After completing placements from college, all my friends started working in their respective software companies. Despite spending a wonderful time at NIT Allahabad, life after getting a job seemed monotonous. Days passed by with laptops, meetings, and a dull routine. December was coming to an end. In the midst of such days, I received a call from a college friend suggesting a trip. Since everyone was caught up in their software jobs, and life seemed almost the same for all, a break was necessary for everyone.
After discussing among ourselves, we decided to visit Manali and Kullu. I was working in Pune, while everyone else was in Noida and Delhi, but I needed a chance to visit Manali and meet college friends. So, I left Pune for Delhi to head towards Kullu-Manali.
We had a bus from Delhi to Manali at 5 PM. We departed on time towards Manali, a journey of approximately 530 kilometers that lasted through the night. Our bus was very comfortable, and it felt great to wrap ourselves in blankets amidst the intense cold of December. The road from Delhi to Manali is initially easy, but upon entering Himachal Pradesh, mountainous roads begin. The bus navigated through sharp turns and twists. On one side were mountains, and on the other side flowed the Beas River in a valley. Only a skilled driver could navigate such roads. Listening to music on earphones and cocooned in the warmth of blankets, time passed without notice.
When I opened my eyes, our bus had reached the bus stand in Manali, and the rays of the rising sun welcomed us as if Manali itself was greeting us. We went straight to our hotel from the bus stand. Our hotel was in a beautiful location surrounded by snow-covered mountains and tall deodar trees. After having breakfast, we decided to first visit Kullu.
➥Kullu (Manikaran Sahib Gurudwara / Hot Water Spring)
From Manali, we traveled 42 kilometers to Kullu in a car. In Kullu, our destination was the Manikaran Sahib Gurudwara, located between the Vyas and Parvati rivers in the Parvati Valley. This Gurudwara is visited by devotees of both Sikhs and Hindus. Manikaran Sahib Gurudwara is considered a holy place for Sikhs. It is said that Guru Nanak Dev Ji once visited here. Langar (community kitchen) operates here throughout the year. We also enjoyed the delicious langar food during our visit.
The main attraction of Manikaran is its hot water springs, known as ‘garm paani ke kund’ in Hindi. The name “Manikaran” also translates to “earrings of pearls,” and there is a belief associated with it that Mata Parvati lost her earring while roaming in the forest here, and it fell into the realm of Sheshnag, the divine serpent. Due to Lord Shiva’s anger, Sheshnag returned the earring to its place. The earth cracked due to the roar of Sheshnag, forming the sources of hot water springs.
Scientists believe that the water here remains hot due to its high sulphur content. We put chickpeas in a cloth bag and boiled them in the hot water springs using ropes. It was ready to eat in a short time. In the Gurudwara, we submerged raw rice in large pots to cook them, using the same pond. It was challenging to stand barefoot around the pond because the ground was very hot. This unique gift of nature helps keep the people of these cold valleys of Himachal warm. We stayed near Manikaran all day and started back towards our hotel in Manali in the evening.
➥Manali
After exploring Kullu on the first day, we were scheduled to spend the next two days in Manali. In the morning, we came to the lawn area of our hotel. It was an open space. One special thing about mountainous places is that no matter how low the temperature is, the sunlight feels good. In the morning sun, with a cup of tea in hand, we were content looking at the snowy mountains visible in front of us in the lawn with all friends. There were orchards near the hotel with some pieces of snow falling on the trees.
There are many great places to visit in Manali, about which I am writing in detail below:
➣ Solang Valley
Solang Valley is the main attraction of Manali. Located just 14 kilometers from the city of Manali, we left in our car at 10 o’clock in the morning to reach Solang Valley. On the way, we stopped at a shop where a special outfit, rented for playing and roaming in the snow-covered valley, was available. The special feature of this outfit is that it keeps your body protected from the cold from top to bottom and prevents snow from getting inside.
Wearing gloves, boots, and special clothes, we reached Solang Valley after a short while. Solang Valley is a very beautiful valley surrounded by mountains on all sides. Due to recent snowfall just a few days ago, the entire valley was covered with a blanket of white snow. The deodar trees on the mountains were creating a splendid view. For a while, it felt like I was watching a 3D movie scene or a poster on a wall, because such a sight is usually seen in movies.
There were many people enjoying themselves in Solang Valley. We also started walking towards the higher slopes of the valley where the snow looked pristine. Walking on the snow was a bit difficult because in some places it was hard-packed and in others it was soft, causing our feet to sink into the ground. In the sloping snow, we made a model of the Taj Mahal and decorated it nicely with tree branches. Throwing snowballs at each other was also a game here.
Everyone in the valley was having a great time. Some were skiing, some were paragliding, and others were riding snow bikes. Some were posing in front of beautifully crafted snow structures for photographs. We even took photos while sitting on a yak.
Sitting amidst the snow-covered views from all sides in Solang Valley and enjoying tea under the soothing warmth of the sun’s rays was very enjoyable. Sliding down the snowy slopes of the mountains was also a great experience. We had a lot of fun throughout the day in Solang Valley. In the evening, we returned to our hotel. This day became unforgettable for us because it was our first experience exploring snowy valleys.
