel route to Leh have further increased its importance, while also creating pressure on waste management, water and fragile slopes.
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