Visiting Solang Valley in winter is a better option because there isn’t much snow here during the summer. If you are visiting in summer and want to experience snow, you will have to go to Rohtang Pass.
➣ Rohtang Pass
Rohtang Pass is the main mountain pass of the Himalayas, located 51 kilometers from Manali on the Leh-Manali Highway. This pass connects Lahaul Spiti and Leh with Manali. A blanket of snow covers this pass throughout the year. The super-hit Bollywood song ‘Yeh Ishq Hai’ from the movie ‘Jab We Met’ was shot here. Rohtang Pass offers panoramic views of the Himalayan ranges.
People from all over the country and abroad come here for snow scooter and skiing activities. Rohtang Pass is not open throughout the year; it is accessible only from May to October due to heavy snowfall blocking the pass during the rest of the year. Since we visited Manali in December, the route to Rohtang Pass was closed, but we had already enjoyed the snow experience at Solang Valley.
➣ Hadimba Temple
Surrounded by deodar trees from all sides, Hadimba Temple is dedicated to Hidimba, the wife of Bhima from the Mahabharata, and the mother of Ghatotkacha. This temple is a cave temple without any idol; instead, it has footprints carved on a stone that are worshipped. The temple is constructed in the Pagoda style, which sets it apart from other temples and adds to its beauty. It is a four-story wooden temple made of deodar wood. Previously, animal sacrifices were offered here, but this practice has been discontinued.
The walls of the temple have skulls and bones of animals embedded in them. Every year during the month of Savan (monsoon season), a festival is organized here. The surrounding area of the temple complex is very scenic, and we spent quite a long time exploring it.
➣ Club House Adventure Park
The Club House, established by the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Department, offers both indoor and outdoor games and activities for enjoyment. It’s a favorite spot for children. Adjacent to this Club House flows the Beas River. Here, adventure activities include crossing the river using a rope. We were also prepared to take part in this activity. Half of the Beas River was frozen due to the low temperature, with chunks of ice floating in the water.
Crossing this river using a flexible rope was the task at hand. We took turns enjoying this activity. Whenever a friend reached the middle of the river, everyone joined in to sway the flexible rope vigorously, which was part of this adventure. Sometimes, due to the swaying rope, our bodies would touch the cold water of the Beas River, which was both enjoyable and chilling. We all thoroughly enjoyed this game.
➣ Vashisht Temple
This is one of the prominent places in Manali. It is believed that this temple is 4000 years old. Built with beautiful carved wood, the Vashisht Temple is truly stunning. It is dedicated to Rishi Vashisht, the ancestral guru of Lord Rama, and the interior of the temple is adorned with magnificent paintings. The main attraction of this temple is its natural hot water springs, known for their therapeutic properties. It is believed that bathing in these hot water pools can cure skin-related ailments.
Inside the temple, there is a black stone statue of Rishi Vashisht. Near the Vashisht Temple, there are many restaurants where you can enjoy various types of cuisine. Here, we took a photo holding a rabbit, which looked very beautiful. The rabbit had long and soft fur, different from the rabbits found in the plains.
➣ Tibetan Buddhist Monastery
This monastery is located very close to the Manali bus stand. It is quite ancient and well-known. The monastery is built by the Tibetan people who reside in and around Manali. The monastery is very beautiful and attractive to visit. Inside the monastery, there is a magnificent statue of Lord Buddha. Nearby is the main market of Manali where you can buy items crafted from handicrafts.
➣ Rafting in Beas River
River rafting in Kullu is a fantastic experience. It’s a great place for adventure enthusiasts. Rafting along the swift currents and rocks of the Beas River covering a distance of approximately 14 kilometers is an exhilarating adventure. The rafting route is completely surrounded by mountains and forests.
To enjoy rafting, one must visit Kullu during the summer season because during winters, the water of the Beas River freezes due to snow, and rafting remains closed. Due to our visit in December, we couldn’t go rafting ourselves, but we uploaded photos and videos from our friend’s reference here.
Our tour of Manali and Kullu was filled with wonderful experiences and excitement. It was another opportunity for us to spend time with friends after college and we thoroughly enjoyed it. Visiting Manali and Kullu with family or friends to have fun in the snow and to witness the beautiful views of Himachal Pradesh should definitely be done at least once.
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➜ Things not to miss in Manali/Kullu: Paragliding in Solang Valley, Rafting in Beas River (available only in summers), Snow Skiing in Rohtang Pass (available only in summers), Cooking chickpeas in hot water at Manikaran Sahib, Yak riding, Photography.
➜ How to reach Manali/Kullu: The nearest airport is Bhuntar, located 50 kilometers from Manali. The closest railway station is Joginder Nagar, accessible via trains from Chandigarh and Ambala. The best option is by road, with easy access from Chandigarh and Delhi by car or bus.
➜ Best time to visit Manali/Kullu: If you enjoy cold weather, the best time to visit Manali is from October to February when temperatures can drop below 0 degrees Celsius. January offers the chance to witness snowfall. However, Rohtang Pass and river rafting are closed during winter. For pleasant weather, visit between March and June when the climate is very enjoyable.
➜ Duration for visiting Manali/Kullu: 4 days / 3 nights
